GROW SUMMER MOONG, A HIGH VALUE CASH CROP: PAU EXPERTS

LUDHIANA, MARCH 5:



"Keeping in view the shortage and high prices of pulses, there is a need to tap the vast potential area which could be brought under summer moong," said the experts of Plant Breeding and Genetics Department of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The short duration pulses like summer moong offer the most valuable option for crop diversification. It is a high value cash crop that requires fewer inputs and fits very-well in the rice-wheat cropping system of the state, they highlighted. As pulses play a vital role in improving soil health and conserving natural resources, the short duration summer moong can go a long way in boosting the pulse production not only in Punjab but the country as well, observed the experts.



Dr T.S. Bains said that the sowing of summer moong should be done from March 20 to April 10. About the summer moong varieties, he told that the research at PAU led to the development of a short-duration variety "SML 668" in 2000. The variety matures in 60 days and is tolerant to mungbean yellow mosaic virus disease, he said, highlighting that it is very popular not only in Punjab but in other states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. Subsequently, another variety "SML 832" was released by PAU for cultivation in the state in 2010, informed Dr Bains.



Another expert, Dr R.K. Gill said that the matching production and protection technology for successful raising of summer moong, specially, after wheat has also been developed. As a result, the area under summer moong in Punjab has increased from about 2000 hectares in the year 2000 to about 80,000 hectares, presently, he divulged. The improved varieties and package technology has boosted the confidence of farmers to take up summer moong cultivation. Dr Gill noted that there is a still a lot of scope to increase area under summer moong in the state.



Giving tips for successful cultivation of summer moong, Dr Inderjit Singh advised the farmers that always grow moong in well-drained loamy to sandy loam soils. Do not grow in saline-alkaline and water-logged soils, he emphasized, while suggesting that for proper plant stand in the field, use 15 kg seed per acre for variety SML 668 and 12 kg seed for variety SML 832. Treat the seed with Captan or Thiram fungicide (3g/kg seed) to protect from soil borne diseases. Informing that SML 668 variety can be sown upto April 20 if it is to be sown after harvesting of wheat crop, he emphasized that proper measures should be taken for weed/disease/insect-pest management.


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