Yellow Mozaic Damages Moong in Rajasthan; Prices Head Northward

JAIPUR (Commodities Control) In the current kharif season, the area under moong was expected to increase by 16%.Out of the nation-wide acreage estimate of ​​around 36 lakh acre, Rajasthan was expected to have large crop with covering an area of 21 lakh hectare. But thi estimate has suffered a big setback.

The Ministry of Agriculture has estimated 20.9 lakh tonnes production moong in the first advance estimate of Kharif season 2020-21. Last year, the country produced 17.9 lakh tonnes of moong. Due to Yellow Mosaic disease, there is a possibility of heavy damage to the moong crop in many districts of Rajasthan. The Yield in the seven affected districts are expected to decrease by 35 to 37 percent.

This is expected to reduce Rajasthan's total moong production. The disease caused by excess rains has ruined moong plant. The disease results in fall of leaves and flowers of the moong plant. It eliminates the possibility of pods. Even in pods that are already developed, grain size reduces. The disease spreads to other plants and farms. The impact of this disease can be gauged from the fact that the affected farmers have raised the demand of conducting a survey (Girdawari) of the damaged crop from the government and are demanding compensation.

The affect of Yellow Mosaic disease is greater in Rajasthan's Nagaur, Pali, Jalore, Jodhpur, Sikar, Pali and Barmer districts. The grasshopper attack, along with the yellow mosaic disease and heavy rains during harvesting have also led to crop failure in Nagaur, Pali and Jodhpur areas. The natural calamities are expected to decrease not only the yield of moong, but will affect the quality of the produce as well.

The ratio of good quality yield will be very low. 32 affected villages include Leelia, Jaswantabad, Gamliwas, Akeli, Khakarki, Badgaon, Kheduli, Moondara, Phalki of Merta tehsil, seven villages of Khivansar and 5 villages of Nagaur Baswani, Barangaon, Kadarpura, Sinod, Bhakarod, Sheelgaon, Dehru villages. In these villages, 65 to 70 percent crop is estimated to have been damaged. The area of crop damage is spread in 38 to 40 hectares.

Vinod Pratap Singh of Nagaur, who had sown moong, says that in the last season, 6 to 8 mana (40 kg per mana) of moong was produced. The price was also good in last season. Therefore, moong was sown in more area. But this time the yield is likely to be only three to five mana per bigha due to the disease. The condition is similar in many districts. Therefore, in these districts of Rajasthan, it is estimated that 35-40 per cent less yield can be obtained from disease affected farms. As per market estimate, just 15 per cent crop was brought in mandis in current season. With the start of government procurement, the arrival of moong in the mandis will increase.

The agriculture department of the state estimated 14.31 lakh tonnes of moong production. But the forecast was in case of normal crop conditions, While the yield and production in these districts will be lower due to the disease. Therefore, the total production of the state is estimated to be lower. Traders estimate the production of moong in Rajasthan to touch 10 lakh tonnes. In Jalore and Nagaur belt, moong production is estimated to be affected in 1.25 lakh hectare area, this will reduce the yield to 70,000 tonnes of moong.

As far as quality is concerned, good quality moong in Rajasthan will be limited to just 35 to 37 percent. Farmers of half a dozen districts including Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Barmer, Pali have submitted memorandum to the Collector offices demanding Girdawari. The Revenue Board of Rajasthan has instructed to send Girdawari report by 15 October. Farmers demand for Girdavari indicates a severe outbreak of the disease. The outbreak of the disease on the crop has been visible in the last two weeks. The estimates of crop affected by the disease will come later, then the reality of yields will be revealed.

Current arrival of moong in Rajasthan is early sown crop. New moong is tainted due to heavy rains. Right now the arrival of new moong has started in the mandis of Sriganganagar, Maida, Kekri, Sikar and Nagaur belt, the new moong is mostly tainted. Hastimal Doshi, wholesaler of Merta Mandi, says that the new Moong arrival is estimated to around 3500-4000 bags in Merta mandi, but mostly produce is tainted and wet. The demand in the mandis of Rajasthan is 50,000-55,000 bags per day, but the average arrival in the mandis is currently 30000-35000 bags. The supply of good quality moong is limited due to crop issues. The arrival of new moong will pick up in the mandis at the end of September.

With the increase of 16% area of ​​moong across the country, the prospects of increasing production have suffered a setback in other states as well. The effect of this disease is also in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. Heavy rains caused disease in some areas. The heavy rains have also damaged the moong crop in Karnataka and Maharashtra, which may reduce yields. The whole country is dependent on Rajasthan for moong to some extent, but here too, adverse conditions may cause to decline in production and deteriorating quality. Shyam Natani, a moong businessman from Jaipur, says that 70 percent of the crop in Karnataka and Maharashtra has been stained by the rains this season. 10,000 bags of moong are arriving daily in Yadgir mandi of Karnataka, but the quality is poor.

In Rajasthan and other states, prices are rising due to the impact on moong crop. Loose auction prices in the mandis have risen to Rs 300 per quintal in the current week. The price has risen by Rs. 900-1000 rupees per quintal in September. Poor quality moong was sold at Rs 4450-4700 per quintal and good quality moong at Rs 6600-7000 per quintal. The average price at the end of August was Rs 5800-6100 per quintal.

The Rajasthan government is preparing to purchase 3,57,868 tonnes of moong at MSP of Rs 7,196 per quintal MSP. Thus, keeping in view the estimated production, only six and a half lakh tonnes of moong will be left in the open market. In such a situation, prices are likely to increase further. Moong prices rose in Indore, Solapur, Dahod, Jalgaon, Dudhani Mandi also.