Pulses area up by over 12% so far despite deficit rains

Buoyed by sky-high prices of pulses, farmers have sown lentils like tur dar on more area this year even as some major growing areas have received scanty rainfall.
The total area under pulses has risen by 12 per cent to 10.55 million hectares this kharif season so far against 9.41 million hectare in the year-ago period.
Sowing of kharif crops like rice and pulses begin with the onset of Southwest monsoon from June.
Lower domestic supplies owing to production fall in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) has fuelled price rise in key pulses like tur and urad dal .
As per the government data, retail price of tur dal has increased up to Rs 150 per kg, while urad to Rs 140 per kg in most parts of the country.

India produces 18-19 million tonnes of pulses annually but imports 3-4 million tonnes to meet the domestic demand.

Amid such a situation, the Agriculture Ministry's latest sowing data showing rise in acreage under pulses to 10.55 million hectare is encouraging.
Pulses are grown mainly in rainfed rains. Rains in September, the last month of the monsoon season, would have significant impact on crop growth and yields.
Besides pulses, area sown to coarse grains and oilseeds has also increased as on today in the ongoing 2015-16 kharif season, but the area planted to rice -- the key kharif crop -- remained almost at last year's level.

Rice has been sown in 34.58 million hectare as on today in this kharif season against 34.54 million hectare in the year-ago period.