India’s rabi urad acreage was down 8% on year at 528,500 ha. The area under the crop is also lower than the five-year average of 544,500 ha for the period. Sowing of urad is yet to begin in many states. In Andhra Pradesh, the largest grower of black gram in the rabi season, area has declined due to spread of yellow mosaic virus and stem canker disease. Acreage in Andhra Pradesh was down 24.6% on year at 178,000 ha. There is also water scarcity in many districts. Although urad does not require much water, farmers have utilised whatever water left for irrigating paddy.