Lentils are produced in almost all districts of Nepal except two Trans-Himalayan districts i.e. Manang and Mustang. Commercial production is however concentrated in the Terai, more than 90% of the Lentil grown in Nepal come from this region because of the favorable climatic and soil conditions prevailing in this area. The top six lentil producing districts of Nepal are Dang followed by Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Kailali and Bardia. India is the major producer of lentil whereas Canada is the largest exporter of lentil in the world. The major lentil producing countries are India, Canada, Nepal, Turkey, and USA.

Nepal export of Lentil in 2008-09 jumped to 56767 tons worth Rs. 5.66 billion from 1.62 billion in 2007-08.  After the government banned to export lentil in 2009-10, its export shrank to 37779 tons worth Rs. 3.47 billion due to the chances of food deficit as India stopped to export.

In Nepal red lentils occupies 60% of total national pulses production and 90% of pulses exports  In 2007, Nepal was the sixth largest producer of lentils in the world. It rose to number three with an output of 161,147 tons after Canada of 1 million tons and India of 810,000 tons in 2008.  Lentil is mainly exported to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Korea, Bhutan and India.

Lentil is adapted to all types of soil, from sand to clay loam, if there is good internal drainage. Lentil does not tolerate flooded or waterlogged soils, and does best on deep, sandy loam soils high in phosphorus and potassium. Good drainage is required, because even short periods of exposure to waterlogged or flooded field conditions kill plants. A soil with pH of near 7.0 is best for lentil production.

Lentils neutralize muscle acids in the body, and are especially good for the heart. They help build the glands and blood, and may be used with a variety of vegetables and grains in soups to provide a rich supply of minerals for nearly every organ, gland, and tissue in the body.
Although the improved seed introduced by Nepal Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) has boost lentil production to some extent in our country. It would be more effective if  government would introduce an appropriate trade facilitation policy and accredited food quality certification to capture increased international market for lentil which .has increased by 6.8% in terms of value and 6.2% in terms of volume in the last 10 years. Link with the global market would boost production, export of our country and helps to reduce the deficit balance of payment.