iGrain India - New Delhi. The Union Agriculture Ministry has set a target of producing 45 lakh tonnes of pigeon pea (tuvar) in the country for the 2024-25 season and has planned to focus on both the top producing states Maharashtra and Karnataka to achieve this.
In the 2023-24 season, due to low sowing and unfavorable weather conditions, the domestic production of tur fell to less than 30 lakh tonnes, while the government estimated the production of 33-34 lakh tonnes.
There is no doubt that due to the domestic market price of tur being at a very high level, the producers are getting attractive income and hence they will make every effort to increase its sowing area.
Fortunately, this time the weather and monsoon conditions are also expected to be favorable. The scope of cultivation of tur of high productivity and pest resistant varieties is expected to increase, which can lead to a good increase in production.
Many precautionary measures are likely to be taken for Maharashtra and Karnataka. Apart from this, some other states including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh also produce good amount of tur.
For the last two years, the production of tur has been declining in Maharashtra and Karnataka, while this time the government is working on a three-year regional plan to stop the decline.
The sowing area of tur has been decreasing there since 2021-22. In 2023-24 also the area decreased by about 2.25 lakh hectares. The government will try to increase the productive area there.
Farmers are being given complete information about the benefits of pulses crops and especially tur cultivation.
Cultivation of tur is going to start from next month. According to the Meteorological Department, the southwest monsoon reached Kerala on 30 May 2024 and it is expected that with regular movement it will reach Karnataka and Maharashtra on time.
This will help the farmers to sow tur at the right time and will also ensure solid progress of the crop.