About Masoor
Masoor (red lentil) is the everyday dal of eastern India. India grows a rabi crop and imports large volumes from Canada and Australia.
Where Masoor Is Grown in Bihar
The main masoor districts of Bihar are Patna (Tal area), Mokama, Barh, Nalanda, Lakhisarai. Bihar grows rice and wheat across the fertile Gangetic plain, high-yield rabi maize in the Kosi and Purnea belt, and is famous for Muzaffarpur's Shahi Litchi and Mithila's makhana. It is also a big producer of potato, onion, vegetables, masoor and banana.
Season in Bihar
Rabi: sown October–November, harvested February–March. Exact arrival dates in Bihar depend on local sowing and the monsoon, so check current arrivals before planning purchases.
How Masoor Is Sold in Bihar
Bihar repealed its APMC Act in 2006, so most produce is sold to private traders, local haats and bazaars rather than regulated mandis. Paddy and wheat are bought by PACS (primary agricultural credit societies) for the state.
Other major markets in Bihar
- Gulabbagh, PurneaMaizeAboutExplore
- MuzaffarpurLitchiAboutExplore
- Patna Bazar SamitiGrains, vegetablesAboutExplore
- DarbhangaMakhanaAboutExplore
Government Buying in Bihar
MSP; NAFED buys under price support. In Bihar, buying is organised through the agencies below, usually at procurement centres in or near the mandis during the harvest window. Farmers register in advance, and payment is made to their bank accounts.
- Bihar State Food and Civil Supplies CorporationGrain procurementAboutExplore
- PACS (primary agricultural credit societies)Village-level paddy and wheat buyingAboutExplore
- Makhana Board (announced 2025)Makhana sectorAboutExplore
Quality and Price Notes
Traders deal in whole masoor (brown), masoor malka (whole red, with skin removed) and split red masoor dal. Canadian lentils are graded as No. 1, No. 2 and so on, and Australian lentils as Nugget and other types. Indian buyers look for colour, uniform size and low broken percentage.
Masoor prices in India move with world lentil prices, Indian import duty, the Canadian and Australian harvests, and freight. A good Indian rabi crop reduces import demand; NAFED buying at MSP supports farm prices in big crop years.
Buyers, Processors and Exporters
These companies and bodies buy, process or export masoor across India, including from Bihar. Tap a name for details.
- Olam Agri India Pvt LtdPulses sourcing and importsAboutExplore
- Mangat Ram Dal Mill Pvt LtdDelhi · dal miller and pulses supplierAboutExplore
- India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA)Mumbai · trade body of pulses importers, millers and tradersAboutExplore
- NAFEDBuys pulses at MSP and holds the pulses bufferAboutExplore
- Tata Consumer Products LtdTata Sampann unpolished dals and besanAboutExplore
- AWL Agri Business LtdFortune besan and dals (formerly Adani Wilmar)AboutExplore
- Patanjali Foods LtdPatanjali dals and besanAboutExplore
- 24 Mantra Organic (Sresta Natural Bioproducts Pvt Ltd)Organic dalsAboutExplore
- Pro Nature Organic Foods Pvt LtdOrganic dalsAboutExplore
- BigBasket (Supermarket Grocery Supplies Pvt Ltd)Online grocery; branded and loose dalsAboutExplore
Research and Advice in Bihar
New varieties, crop advice and seed for masoor growers in Bihar come from the state agricultural universities below and from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in each district.
- Bihar Agricultural UniversitySabourAboutExplore
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural UniversityPusa, SamastipurAboutExplore
Masoor in Other States
Madhya Pradesh · Uttar Pradesh · West Bengal · Jharkhand · Assam
Related: Masoor – all India · Bihar · All crops
Names are listed for reference only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation. The About and Explore buttons open Google in a new tab; results there are generated by Google and third parties, not by this site. Prices, MSP, export rules and schemes change often. Nothing here is financial, legal or purchasing advice. Full disclaimer