Moong is the only pulse crop for which the government claims India has attained self-sufficiency. Farmers have stuck to the crop despite realising lower rates. Over 62 per cent of the targeted area has been sown. Currently, an 11 per cent drop in acreage from the year-ago level is mainly due to lower rainfall in the main growing states like Rajasthan, Karnataka and Maharashtra, compared with the 2025 monsoon.

After the current spell of rains brought relief to moong farmer, it is expected that the area will at least match with last year level if not exceed.

“I had planted moong on June 27 and was waiting for rains. Fortunately, the rains received Monday will save my crop,” said Jagdeesh Chand Sou, a farmer near Dudu (a former district) in Rajasthan. Sou, who cultivates moong in about 35 bighas out of 55 bighas (about 34 acres), said that there is no alternative crops he can take other than moong, bajra and jowar, which he has been cultivating.

He said that no agricultural scientist or any government official ever advised any alternatives, even though farmers in his village would like to try alternatives, amid low realisation from moong. However, he said that he saves a reasonable amount a,s much as Rs 6,000-7,000 per bigha, spent on cultivation costs, whereas about Rs 18,000-20,000/bigha is earned from selling 3 quintals (per bigha) at current market rates.

According to Agmarknet portal, moong farmers of Rajasthan sold their last year’s kharif crop at average 26 per cent below its minimum support price of Rs 8,768/quintal during key harvesting season October-December.

Farmer leader Rampal Jat said that in the non-irrigated areas where moong is cultivated, there is little option for farmers. One is lower input costs; the second is short duration (of 60-75 days) helps farmers to take another crop if the rain is good, he said, explaining the reason for farmers’ choice for sticking to moong.

Published on July 21, 2026