Prices of Urad on the top in UP, production decreasing

Lucknow, Apr 30 (UNI) In view of the constant shrinkage in the cultivation area of Urad in Uttar Pradesh, the prices of the the comodity are touching new high every year, according to official sources.

Urad, one of the costliest pulses in the country, is fast losing interest among the farmers resulting into low crop area, less prduction and inadequate yield- a challenge for the agriculturists in the state.

Urad area in UP was 63,000 hectare in 2000-01 while it came down to 60,000 hectare in 2001-02, 57,000 hecatre in 2002-03 and 45,000 hecatre in 2003-04. Similarly, its production was 30,000 MT and 21,000 MT respectively during this period, the sources told UNI here.

The rates of thr pulse is as high as Rs 65 per kg which can be attributed to the huge gap between the rising consumption decline production.

The agricultural experts admitted the production of Urad was on decline because the farmers are still using traditional methods for its cultivation.

''The production of Urad could well be three fold from the current levels but only if the farmers were willing to use improved quality seeds in place of old varieties,''they said.

Its yield was stagnated at 472 kg per hectare which could be increased upto 1500 kg per hectare if the Shekhar-1 variety seed was used. Simlarly, Pant U 19, 35, Narendra U 1, Azad-1, Utra, azad-2 and Shekhar-2 varieties could be grown in all districts of UP for higher yield, the experts suggested.

UNI SB MB CS VV1243