TUR PRODUCTION AND MARKET IN INDIA

Production of Tur (pigeon pea) in India

India being the largest producer of tur in the world contributes to around 85% of the world’s total production that sums up to 2430000 metric tons. The main areas in which tur is cultivated in India are

• Maharashtra (700000 tons)
• Uttar Pradesh (500000 tons)
• Karnataka (300000 tons)
• Madhya Pradesh (300000 tons)
• Gujarat (100000 tons)
• Rajasthan
• Haryana
• Punjab
• Tamil Nadu
• Orissa
• Bihar

India accounts to a production of 12-15 million tons of pulses and pigeon pea constitutes to around 20% of the share in it. India is also the leading country in the list of maximum area covered contributing to around 3.73 million hectares. This crop yields between 600 to 1200 kg per hectare.

Indian economy has been dependent on pulses for a long time. India is the largest producer, consumer as well as largest of importer of pulses. Tur or the pigeon pea, in the Indian context, is the second most important crop after peas. Tur too, is being produced the maximum in the world, by the country. The production stands at around 2.5 million tons, which is the 4/5th share in the world and 1/5th share in the total pulses produced in the country. Maharashtra produces the maximum level of pigeon pea in India accounting to 700000 tons.

Indian tur market

The domestic consumption of tur in India is estimated at around 3.4 million tons. Clearly, the production in the country is not sufficient to satisfy the domestic demand and hence it has to rely on imports of the crop. India imports its unfulfilled demand from Myanmar and Tanzania. The imports of the country sums up to 4 to 5 lakh tons annually. Even though India cannot fulfill its domestic demand, it seldom exports pigeon peas in small quantities to the following countries

• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America
• Singapore
• Saudi Arabia

India has a long chain for the highly fragmented market for tur. The prices of pigeon pea in India are based on the Minimum Support Price set by the government. The tur imports are allowed in the country without any import restrictions.

Market Influencing Factors

• Weather conditions in the country
• Hoarding and Black-marketing
• Crop situation in the exporting countries especially Myanmar
• Prices of the other major competitive pulses

The major areas in India where tur is traded are

·         Indore (Madhya Pradesh)

·         Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)

·         Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh)

·         Jalgaon (Maharashtra)

·         Latur (Maharashtra)

·         Mumbai (Maharashtra)

·         Akola (Maharashtra)

·         Barchi (Maharashtra)

·         Nagpur (Maharashtra)

·         Delhi

·         Chennai

·         Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh)

·         Hapur (Uttar Pradesh)

·         Kashganj (Uttar Pradesh)

·         Hatras (Uttar Pradesh)

·         Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)

·         Vijaywada (Uttar Pradesh)

·         Gulbarga (Karnataka)

·         Sirsa (Haryana)

·         Jalandhar (Punjab)

·         Ludhiana (Punjab)

·         Sangrur (Punjab)

·         Surat (Guajrat)

·         Dhansura (Guajrat)

·         Madosa (Guajrat)

·         Talod (Guajrat)

·         Rajkot (Guajrat)

Tur is also traded at the various commodity exchanges in India namely 
National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange ltd
Multi Commodity Exchange of India ltd
National Multi Commodity Exchange of India ltd.