The market situation does not augur well for Indian growers hit by weather Prices of major pulses in the global market have dropped to record lows as Canada, Australia, Russia and African nations are engaged in a stiff competition to gain market share. Over the past month, prices have declined between 5 per cent and 20 per cent as the harvest of peas and lentils in these countries’ is good.Trade analysts say the development does not augur well for Indian farmers as they are either harvesting or set to harvest their crops. Crops such as urad (black matpe), tur (pigeon peas), masur (red lentils) and moth dal (green lentils) are reported to have been affected by August-September torrential rain in various parts of the country. “Prices of all imported pulses are at new lows. There is hardly any difference in the rates offered by countries such as Canada, Australia and Russia. In particular, prices of yellow peas are at a record low,” said a trader, who did not wish to be identified.
Huge lentils surplus
Traders say for the 2025-26 marketing season (August-July), the area under dry peas in Canada was up 9 per cent at 1.42 million hectares (mh). Yellow pea production is forecast at 3.2 million tonnes, while that of green peas is 550,000 tonnes. As a result, Canada will likely ship out over 2 million tonnes of peas. Canada’s chickpea crop is projected to be upwards of 340,000 tonnes, with exports likely to be a record high of 235,000 tonnes. Australia is estimated to produce 2.1 million tonnes of chickpeas, down 7 per cent from last year. A huge surplus is likely on the lentils front. Australia’s lentil production is forecast to increase by 34 per cent to a record 1.7 million tonnes in 2025–26. This is 95 per cent above the 10-year average to 2024–25 in view of a record acreage, Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fishery and Forests said.Going by Statistics Canada data, Canada’s lentil crop will likely be a huge one. Based on current yield projections, lentil production is projected at 2.75 million tonnes, a 12-year high.
