Tur imports surge 44% to reach 5.79 lakh tonnes

New Delhi: During the first seven months of the current year (January–July 2026), India's imports of Arhar (Tur) surged to 5.79 lakh tonnes, marking a 44% increase over the 4.01 lakh tonnes imported during the same period last year. The highest volume of imports—2.18 lakh tonnes—came from the African nation of Mozambique. This was followed by imports of 1.35 lakh tonnes from Myanmar, 1.04 lakh tonnes from Tanzania, and 68,499 tonnes from Sudan; the remainder was sourced from other countries.

It is noteworthy that total Tur imports into India in 2025 had risen by 5.42% compared to 2024, reaching 13.25 lakh tonnes. According to the leading trade body, the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), the sowing area for Arhar saw a slight increase in the 2026 Kharif season compared to 2025; however, there are growing concerns regarding production as the crop faces the threat of severe drought in the two top-producing states—Karnataka and Maharashtra.

While industry analysts anticipate a potential decline in Tur production this time, it is too early to draw a final conclusion. Rainfall in September provided some relief to the crop. With the harvesting of the new Tur crop set to begin in about two to two-and-a-half months, there is still a significant amount of time remaining.

At the national level, the sowing area for Tur increased from 45.95 lakh hectares last year to 47.25 lakh hectares in the current Kharif season. The sowing area declined by 6 percent in Karnataka—falling from 15.33 lakh hectares to 14.16 lakh hectares—and by 1.5 percent in Maharashtra, settling at 12.02 lakh hectares (down from 12.21 lakh hectares). Conversely, the cultivation area in Uttar Pradesh rose by 11 percent, increasing from 2.97 lakh hectares to 3.30 lakh hectares. Additionally, the acreage saw a slight increase in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.