On August 27 2021, the IPGA held their Kharif Sowing 2021 Knowledge Series, an online webinar featuring key speakers from India’s pulse industry who gave important insights into the 2021/22 kharif crop

The GPC attended the webinar and is providing full coverage for all members. Find the 2021 Monsoon report here.  

Mr. Nirav Desai, Managing Partner at GGN Research, gave an overview of the sowing and acreage outlook for the kharif crops. 

Overall view

• This year, as of August 19, the total sown area of the kharif pulses crop was 134.23 lakh hectares, up 1.6% from last year
• With rainfall 8.4% less than normal and a lull in monsoons between June 20 and July 15, the crop is facing a few challenges but the overall outlook is satisfactory

June weather

• In June, despite an early start to the monsoon season, the heavy rains tapered off towards the end of the month and were almost nonexistent in most areas of India until mid-July.
• Rajasthan and Gujarat were most affected by these weaker monsoons
• Planting for kharif 2021 was timely in Maharashtra and South India, slightly behind in MP & UP and delayed up to two weeks in Rajasthan

Source: IPGA Knowledge Series

July weather

• In July, rainfall was 10% below average compared to 11% above in June
• The gap in monsoon rains slowed planting in Rajasthan, MP and some parts of UP but the resumption of heavy rains from mid-July facilitated the successful completion of sowing

August weather

• In August, rainfall was 27.2% below average meaning many areas may have water issues for the rabi crop
• Despite the rain deficiency, the general distribution of rainfall was good, with routine and timely showers in most of the country meaning kharif crops were not badly affected
• In Rajasthan and Gujarat, however, rainfall has been extremely low, meaning crops are facing problems

Sowing areas

• Total area of kharif pulses sowing is up 2.2 lakh hectares from last year
• Most of the key kharif pulses have the same sowing area as last year, except tur, which showed a 14% increase in Karnataka
• Government number for mung beans are around the same as last year but traders and ground reports are saying Rajasthan could be lower by up to 25% due to low rainfall causing an obstacle during the sowing period

Urad

• Sowing of urad was on schedule due to the early monsoons
• The government raised the MSP from Rs 6000 per Qtl to Rs 6300
• Well-timed rains in MP, Maharashtra and UP (which account for 70% of the total crop) have boosted crop prospects
• Overall production expected to be the same or slightly higher than last year, provided late heavy rains don’t reduce the crop prospects

• Urad imports are so far lower than last year

Mung bean

• With Rajasthan the main mung bean growing state (contributing to 60% of the total crop), the crop is set to be slightly lower than average due to deficient rains in this state
• The government has raised the MSP from Rs 7196 per Qtl to Rs 7275 per Qtl, making it the highest MSP for pulses and encouraging farmers to plant more
• Rajasthan planting was delayed due to late rains but other states planted on schedule
• Despite poorer than average prospects in Rajasthan, crops in the South and Maharashtra are looking good due to timely monsoon rains
• So far, sowing area is down by 0.05 lakh hectares from last year

• Imports of mung beans are so far up from last year

Tur

• Early monsoon rains made for on-time planting of tur
• There was a significant increase from the planting area of last year in Karnataka and a smaller increase in MP and Maharashtra
• The total sowing area is up 1.82 lakh hectares from last year
• The outlook for 2021 looks good due to good rains in the main tur growing states and in Maharashtra but the weather in the next 3-4 months will be crucial

• Total imports are so far slightly up from last year