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 West Bengal
The main masoor districts of West Bengal are Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, Birbhum. West Bengal is among India's largest rice producers and its biggest grower of jute and vegetables. It is also a major producer of potato, mustard, masoor, sesame, tuberose, marigold, Malda mangoes, litchi and Darjeeling tea.
Season in West Bengal
Rabi: sown October–November, harvested February–March. Exact arrival dates in West Bengal depend on local sowing and the monsoon, so check current arrivals before planning purchases.
How Masoor Is Sold in West Bengal
Farm produce is sold through regulated APMC market yards under the state's agricultural produce marketing law, run by the state agricultural marketing board, with many yards linked to eNAM. Paddy is bought through the state's procurement centres and cooperative societies.
Key markets for Masoor in West Bengal
Other major markets in West Bengal
- Mullick Ghat, KolkataFlowersAboutExplore
- Koley Market, KolkataVegetablesAboutExplore
- Hooghly (Tarakeswar, Singur)PotatoAboutExplore
- MaldaMangoAboutExplore
Government Buying in West Bengal
MSP; NAFED buys under price support. In West Bengal, 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.
- West Bengal State Agricultural Marketing BoardRegulated marketsAboutExplore
- West Bengal Food and Supplies DepartmentPaddy procurementAboutExplore
- Jute Corporation of IndiaKolkata · raw jute buyingAboutExplore
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 West Bengal. 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 West Bengal
New varieties, crop advice and seed for masoor growers in West Bengal come from the state agricultural universities below and from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in each district.
- Bidhan Chandra Krishi ViswavidyalayaMohanpur, NadiaAboutExplore
- Uttar Banga Krishi ViswavidyalayaCooch BeharAboutExplore
Masoor in Other States
Madhya Pradesh · Uttar Pradesh · Bihar · Jharkhand · Assam
Related: Masoor – all India · West Bengal · 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