After Onions now it is the turn of pulses. A tremendous growth in pulses price effects the consumers seriously to cut down their consumption, as the common man is reeling under inflation and the price rise.
The cost of pulses like Toor, Urad have rapidly increased by more than Rs 100 in the wholesale market and Rs.180-200 in the retail market.The prices also rose up to 60-100 percent at the Rythu Bazar since last month.
Comparatively the price of red gram increased up from Rs.100 -190 while moong dal rose from Rs.90-120. Similarly Urad dal which was selling at Rs.120 few weeks ago is now being sold for Rs.180. Pulses is considered as a major source of protein for the common man, particularly the vegetarians, is proving to be a luxury.
The traders complain that the speedy increase in prices has reduced the sale by 60 percent. They added that the price hike has taken a toll on retail business with the consumption of pulses which is drastically reducing .
According to traders, merchants and grocers the rocketing prices are in response to the deficient monsoon leading to crop failure.
“Extent of land under pulses has shrunk considerably with commensurate increase in cotton production. A decade ago, 25 per cent of land was used for producing pulses in Telangana. Today that area is less than five per cent,” said Dr GV Ramanjaneyulu, director of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture.
Reducing produce combined with crop failure due to inadequate rains, has caused prices of pulses to rise every year for the last seven years and the Centre is to be blamed, he added.
A merchant at Osmangunj Market M.V. Subramanyam said“Volumes reduced due to the phenomenal and unprecedented rise in prices. As consumers have nearly halved their consumption of pulses, retailers have stopped buying quantities that allow wholesalers to incur profits.”
The estate officer of Rythu Bazar, Mehdipatnam said.“We usually sell around five quintals of pulses everyday. The sales have come down slightly because of the high prices. People are buying pulses only if it is important. Else it is being avoided.”
The prices are likely to rise till the fresh crop hits the market in the month of February. Till then the last year’s stock will be continued.