The Centre has agreed to implement the price support scheme for the procurement of 'moong' (green gram) crop in Punjab, an official spokesperson said on Saturday.
''The Government of India has conveyed the state government through a letter, conveying its approval to implement the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for procurement of 4,585 MT of summer 'moong' in Punjab for Rabi season 2021-22 as per the PSS guidelines, 2018,'' the spokesperson said. The letter further mentioned that the date of procurement will be decided by the state government and the procurement period will remain 90 days from such date.
The spokesperson said the Centre's communiqué revealed that the Central nodal agency should verify the availability of scientific storage space according to PSS guidelines before commencement of procurement. “The state government will provide a revolving fund equivalent to at least 15 per cent of procurement cost of sanctioned quantity and ensure that the payment is made directly into the bank accounts of the farmers within three days of procurement,” the letter read.
Notably, the Punjab government has already decided to provide MSP to the farmers for 'moong' grown before paddy cultivation and sought support from the Centre. Summer moong is a crop of 65 days with an expected yield of about five quintals per acre. The MSP of unpolished 'moong' is Rs 7,275 per quintal but generally market prices are higher than the aforesaid price. However, India imports a substantial quantity of 'moong' every year for domestic consumption. In case the state farmers are incentivised this way, the production of 'moong' can be enhanced manifold in Punjab.
The Punjab government had already requested the Centre to purchase the entire quantity of 'moong' crop to make the country self-reliant in pulses having high protein content.
Meanwhile, summer Moong cultivation in Punjab has set a new record this year with sowing of 1.25 lakh acres (50,000 hectares), an increase of around 70,000 acres from the previous season, a government statement said. The State government has already issued a notification to procure the entire crop on MSP of Rs.7275 per quintal. As per the notification, the harvesting period of Summer Moong is in the month of June, 2022 and procurement period from June 1, to July 31.
As per data compiled by State Agriculture Department on the basis of final field reports received from all the districts, it was cultivated over an area of nearly 1.25 lakh acres (50,000 hectares) as compared to 55,000 acres (22,000 hectares) during 2020-21. Approximately, 56750 acres (22700 hectares) area in 2019-20 and 40750 acres (16300 hectares) in 2018-19 area under this crop across the state.
As per fresh reports of State Agriculture Department, Bathinda district led the state in sowing Moong over 31072 acres (12429 hectares) while last year only 500 hectares under this crop in this district. Followed by Mansa 25,000 acres (10,000 hectares), Moga 12675 acres (5070 hectares), Sri Muktsar Sahib 11975 acres (4790 hectares) and Ludhiana 10,750 acres (4300 hectares)
According to Director Agriculture Gurvinder Singh, this step would supplement farmer’s income by sowing another crop between wheat-paddy cycles. Pertinently, the Moong cultivators would have to sow paddy 126 variety or basmati in the same field after harvesting Moong as both these crops take far less time for maturity as well as require much less water as compared to other varieties of paddy.