Govt Efforts Lead to Stabilization of Urad Prices, Boost Farmer Morale

New Delhi: The consistent efforts of the Department of Consumer Affairs have resulted in a significant softening of Urad prices, bringing relief to consumers. The proactive measures taken by the Central Government have been pivotal in stabilizing these prices while also ensuring favorable price realization for farmers.

With the anticipation of good rainfall this season, the morale of farmers is expected to be boosted, potentially leading to a bountiful crop in major Urad-producing states such as Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. As of July 5, 2024, the area sown for Urad has reached 5.37 lakh hectares, a significant increase compared to 3.67 lakh hectares during the same period last year. The 90-day crop is anticipated to yield a healthy Kharif production this year.

Ahead of the Kharif sowing season, there has been notable momentum in the pre-registration of farmers through government agencies such as the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF). These efforts are part of the government’s broader strategy to encourage farmers to shift towards pulse production during the Kharif season, aiming for self-sufficiency in this sector.

In Madhya Pradesh alone, a total of 8,487 Urad farmers have registered through NCCF and NAFED. Similarly, other major producing states such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh have seen pre-registrations of 2,037, 1,611, and 1,663 farmers respectively, indicating widespread participation in these initiatives.

The procurement of summer Urad under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) by NAFED and NCCF is currently in progress. This initiative aims to protect farmers from distress sales and ensure they receive remunerative prices for their produce.

As a result of these concerted efforts, wholesale prices of Urad have witnessed a week-on-week decline of 3.12% in Indore and 1.08% in Delhi markets as of July 6, 2024.