According to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, the combined area under major pulse crops such as gram, moong, urad and lentil has risen marginally above the 2022‑23 figure. The increase comes despite a challenging monsoon, with several regions reporting uneven rainfall and a slower-than‑usual sowing pace. Agricultural analysts attribute the growth to higher farm‑gate prices for pulses and the central government’s continued push for self‑sufficiency in protein‑rich crops, which has encouraged farmers to allocate more land to these legumes.
The season’s progress, however, is being closely watched. Erratic rainfall across the northern plains and parts of central India has led to pockets of water stress, while delayed sowing in some districts could compress the growth window for the crops. Experts warn that these factors may depress the average yield per hectare, even if the total harvested quantity remains stable. The Ministry’s preliminary estimates suggest that while the area under pulses has edged up, the overall production could fall short of the target set under the National Food Security Mission if yield gaps widen.
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State agricultural departments are already mobilising extension services to advise farmers on moisture‑conserving practices and timely pest management. In addition, the government is monitoring procurement levels to ensure that any shortfall does not translate into sharp price spikes, which could affect both consumers and the broader food‑grain market.
