Farmers in the country have sown urad across 4.04 mln ha this kharif season, down 9% on year. Urad acreage this kharif season is already well above the five-year average of 3.14 mln ha for the corresponding period. In Madhya Pradesh, the largest grower of urad, acreage was down 7.7% on year at 1.65 mln ha as farmers shifted to paddy and soybean for lucrative returns. Harvesting of urad has begun in some parts of Madhya Pradesh and fresh arrivals are entering the market. Madhya Pradesh’s urad output in 2018-19 is estimated at 1.73 mln tn, down 1.1% from last year.