Red Gram News

Red Gram Cultivation or Pigeonpea or Arhar Dal or Toor Dal Cultivation

The pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) is a perennial legume from the family Leguminaceae (Fabaceae). It is also known as Pigeonpea or Arhar or Tur. Since its domestication in India at least 3,500 years ago, its seeds have become a common food grain in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It is consumed on a large scale mainly in south Asia and is a major source of protein for the population of that subcontinent.

In January, Government to Release New Red Gram Variety

For commercial cultivation early maturing arhar (red gram) dal variety will be released by the Central government in January and it will help achieve self-sufficiency in pulses over the next three years.

Due to the drought which sent the prices through the roof the pulses output had fallen in the last two years, forcing the government to take several measures to check inflation in pulses. Pulses production in India is lower than the demand of 23-24 million tonnes (mt).

After visiting the experimental plot of new arhar variety in the IARI complex, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley hoped that the new arhar variety will bring benefit to the whole country. He said “We will put this new arhar variety (Pusa 16) for commercial use soon. Once we put for commercial use, certainly it will have great impact.”

“The reason being that it is the main protein in our diet. We are not only the largest producer but also the biggest consumer and importer. So, there is shortage here,” said Jaitley.

“This new variety will be released for commercial cultivation in January and will be available for sowing in the kharif 2017 season. This will help make the country self-sufficient in next three years,” said Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Pusa 16.

This new variety of the red gram gets matured in four Months instead of 6-9 months in case of existing pulses variety. It is a semi-dwarf variety and it is suitable for combine harvesting. Per hectare its yield levels are in the range of 15-20 quintals, which is same as the existing varieties.

On account of good monsoon after two drought years, the country’s pulses output is estimated to increase to 20 mt in 2016-17 crop year (July-June).

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/

Red Gram Cultivations: Efforts to Improve Red Gram Productivity

Tiruchirappalli: To provide a road map for improving productivity in the crop, during the current year, cluster demonstration plots of red gram would be raised on about 700 hectares in the district under the National Food Security Mission (Pulses).

Agriculture Department officials informed that, in Musiri demonstration plots would be raised on about 300 hectares and 100 hectares each in Thathaiyengarpet, Pullampadi and Thottiyam blocks.

To give a fillip to increase productivity, pulses are raised as intercrop or mixed crop and the cluster demonstration plots are being raised. For raising the demonstration plots, farmers are provided subsidy. A yield of one to 1.5 tonnes could be achieved a hectare against the current average of 600 kg in red gram crop.

To distribute inputs to farmers, the Department of Agriculture organised an input mela under the NFSM (Pulses) at Manachanallur block. In Manachanallur block, demonstration plots would be raised at Sirugudi, Sirupathur, Thathamangalam and Cholanganallur. For the benefit of farmers an exhibition on inputs was also arranged.

Through Agricultural Extension Centres, farmers would be given five kg of certified seeds of Co-RG-7 red gram variety, liquid bio fertilizer, micronutrient mixture, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and other inputs. Weedicides and plant protection chemicals would be provided with back-ended subsidy. A subsidy of Rs.5000 a hectare would be extended.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/

During Harvest Months Kharif Red Gram to Fetch Around Rs. 9000 – 10,500

Red gram (Tur) is grown throughout the tropical and subtropical countries. India is one of the country who is producing Red Gram. The major exporters of red gram are Myanmar, Dominican Republic and Malawi. However, India, Trinidad, Venezuela, Nepal and Mauritius are the major importers.

According to one of the latest data released by the ministry of agriculture, the land under cultivation of red gram in India is around 37.35 lakh hectare, with an increase of 4% of land under cultivation, as compared to last year.

The red gram yield is only about 50 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district, considered as the red gram hub of India, has been impacted by deficit rainfall and fall in production is estimated to be more than 50 per cent.

Karnataka government has now set up price monitoring cells for red gram. In order to assist the farmers regarding suitable marketing decision, the NIAP funded Network project on Market Intelligence, functioning in the Department of Agricultural Marketing, Co-operation and Business Management, UAS Bangalore.

Based on the analysis, market survey and government policies with regard to the marketing and international trade in tur, it is forecasted that red gram would fetch a modal price of around Rs. 9000-10,500 per quintal during harvest months.

Source: http://www.uasbangalore.edu.in

Government set up stalls to sell Red Gram at subsidised rate.

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday asked officials to take measures to sell red gram at Rs 135 per kg in 129 stalls set up for the purpose.

Despite the government order to sell subsidised red gram, there are no stocks causing inconvenience to the people. Since the price of red gram is more than Rs 200 per kg in the open market, the government set up many stalls to sell the same at subsidised rate.

It came to the Chief Minister’s notice that the stalls were running short of red gram quota and the people are put to a lot of problems for buying this commodity at subsidised rate. He directed the civil supplies department to ensure supply of adequate subsidised red gram at the stalls.

Source: http://www.thehansindia.com/

AP takes action to improve red gram production

Telangana government is coming up with an action plan to improve the production and ensure supply of the commodity at competitive price.

Days after the price of red gram touched Rs.210 a kg, the government swung into action and started supplying it at a subsidized rate of Rs.120 a kg in wholesale and Rs.123 a kg in retail market. In order to prevent a similar situation next year, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu convened a meeting with officials from Agriculture, Marketing and Civil Supplies departments a few weeks ago to chalk out a plan to ensure supply of pulses at a reasonable rate.

The acreage in the State in 2010-11 was 6.38 lakh hectares while production was 2.65 lakh tonnes and yield 415 kg per hectare. It fell to 4.48 lakh hectares with a production of 2.43 lakh tonnes and yield of 542 kg per hectare in 2013-14. According to advance estimate in 2014-15, the acreage was 3.71 lakh hectares while production was 1.65 lakh tonnes and yield 445 kg per hectare, officials said.

“If our plans fructify, we will implement the action plan from next rabi,” a senior official said, adding seeds would be distributed in sufficient quantity to help farmers grow pulses.

Another issue that officials are considering seriously is maintaining buffer stock in order to release it whenever there is crisis. Officials said while production was 60,000 tonnes in the State consumption was 2.50 lakh tonnes and this gap in the demand and supply was leading to rise in prices of pulses.

State Civil Supplies Corporation MD K. Ramgopal said a proposal was mooted to maintain enough stock of essential commodities. “If there is shortage in market, we can release them as and when required. It will help us in controlling the prices,” he said.

According to dal millers, red gram stocks arrive from Tandur and Vikarabad in Ranga Reddy district, Sangareddy, Zaheerabad and Sadasivapet in Medak district, and Suryapet in Nalgonda. Fresh stocks from Krishna and Guntur districts enter the market between February and March and thereafter arrivals from Maharashtra, UP and Karnataka reach the market.

Source: http://www.thehansindia.com/

High rate of red gram brings cheer to farmers

Red gram farmers in Adilabad district of Telangana are a happy lot because of high price of red gram or toor dal. They hope to recover at least part of their losses incurred in cotton and soybean cultivation during this year's kharif season as their produce which will be harvested in over a month is likely to command good price even if there is a slump in the markets during trading season.

“Even if we get the minimum support price of Rs. 4,626 a quintal, we will end up with some profit. This will be possible as the investment on the crop will not exceed Rs. 10,000 per acre in fields where only red gram is grown,” says Kunta Keshav Reddy, a progressive farmer.

The beauty of red gram crop lies in the fluctuating investment in that it requires more money under irrigated conditions and the yield is also around 10 quintals per acre. On the other hand, a rainfed red gram field as in the tribal areas of Adilabad will need only about Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000 as investment but the yield will be restricted to about 3 to 4 quintals per acre.

“As this lentil crop variety is sown as an inter-crop with cotton and soyabean, any income from it comes as a bonus. In fact, cotton and soyabean farmers are likely to recover some of the losses incurred by way of damage to the primary crops,” pointed out Gond farmer Kumra Jalpati Rao of Busimetta in Jainoor mandal who hopes to negate the loss of his soyabean crop through an average yield of red gram raised in dry conditions.

Red gram crop is cultivated in over 46,000 hectares which is likely to yield about 5.75 lakh quintals at an anticipated yield of about 5 quintals per acre on an average.