The current average price of Masoor in India ranges between ₹7,000 - ₹7,000/Qt, based on the variety & mandi.
Lentils, commonly known as Masoor in India, are an important Rabi-season pulse crop grown after the harvest of Kharif crops. India is the second-largest producer of lentils globally, after Canada, while also being one of the largest consumers. Lentils are valued for their high protein, iron, and dietary fibre content and form a staple part of vegetarian diets across the country.
Masoor is widely consumed in the form of dal and whole lentils, and in some regions it is used as a substitute for Tur during periods of tight supply. Because of its role in household consumption and food security, movements in the masoor dal market price is closely monitored by traders, millers, and procurement agencies.
Botanical Name: Lens culinaris
Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Masoor is traded under various regional names across India, particularly in eastern and northern states where consumption is higher. These regional variations are reflected in mandi-level trade, influencing masoor dal mandi price and local market trends.
India produces approximately 1–1.2 million metric tons of lentils annually, ranking second globally. Canada is the world’s largest producer, followed by Australia, Turkey, Russia, and the United States. Despite domestic production, India remains structurally dependent on imports to meet consumption demand and that impacts the broader lentils market price.
Lentils are primarily grown in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Production outcomes in these states, along with global supply conditions, directly affect the lentil commodity price.
As a Rabi crop, lentil cultivation depends heavily on residual soil moisture from the monsoon season. Although lentils are relatively hardy, the crop is vulnerable to frost during January and unseasonal rains or hailstorms during February and March. Such weather disruptions can affect yields and lead to volatility in masoor mandi rate levels across key producing regions.
Two broad categories of lentils are traded in India:
Red Lentils (Lal Masoor) – the dominant variety produced and consumed domestically
Yellow / Green Lentils – largely imported, with minimal domestic production
Quality, colour, and milling recovery influence masoor dal wholesale price and price differentiation in wholesale markets.
Lentils are a staple pulse in Indian households, consumed primarily as dehusked split dal and whole grain. Estimated annual consumption ranges between 2.2 and 2.5 million metric tons, significantly higher than domestic production.
This demand–supply gap is bridged through imports, mainly from Canada and Australia. Import volumes and landed costs play a critical role in shaping the lentil price in India and overall market sentiment.
Lentils are typically sown between November and December and harvested during March and April. Market arrivals usually peak in April and May and may extend into early June. Prices often soften during peak arrivals and strengthen during the lean period.
The masoor dal mandi rate today tends to firm up between July and September due to lower availability, festival demand, and seed procurement. Prices usually find support during these months before easing again as the new crop cycle approaches.
Weather conditions, government import policies, and global production trends remain the primary drivers of lentils market price movements.
For stakeholders across the supply chain, tracking the masoor dal mandi price is essential for procurement planning and inventory management. Lentils remain a strategically important pulse commodity, influencing nutrition outcomes, import policy decisions, and price stability in India.