Excess August rain dents kharif moong crop prospects
Moong production was 17.47 lakh tonnes (lt) during kharif 2024 season, while the overall output during 2024-25 was 38.19 lt
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VIBHU H
Excess rainfall in August has dented prospects for the kharif moong (green gram) crop. The harvest has been affected by the persistent rain in Karnataka and in some parts of Maharashtra, while if the excess precipitation prolongs, it may affect the crop in Rajasthan, the largest producing State.
“It’s too early to quantify the losses, while there have been some reports of rain affecting the crop in some States like Karnataka, resulting in poor quality produce. A clearer picture of the moong crop size will emerge by the end of September as we need to assess the crop in large producing States such as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh,” said Bimal Kothari, chairman, IPGA.
As per the recent market updates from the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), the widespread rain has revived crops in Rajasthan. Though rains have improved the soil moisture and saved the crops, the excess rainfall may damage crops if it continues beyond early September.
Damage in N Karnataka
“There has been substantial damage to the greengram crop in Karnataka this year and quality has been impacted. Most of the crop that was ready for harvest has been damaged due to the persistent and excessive rain during August. Many farmers couldn’t harvest the crop due to rain,” said Sujay Hubli of Sujay Agriventures, a miller in Gadag, the key producing region in the state.
The impact of excess rain during August has been felt across the key producing districts of Gadag, Yadgir, Bagalkot, Dharwar and Kalaburgi. The Gadag market, witnessed arrivals of 10,930 quintals on Wednesday with the minimum price being ₹409 per quintal, while maximum being ₹10,121 and average price being ₹5,177. The minimum support price (MSP) for moong is ₹8,682 per quintal.
Basavaraj Athani, a trader in Bagalkot, said most of the greengram crop in North Karnataka is damaged this year due to excess rain, resulting in poor quality produce. The quantity of damaged quality moong, with higher moisture content, arriving in the market is higher this year. The quantity of good quality crop arrivals is very meagre, he said.
Acreage up a tad
Districts such as Gadag and Bagalkot had received 186 per cent and 164 per cent above normal rains during August, the harvest period for the crop, while other key producing districts like Yadgir and Kalaburgi had received 86 per cent and 85 per cent more precipitation during the month.
Kharif moong acreage across the country has increased marginally at 34.11 lakh hectares (lh) this year, up from 33.96 lh a year ago. The increase in area is unlikely to result in higher production this kharif compared with the last year on account of crop losses in parts of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, said Rahul Chauhan of Igrain India. Excess rain will ikely impact the yield this kharif. Moreover, the excess rain in Rajasthan, where the crop is in flowering and in the pod formation stage, has raised the risk of crop turning yellow, Chauhan said.
Moong production was 17.47 lakh tonnes (lt) during kharif 2024 season, while the overall output during 2024-25 was 38.19 lt .
Published on September 3, 2025
