The harvest size of grain legumes in India will depend on rainfall in August and September.

According to Bimal Kothari, Chairman of the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), the pace of sowing grain legumes has increased in recent weeks, although total sown areas still lag behind last year's figures. As of July 24, farmers have sown 84.57 lakh hectares (lh) compared to 91.46 lh for the same period last year. The area under tur (pigeon pea) amounted to 31.37 lh against 35.27 lh a year earlier, urad plantings increased to 18.67 lh (17.27 lh last year), and the area under moong reached 26.87 lh (28.39 lh last year).

Bimal Kothari noted that the crop situation has generally stabilized. Despite an initial deficit, the rains that resumed from mid-July have helped rectify the situation in most regions, with the exception of Karnataka, where difficulties with soil moisture persist. At the same time, the volume of rainfall in August and September will be a key factor determining the future harvest. According to forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall during this period may be below normal. A lack of moisture in key agricultural areas in August could negatively affect the already sown crops.

At the same time, the expert emphasizes that moderate rainfall at the right time can be beneficial, as it reduces the risk of harvest damage during harvesting. As for the current supply, it is estimated to be abundant, and prices for grain legumes show stability and even some decline since April, without affecting food inflation. Free import is allowed in India until March 31, 2027, which eliminates the risks of product shortages in the current year.

Greater concern is caused by the potential impact of a rainfall deficit on soil moisture, which could affect the yield of rabi (winter) grain legumes, the harvesting of which is scheduled for February-March 2027. At the current stage, it is premature to assess the degree of impact of possible weather conditions on the 2027 harvest.