2024 Kharif Pulse Production Overview

India expects its 2024 kharif pulse harvest to slip slightly to 0.695 million tons from last year’s 0.697 million tons. Despite a 7.4% increase in planted area, black gram (urad) production has dropped by 25%.  It is mainly due to weather setbacks like excessive rain and low early-season planting. The Agriculture Ministry’s first estimate puts black gram output at 0.1209 million tons—the lowest in a decade.

Some other pulses, however, are expected to increase in production. For example, pigeon pea (tur) output is forecast to rise to 0.3502 million tons from last year’s 0.3417 million tons. And the moong production should reach 0.1383 million tons, up from 0.1154 million tons last year. While these gains bring a bit of optimism. The sharp drop in black gram still casts a shadow over the overall production outlook.

Black Gram (Urad) Production Challenges

Erratic weather, especially heavy rains, has taken a toll on black gram. By impacting both the yield and quality of the crop. B Krishna Murthy from Four P International explained that the rough weather led to smaller crop sizes and lowered quality, which could impact demand.

Pigeon Pea (Tur) Production Increase and Market Signals

Farmers planted more pigeon pea this year because of strong market prices and a higher minimum support price (MSP). It lead to boosting acreage by 14.13% to 4.65 million hectares. Bimal Kothari, Chairman of the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), is optimistic about this year’s pigeon pea crop from Karnataka and Maharashtra. Which should reach markets by late November, helping to stabilize supply.

Imports Supporting Price Stability

Despite the lower black gram yield, prices are expected to stay steady due to ample imports. Supplies of tur from East Africa and black gram from Myanmar, with a new crop due in January, will likely keep markets well-stocked and prevent price hikes. Kothari also noted that recent price dips could continue over the next few months, thanks to these imports. Basavaraj Ingin, President of the Karnataka Pradesh Red Gram Growers Association, mentioned that although more land was planted with pigeon pea, heavy rains may limit yield gains.

Final Thoughts

Though kharif acreage has grown this year, the 25% drop in black gram production will slightly affect India’s total pulse output. However, stronger pigeon pea yields and steady import supplies should keep the pulse market balanced, ensuring a stable supply and preventing major price increases in the months ahead.





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