The Centre has declared an MSP of ₹7,800 per quintal for urad for the 2025-26 season
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Even as the sowing under black matpe (urad), a key kharif pulses crop trails last year acreage levels, excess rain in the Bundelkhand region in Central India, a key producing region, has raised concerns and is will likely hurt the crop prospects.
As of July 25, the kharif urad acreage across the country is down by 6.75 per cent at 16.59 lakh hectares (lh) compared withs 17.79 lh a year ago. The normal area for crop during kharif season is 32.64 lh, as per the Agriculture Ministry.
Trade sources said the crop damage witnessed over the past few years due to the adverse climatic conditions has impacted the quality of the produce and has forced growers to look for remunerative alternatives. In the current year, parts of Bundelkhand, Rajasthan and also Gujarat have witnessed excess rain, which is likely to impact the crop.
Bundelkhand’s significance
“In parts of Bundelkhand area, a major producing region and also in Rajasthan, the excess rain has impacted the urad crop,” said Satish Upadhyay, Hon Secretary of The India Pulses and Grains Association. The sowing window for urad is coming to an end or ended in most other regions, he said.
“Key producing areas in Bundelkhand have experienced excess rain over the past few weeks. Any further rain may impact the output, but it is too early to quantify,” said Rahul Chauhan of iGrain India. Chauhan estimates that The Bundelkhand region, which spans acrossh Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, produces about a third of kharif urad output. “Bundelkhand produces around 5-6 lakh tonnes of urad during the kharif season, while the all India production is around 15 lakh tonnes.” Chauhan said.
“The area under urad is likely be lower this year,” said B Krishnamurthy, managing director of the Chennai-based Four-P International Pvt Ltd. In Bundelkhand region and parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, the crop has suffered due to excess rain.
Farmers in Bundelkhand, who have suffered due to damaged crop quality over the past three to four years, may have shifted to other crops such as corn, said Krishnamurthy. The damage to the crop quality in the previous years due to adverse weather impacted the farmers’ realisations forcing them to shift to other alternatives.
Over 50% area dip
Kharif urad acreage, which touched a high of 47.26 lh during 2018-19 has been declining over the past few years. It touched a low of 21.01 lh during the 2024-25 season.
However, Krishnamurthy said the dip in area is unlikely to have any impact on prices as imports of urad are duty-free and are taking place from countries such as Myanmar ando Brazil. India’s imports of urad touched a high of 8.2 lakh tonnes during 2024-25, up from 6.24 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. T Imports during April-June are estimated at 1.96 lakh tonnes against 1.99 lakh tonnes a year ago, as per iGrain India
Prices of imported urad bold quality is hovering around the levels of ₹7,500 per quintal in Chennai. Prices of imported urad bold quality have declined from ₹9,400 per quintal in October 2024 to ₹7,100 levels as of July 15. The Centre has declared a minimum support price of ₹7,800 per quintal for urad for the 2025-26 season, higher than ₹7,400 last year.
Published on July 28, 2025
