Due to reduction in government procurement target in Rajasthan, there is a possibility of pressure on the price of moong.
21-Dec-2024 01:16 PM
The reduction in government procurement targets for moong in Rajasthan is creating significant challenges for farmers, leading to concerns about price pressure and financial strain.
In the previous year, Rajasthan's government had set a procurement target of 3,01,650 tonnes of moong. This year, however, the target has been slashed by approximately 30%, to 2,03,350 tonnes.
This cut means a substantial decrease in the quantity of moong that will be bought from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP).
As a result, many farmers may have to sell their crops in the open market, where prices are currently much lower than the MSP. The price of moong in the open market has already dropped by Rs 1500-2000 per quintal below the MSP.
The major moong-producing districts in Rajasthan, such as Nagaur and Didwana-Kuchasan, are facing the brunt of this reduction.
These areas account for more than 5 lakh hectares of moong cultivation, with an estimated production of 4.21 lakh tonnes.
However, the government's procurement in these areas will be less than half of that quantity. So far, only 15% of the farmers have been able to register for selling their moong at MSP.
The situation is even worse in Nagaur and Didwana-Kuchasan, where a large proportion of farmers have either not registered or have not received procurement tokens.
In Nagaur, only about 11,550 out of 21,821 registered farmers have managed to sell their moong, and in Didwana-Kuchasan, only 7,584 out of 10,792 registered farmers have been able to do so.
With the procurement process already halted in these regions, and many farmers unable to access government support, there is growing anxiety among moong producers throughout Rajasthan.
They are left with limited options for selling their crops, exacerbating their financial difficulties. The significant reduction in government procurement coupled with low market prices is expected to put continued pressure on the price of moong in the coming months.