Pulses output may drop 50 % in K'taka

With the major pulses-growing districts reeling under severe moisture stress conditions, it is feared that 2009-10 could be one of the worst years for pulses in Karnataka.

While the present sowing season for the kharif crop is almost over, a significant area under pulses is witnessing a failure due to a lack of rains in the districts of Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar and Koppal. Though sowing has taken place in three-fourths of the target area, the apprehension is that late sowing could result in low yield. Moreover, crops are drying up due to dry spell, and it looks like the state is headed for about 50 per cent drop in the pulses output this year.

“The condition is not favourable for pulses due to delayed monsoons and subsequent dry spell in the pulses-growing districts. Tougher days lie ahead this year,” said Baburao Mudbi, commissioner for agriculture, Karnataka. Prices of tur dal are sky-rocketing and, even moong and urad dal prices are surging by the week. Tur dal is being sold in the range of Rs 78-95. Moong dal, which cost Rs 45 a kg just a week ago has shot up to Rs 55 and urad dal is being sold for about Rs 60 per kg.

According to the data available with the department of agriculture, Karnataka, the target area set for kharif pulses in 2009-10 is 1.37 million hectares. Of this, sowing has already been done on 1.045 million hectares by July-end. This is almost double the area covered during the corresponding period last year. Sowing season is over for urad and moong, and about a week remains for tur dal. It is estimated that the total area sown for pulses could reach up to 1.1 million hectares by August 15.

“There is no doubt that the area covered so far has been more or less satisfactory. However, due to the lack of rains, about 160,000 hectares is under moisture stress. Revival of this area is doubtful. The amount of crop failure could go up further if no immediate rains take place,” said an official at the agriculture department. Tur dal sowing has taken place on 470,000 hectares. Of this, about 52,000 hectares is under moisture stress.

Total kharif pulses output last year was about 516,000 tonnes. According to Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, president, The Bangalore Wholesale Foodgrains and Pulses Merchants Association, the output of tur dal and urad dal in the state could fall by 50 per cent each this season and for moong dal the possible drop in output is about 30 per cent.

Production of tur dal was 340,000 tonnes in 2008-09. Officals at the Tur Development Board believe if the dry spell continues, it would be difficult to see even 15,000 tonnes of tur dal this year.

“Delayed sowing could result in low yield. Also, there has been pest menace in many areas,” said a senior official at the Tur Board. Karnataka is the second largest tur-growing state in India after Maharashtra, and accounts for about one-tenth of the country's total output.