9 months ago

Maharashtra Farmers Reduce Moong Acreage Amid Shifting Crop Trends

Maharashtra Farmers Reduce Moong Acreage Amid Shifting Crop Trends
Turmeric market sees bright season ahead as Maharashtra leads production surge · thehindubusinessline.com

Farmers in Maharashtra are planting different amounts of pulse crops this year.

They are planting much less moong (a type of bean) because they are less sure about this crop.

However, they are planting more urad (another bean) because it's doing well in the market and can handle the unpredictable rainy weather better.

Tur, a main pulse crop, is still being planted at about the same amount as before, even though the weather and prices can be uncertain.

Overall, the total area for planting pulses is a bit less than usual.

This is happening while farmers are planting a lot more of other crops like corn.

Experts say this is because the weather has been unpredictable and farming is getting more expensive.

Some farmers feel that other crops like soybeans give them better profits than pulses.

Key facts

Total Kharif pulses area (Maharashtra)
18,84,591 hectares
Tur acreage (Maharashtra)
12,26,440 hectares (96% of 5-year average)
Moong acreage (Maharashtra)
2,11,318 hectares (70% of 5-year average)
Urad acreage (Maharashtra)
3,78,257 hectares (105% of 5-year average)
Other pulses acreage (Maharashtra)
68,575 hectares (75% of 5-year average)
Maize acreage expansion
156% of 5-year average
Top pulses producing states
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan (contributing ~55% of India's output)

Quotes

Ramkrishna Bholse

a farmer from Latur

“Compared to soybean and other crops, we hardly get any returns in pulses, and most of our produce goes to the domestic market. In recent years, more farmers are shifting to other cash crops.”
thehindubusinessline.com

Sources

Related news