Despite farmers expanding the kharif area under pulses crops such as moong (green gram) and urad (black matpe) marginally, the output will likely be lower than last season, according to a cross-section of the trade and growers. This is because the excess rain has impacted the yield and quality substantially.
Excess rain during July-September has become a key concern for kharif crops, in general. and pulses are no exception, as the crops have been impacted across key growing states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
“The overall kharif pulses output will be lower this year than last year as excess rains have damaged the crop across all producing States,” said Satish Upadhyay, Hon Secretary, India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA). “It is still raining in several States, and predictions are for rain to continue over the next few days. We are still watching, but one thing is sure that the crop quality and the crop size will be less than last year.” he said.
