Context:
India is set to become the world’s largest producer of lentil (masoor) during the 2023-24 crop years on account of higher acreage.
Relevance:
GS III: Agriculture
Dimensions of the Article:
- Lentil Overview
Lentil Overview:
Consumption:
- Valuable human food, commonly consumed as dry seeds.
- In India, known as ‘Dal’ after removal of outer skin and cotyledon separation.
- Also referred to as Masur and Malka (bold-seeded).
Climatic Conditions:
- Requires cold climate.
- Hardy, tolerating frost and severe winters.
- Thrives in cold temperatures during vegetative growth and warmer temperatures at maturity.
- Optimal growth temperature: 18-30°C.
- Cultivated up to an altitude of 3,500 m in northwest hills.
Soil Requirements:
- Best suited for well-drained, loam soils with neutral pH.
- Unsuitable for acidic soils.
Cultivation Regions:
- Cultivated widely in Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
- Major growing states in India include Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, etc.
Characteristics:
- Easy to cook, highly digestible, and boasts a high biological value.
- Dry leaves, stems, empty, and broken pods used as valuable cattle feed.
Global Production:
- Top global lentil growers in 2022: Canada, India, Australia, Turkey, and Russia (according to FAO).
Indian Import Scenario:
- Despite being the second-largest producer, India traditionally imports from Australia, Canada, Russia, Singapore, and Turkey.
- Recent imports also from UAE, USA, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
-Source: The Hindu
