- January 13, 2024
India likely to emerge as world’s largest producer of lentils in 2023-24 | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: India is set to emerge as the world’s largest producer of lentil (masur) in the current 2023-24 crop year (July to June) on the back of an expected surge in production estimated around 16 lakh tonne because of higher acreage, Union consumer affairs secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said on Friday.
The lentil production in the two other major producing nations, Canada and Australia is estimated around 14 lakh tonne and 15 lakh tonne respectively.
If the projection comes true, India’s lentil output would also be the maximum since the 2017-18 crop year when it produced little over 16 lakh tonne. In the 2022-23 crop year, the output of this variety of pulses was 15 lakh tonne.
“Our masur production will be the highest in the world. The acreage has increased. The dynamic is changing,” the secretary said at an event organised by the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC) in the national capital. As per the agriculture ministry data, the total masur acreage has increased to 19.4 lakh hectare as of Friday in the ongoing rabi season, compared to 18.3 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.
Singh said the countryproduces on an average 260-270 tonne of pulses annually. “In chana (chickpea), we produce more than we consume but in the case of urad, tur and moong, we produce less and consume more. We also need to keep an eye on the global production trends to fill the gaps,” he added.
Industry insiders said a 26% increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for lentil from Rs 5,100 per quintal in 2020-21 to Rs 6,425 per quintal in 2024-25 is one of the main reasons for the farmer’s renewed interest to sow lentil. They added that a few months back, the wholesale rate of lentil was around Rs 7,500-8,000 per quintal and this might have encouraged farmers to cultivate more of this variety of pulses.
Rahul Cahuhan, director of Igrain India, a agri commodity research entity, said, “Besides the acreage improved as per the government sowing figures, climate is very good till now in all major producing areas. This is likely to push the lentil production this year.”
The lentil production in the two other major producing nations, Canada and Australia is estimated around 14 lakh tonne and 15 lakh tonne respectively.
If the projection comes true, India’s lentil output would also be the maximum since the 2017-18 crop year when it produced little over 16 lakh tonne. In the 2022-23 crop year, the output of this variety of pulses was 15 lakh tonne.
“Our masur production will be the highest in the world. The acreage has increased. The dynamic is changing,” the secretary said at an event organised by the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC) in the national capital. As per the agriculture ministry data, the total masur acreage has increased to 19.4 lakh hectare as of Friday in the ongoing rabi season, compared to 18.3 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.
Singh said the countryproduces on an average 260-270 tonne of pulses annually. “In chana (chickpea), we produce more than we consume but in the case of urad, tur and moong, we produce less and consume more. We also need to keep an eye on the global production trends to fill the gaps,” he added.
Industry insiders said a 26% increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for lentil from Rs 5,100 per quintal in 2020-21 to Rs 6,425 per quintal in 2024-25 is one of the main reasons for the farmer’s renewed interest to sow lentil. They added that a few months back, the wholesale rate of lentil was around Rs 7,500-8,000 per quintal and this might have encouraged farmers to cultivate more of this variety of pulses.
Rahul Cahuhan, director of Igrain India, a agri commodity research entity, said, “Besides the acreage improved as per the government sowing figures, climate is very good till now in all major producing areas. This is likely to push the lentil production this year.”
