1

Lentil Production

|

India is set to become the world’s largest producer of lentil (masoor) during the 2023-24 crop year on account of higher acreage.

Lentils
  • Scientific name – Lens culinaris
  • It is a small annual legume of the pea family (Fabaceae) and its edible seed.
  • Types – Green lentils, Red & Yellow lentils, Black lentils and Brown lentils.
  • Nutrition – It has high protein and fibre content.
  • Cultivation – Throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa but are little grown in the Western Hemisphere.
  • Benefits – It helps in nitrogen fixation in the soil.
  • Cultivation in India – Agriculture Ministry shows that 19.45 lakh hectares is under lentil till January, 2024, 6% higher from last year’s area, and 37% higher than the normal area.
  • India’s lentil production – In the 2022-23 crop year, it stood at 1.56 million tonne.
    • According to FAO, India is world’s 2nd largest lentil growers (1.26 million tonnes) in 2022 while Canada tops the chart. followed by India.

Lentil Production in India has tapered since 2017-18 when the country recorded its highest output of 1.62 million tonne. But Indian government had increased the MSP of lentils to Rs 6,425 per quintal for the Rabi Marketing Season 2024-25 from the Rs 2,950 per quintal in 2014-15.

  • Imports – It is to meet its domestic requirements, buying mainly from Australia, Canada, Russia, Singapore, and Turkey.
  • During the current year, it also imported some quantities of lentil from UAE, USA, Sri Lanka and Nepal.