Hand-picked moong is fetching a higher price of Rs 8,600-10,300 per quintal, while machine harvested ones command lower prices due to higher foreign material content The harvest of moong (green gram) has begun in Karnataka and arrivals in markets such as Gadag and Bagalkot have picked up, although trade sources said the crop is lower on drop in acreage due to delayed monsoon and deficit rain. In Gadag, a major market for moong in North Karnataka, arrivals were around 12,000 quintals on Tuesday, trade sources said. “ Prices have eased a tad compared to few days ago as arrivals seem to be better-than-expected. However, the moisture content in the new crop is still higher at in the range of 18-21 per cent compared to the government norms of 12 per cent. Demand is yet to pick up as traders and millers are not keen on buying the produce with higher moisture content as it could create storage issues, while the summer crop from states like Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat is available at a lower price,” a miller in Gadag said. For the machine harvested moong, the average prices are ruling a tad lower in the range of Rs 7,000-8,500 per quintal as the quality of the produce looks dull due to the method of harvest and has higher foreign material content. However, the hand-picked moong is fetching a higher price of Rs 8,600-10,300 per quintal, sources said. Post-harvest drying hit The Centre has announced a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 8,780 per quintal. Moreover, the rains and cloudy weather is seen affecting the post harvest drying of the produce in the region around Gadag, posing a challenge for both growers and processors, sources said, adding that the crop is seen lower this year on decline in acreage. “The crop this year lower than last year. Demand is not that great as traders are not keen on taking the risk at the current levels,” said a trader in Bagalkot, North Karnataka where around 5,000 quintals of new crop arrived on Tuesday. Prices are ruling in the range of Rs 8,500-9,975 levels in Bagalkot as the quality is good this year, he said. Moong acreage in the ongoing kharif season is down by 4 per cent at 32.05 lakh hectares as of August 14 over corresponding last year’s 33.42 lh. In Karnataka, the moong area is down by 12 per cent at 3.66 lh (4.16 lh), while in Maharashtra the decline in 30 per cent at 1.45 lh (2.09 lh). In Rajasthan, the area is almost flat at 23.06 lh (23.04 lh), while in Madhya Pradesh it is lower by 30 per cent at 0.66 lh (0.94 lh). In Gujarat, the moong area is lower by 45 per cent at 0.25 lh (0.46 lh).
