Urad prices softening, rainfall boosts sowing area under Kharif
As on 5th July 2024, the area sown for Urad has reached 5.37 lakh hectares, as compared to 3.67 lakh hectares for the corresponding period last year.
The efforts of the Department of Consumer Affairs and reports of higher sowing in the ongoing Kharif season have resulted in the softening of Urad prices.
“As a result of these initiatives, as of 6 July 2024, wholesale prices of Urad have witnessed a week-on-week decline of 3.12% and 1.08% in the Indore and Delhi markets respectively,” an official statement said. In alignment with domestic prices, the landed prices of imported Urad are also on a declining trend.
As of 5 July 2024, the area under coverage for Urad has reached 5.37 lakh hectares, compared to 3.67 lakh hectares for the corresponding period last year. The anticipation of good rainfall is expected to boost the morale of farmers, leading to the production of a good crop in major Urad-producing states such as Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. The 90-day crop is expected to experience healthy Kharif production this year.
Ahead of the Kharif sowing season, there has been significant momentum in the pre-registration of farmers through government agencies such as NAFED and NCCF. These efforts are part of the government's strategy to encourage farmers to shift towards pulse production during the Kharif season, aiming for self-sufficiency in this sector.
In Madhya Pradesh alone, a total of 8,487 Urad farmers have already registered through NCCF and NAFED. Meanwhile, other major producing states such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh have seen pre-registrations of 2037, 1611, and 1663 farmers respectively, indicating widespread participation in these initiatives.
The procurement of summer Urad under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) by NAFED and NCCF is in progress. These measures underscore the government's commitment to balancing market dynamics while supporting both farmers and consumers, the statement said.
