Moong yield rate reaches highest level in Punjab

09-Jul-2024 09:10 PM

Barnala. Although this year the government did not purchase any moong produced in the Zaid season from the farmers in Punjab and the producers were forced to sell their produce to private traders at a price of Rs 500-700 per quintal below the Minimum Support Price (MSP), but the relief was that the average yield rate of moong increased to the highest level.

This helped the farmers to a great extent in compensating for the losses. This time the productivity of moong jumped to 8-9 quintals per acre in Moga district. Although the traders purchased moong at the rate of only Rs 8000 per quintal, but due to better production,

the farmers got an opportunity to earn profit. In the year 2022, a little more than 5500 tonnes of moong was purchased by Markfed from the farmers, but NAFED accepted only 2500 tonnes of stock because the quality of the remaining goods was not good. As a result,

Markfed and Punjab Mandi Board had to bear a loss of about Rs 40 crore. In the year 2023, Markfed purchased only 2500 tonnes of moong for the central pool and did not need any quality relief or concession. In the year 2024,

the quality of moong is seen to be quite good, but no notification was issued by the Agriculture Department regarding the purchase of moong for the central pool, so the farmers started selling their produce to private traders. 

About 75 percent of the stock of moong produced in Punjab had reached the mandis by June 30 and 99 percent of it is reported to be sold at a price lower than the minimum support price.

Some farmers had to sell moong at the rate of Rs 7800-8000 per quintal, while the stock of some other producers was sold around the support price. Despite no government purchase, the farmers did not suffer any loss.