Haryana to provide seed subsidy on summer moong

Chandigarh, Mar 27 (UNI) To promote cultivation of summer moong in the state, Haryana Agriculture Department has decided to incur an amount of Rs 1.20 crore to provide seed subsidy on summer moong for the current season.

While stating this here today, Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha said that subsidy at the rate of Rs 30 per kg would be provided which was about 70 per cent of the seed cost to motivate the farmers for this purpose.

He said the area of summer moong during the current season was likely to increase to 30,000 hectares with this programme. Last year, an area of 16,000 hectares was brought under summer moong cultivation. It had been planned to cover an area of 20,000 hectares under promotional programme of summer moong cultivation, he added.

Over 6000 quintal seeds of improved varieties of moong would be distributed to the farmers on subsidised rates through sale outlets of Haryana Seeds Development Corporation. Direct subsidy to the farmers would also be available on the purchase of moong seed from private licenced seed dealers, he added.

"Summer moong being a leguminous crop improves the soil health by enriching the soil fertility. The crop also yields three to four quintals per acre with a gross return of Rs 8000 to Rs 10000 to the farmers in a short span of two months," Mr Chatha said, adding that, "Summer moong would also provide an alternative to the summer paddy, which is a water guzzling crop. The farmers are advised to grow summer moong in place of summer paddy in order to improve the soil health." UNI PS JS1416