Pune, july 13: Price of pulses, tur, moong and chana dal in particular, has shot up by 50 per cent in the last few weeks. Traders blame it on the delayed monsoon.
“Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan are pulse-producing states. They have not received sufficient rains. We saw a reduction in the area under production of pulses last year because of poor rains. This time, it is bad right from the start as sowing has been delayed by a month,” said Nitin Nahar, a trader at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), Gultekdi.
Last year, pulse production in the state had dipped by 50 per cent because of a lull in the monsoons in the middle of Kharif season. The area under pulse cultivation in the state has also come down from 40 lakh to 26 lakh hectares.
This year, prices have soared to unprecedented levels. The rise in the price of tur has been the steepest. From Rs 45 per kg, the wholesale price has touched Rs 90 per kg, and retail price around Rs 95 per kg. Moong and masur have touched Rs 60-Rs 65 per kg (wholesale) from Rs 40-Rs 45 per kg in June, traders say.
Nahar said the quantity of pulses arriving has dropped from 5,000 to 6,000 quintals daily to 500-600 quintals. APMC markets at Latur, Akola, Amravati in the Maharashtra and other states do not have sufficient stock, he adds.
“High prices are putting off retailers. If they bought 10 bags earlier, they are now buying three,” said Rajendra Bhatiya, a trader at APMC market in Gultekdi.
“Tur has become unaffordable. We have increased consumption of other varieties of dal. Pulses have become expensive at a time when vegetable prices are also high,” says Jasbir Kaur Rajpal, who runs a canteen service.
“At present, we are not able to grow sufficient pulses. The government needs to move fast to import pulses from other countries,” says Bhatiya.
Traders say that if good rains arrive soon, pressure on vegetable prices might decrease, which in turn could lead to a reduced demand for pulses and their price.
Spinach, methi and coriander are selling at high prices.
Coriander costs Rs 10-Rs 12 a bunch at wholesale markets and over Rs 15 at retail markets.
–Agencies