Early-maturing tur varieties aim to boost pulses output

A few varieties have already been developed, and efforts are on to scale up more such breeds

- Vijay CRoy [e-mail]

Tur, along with urad, masoor and chana, forms the bulk of India's pulse imports, which have been rising amid strong demand and stagnant yields.

(MINT)

India is preparing to introduce shortduration, high-yielding varieties of tur (pigeon pea) that can be harvested early, as it aims to curb sharp spikes in prices of pulses and cut reliance on imports, government officials said.

A few varieties have already been developed, and efforts are on to scale up more such breeds. These short-duration types of tur mature in 140-150 days, compared to the traditional crops that take 170-180 days, enabling farmers in northern states to expand tur acreage while freeing land for other crops in the same cycle, they said.