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Experts at the Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell (Demic) at the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, foresee a steep increase in the prices of Bengal gram as the major growing states of this grain legume crop faced shortfall in production due to floods and drought.
The demand-supply shortfall is predicted at 11 lakh tonnes.
The grain legume was cultivated in about 81 lakh hectares with a production of 59.01 lakh tonnes in 2015-16. This, sources say was far below the 2014-15 production level.
The major producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Sowing starts in rabi season and the crop is harvested between February and April.
To tide over the shortfall, the country has resorted to import from Tanzania, Russia and Australia. The total import volume is estimated at 3.75 lakh tonnes in 2015-16 (April to November).
Advising farmers to take appropriate sowing decision, the Demic source said the farm gate price of quality Bengal gram would hover around Rs 75 to 80 a kilogram.
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