Weather conditions favorable for lentil crop in Australia

17-Jun-2025 08:38 PM

Brisbane. Lentil sowing in Australia has reached its final stage and recent rains are providing relief to the crop. Both the major producing states, South Australia and Victoria, have received at least 20 mm rainfall during the current month so far.

According to the report of government agency- ABARES, the lentil sowing area is estimated to decrease from 5.30 lakh hectares to 4.76 lakh hectares in South Australia, from 5.20 lakh hectares to 4.70 lakh hectares in Victoria, from 35 thousand hectares to 30 thousand hectares in New South Wales and from 1300 hectares to 1100 hectares in Queensland during the 2025-26 season as compared to the 2024-25 season, while in Western Australia it is expected to improve from 10,500 hectares to 15000 hectares.

In the quarterly report of ABARES, during the period under review, the production of lentils has been estimated to fall from 7.50 lakh tons to 6.90 lakh tons in South Australia, from 6.50 lakh tons to 5.55 lakh tons in Victoria, from 50 thousand tons to 30 thousand tons in New South Wales and from 1500 tons to 1200 tons in Queensland, while the production in Western Australia is expected to increase from 16 thousand tons to 21 thousand tons.

In fact, the weather was dry in the initial stage of sowing, due to which the seeds could not germinate properly in some areas and the area also decreased.

The lentil business in Australia is declining significantly and its pace is expected to increase from September. If the yield rate of the next lentil crop is estimated to be at an average level, then the producers will get help in clearing out the old stock.

Due to weak demand from South Asia, the price of the next new crop of lentils is running 100 dollars per tonne below the current stock. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are buying it in small amounts. In India, an import duty of 11 percent is applicable on lentils from April 1.