Toor dal, sometimes called arhar dal, is a culinary staple in India. Renowned for its protein richness, this pulse plays a pivotal role in Indian cuisine. The cultivation of toor dal (tur dal) represents a key agricultural activity holding economic and social importance for farmers and market traders across the country. Its substantial contribution to India’s agricultural production demonstrates its vital role in shaping both our diets and the agricultural landscape.
Major toor dal-producing states of India
Toor dal is grown in several states in India. The top producers include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. India contributes to 25% of the world’s pulse production but consumes around 28%, leading to the need for importing toor dal to meet the demand. Notably, Karnataka and Maharashtra stand out for their substantial cultivation of toor dal.
Toor dal is a kharif crop, grown in June and July and harvested in December and January. Harvesting occurs when 75-80% of the pods are ripe and brown in colour.
Varieties of toor dal cultivated in India
India boasts a diverse range of toor dal varieties. Some of them are:
- Arhar 1 (ARH-1): Thriving in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, this variety is renowned for its high yield and resilience against diseases.
- Arhar 2 (ARH-2): Predominantly found in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, ARH-2 stands out as a high-yield and disease-resistant choice.
- Arhar 3 (ARH-3): A popular variety in North India, ARH-3, though potentially lower in yield, is esteemed for its high quality.
Toor dal production in the last few years
India is the largest producer of pulses globally. Despite our significant production capacity, we still depend on importing pulses. This can be attributed to our historically biased agricultural policies, which, since independence, have favoured crops like wheat and paddy over pulses. Unfortunately, this has left pulse cultivation trailing behind the demand created by our growing population. To address this imbalance, there’s an urgent need to improve self-sufficiency in pulses. The recent decrease in toor dal production, from 42.20 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 to 34.30 lakh tonnes in 2022-23, highlights the urgency of addressing this issue for a more sustainable future.
Important steps to increase domestic production of pulses
The Central Government has taken a significant step to boost domestic pulse production by removing the 40 percent purchase limit on Arhar (Toor), Urad, and Masoor pulses under the Price Support Scheme 2023-24. This means the government can now buy these pulses from farmers without any restriction on Minimum Support Price (MSP). Previously, only 40% of the total production could be purchased, but this decision brings two key advantages. Firstly, it will increase the supply of pulses, helping to stabilize prices. Secondly, farmers will get higher prices for pulses, which will motivate them to increase production. The positive effects of this decision are expected to be visible in the coming year.
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