Pulses Acreage Rises By 13 Per Cent

Pulses production, which is a cause of concern for the government due to demand-supply gap, may increase in Kharif 2007 as area under coverage for the crops has gone up by 13 per cent till July 26. The pulses acreage stood at 84.94 lakh hectare so far this year against 74.88 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.
Pulses output in the country is estimated higher at 14.23 million tons during 2006-07 against 13.39 million tons in previous year, but is still short of demand which is pegged at over 17 million tons. Out of total production estimated for 2006-07, 4.74 million tons is from Kharif and 9.49 million tons is from Rabi crops.The government had said it would import 15 lakh tons of pulses this year to fill this demand-supply mismatch, which would help in stabilising the prices of the commodity. It is importing pulses through state-owned agencies STC, MMTC, PEC and NAFED by subsidising them 15 per cent of the cost.

Besides, to increase production the government targets to bring an additional two million hectare under pulses. Area under coverage of arhar stood at 26.97 lakh hectare till July 26 as against 27.53 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. Similarly, urad acreage is reported higher at 18.92 lakh hectare against 16.85 lakh hectare, while moong acreage stood at 24.95 against 18.41 lakh hectare.