Moong Acreage Rises on High MSP, Import Ban
11-Aug-2025 09:42 PM
New Delhi. During the current Kharif season, while on one hand the production area of tuvar and urad is lagging behind last year, on the other hand, an increase is being seen in the sowing area of moong.
There are several reasons for this. Firstly, there is a ban on the import of moong since February 2022 and secondly, the government has increased its minimum support price (MSP) to Rs 8768 per quintal, which is the highest among all pulses.
Government procurement of moong is also good. As per the period till August 1, during the current Kharif season, the production area of tuvar was lagging behind by 6.6 percent and the sowing area of urad was 2.1 percent behind compared to last year, but the area of moong was 3.2 percent ahead.
Tuvar, urad and yellow peas are being imported duty free in India and only 10-10 percent customs duty is applicable on the import of gram and lentil.
According to trade analysts, farmers feel that duty free import of tur and urad may affect their income in the future but this will not happen in the case of moong. Currently, the open market price of all major pulses except Desi gram is running below the minimum support price.
Data maintained by iGrain India shows that last week (on August 5) the price of urad was Rs 7000 per quintal (MSP Rs 7800 per quintal), the price of moong was Rs 7100 (Rs 8768), the price of tuvar was Rs 6600 (Rs 8000) and the price of lentil was Rs 6600 (Rs 6700) per quintal.
Only the price of gram was running above the MSP of Rs 5650 at Rs 6000 per quintal. By 1 August 2025, the production area of moong increased by 3.2 percent from last year to around 32.10 lakh hectares, which is about 90 percent of the normal average area of 35.60 lakh hectares.
On an average, 35-37 lakh tonnes of moong is produced in India every year. It is cultivated in many states of the country and is produced in all three seasons - Kharif, Rabi and Zaid.
Apart from this, 36-37 lakh tonnes of tuvar, 2025 lakh tonnes of urad, 16-17 lakh tonnes of lentils and 80-85 lakh tonnes of gram are also produced in the country.
This time, the sowing of this pulse crop has increased the most in the country's most prominent moong producing state - Rajasthan. Its area there increased from 21.60 lakh hectares last year to 23.20 lakh hectares this time.