Huge dip in pulses, oilseeds cultivation in Madurai

MADURAI: Despite the agriculture department carrying out a series of awareness programmes on improving pulses and oil seeds cultivation in Madurai district, the cultivation area of both crops have faced a major drop. Farmers cite lack of demand in the market as the reason.

According to the agriculture department, paddy and millet are the largely cultivated crops in Madurai, with over 87,000 hectares of utilised land. Pulses and oil seeds are the second majorly cultivated crops in the district, especially in rainfed areas.

Despite a series of promotion and awareness programmes, the pulses, cotton and oil seeds cultivation remains well below the target in Rabi and Kharif seasons. Though officials said that farmers would begin cultivation of the crops in the month of Aadi, farmers point out other issues for opting out of the crops.