Pulses output might set another record

Last year, pulses production topped all previous record because uneven rains prompted farmers to grow pulses to cover their loses

Production of pulses might reach another record in 2013-14, as sowing of the crop this kharif season has been 80 per cent more than in the same period last year.

Experts said if the weather remained benign till end-August, the country could have a bumper harvest, more than the record 18.45 million tonnes of 2012-13. Last year, uneven rain prompted farmers to grow pulses to cover their losses. This time it is the other way round; copious rain has pushed sowing.

According to the department of agriculture, pulses were sown on 7.36 million hectares this kharif till Friday, 84 per cent more than the same period last year. In all, kharif pulses’ sowing is around 11 mn ha. Officials said with sowing expected to continue for another 15 days, there is a possibility that the crop will be planted in more than the usual area.

The biggest expansion has been in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, all predominantly pulses’ growing areas (see chart).

In other crops, sowing has continued unabated as the southwest monsoon maintained its good run over most parts. In Madhya Pradesh, there was some report of damage to the standing soybean crop because of incessant rain but was not significant.

Rice had been sown on 19.63 mn ha till Friday or 6.6 per cent more than the same period last year. Coarse cereals were planted on 14.88 mn ha till Friday, 26.7 per cent more than the same period last year. Oilseeds were sown on 16.72 mn ha, almost 21 per cent more than last year. Cotton had been planted on 10.5 mn ha, eight per cent more.

The India Meteorological Department said the southwest monsoon had been around 16 per cent above normal since June 1. More rain would be needed as the sown crop reaches early maturing.