After vegetables, it is the turn of the pulses to witness a major spike in their prices. In the retail markets, tur (arhar) is being sold between Rs 120 and Rs 140 a kg while dhuli urad is between Rs 90 and Rs 120 a kg.
As per the Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MoCA), the wholesale prices of gram, tur and urad is Rs 6,700, Rs 9,700 and Rs 9,700 per quintal in the markets. Besides tur and dhuli urad, masoor dal prices increased from Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg and moong dal prices increased from Rs 80 to Rs 90-100 per kg. The prices of kabuli chana (chickpea) and gram dal are also skyrocketing in the retail markets.
Traders say prices of pulses are rising due to short supply. Another reason is that there is a possibility of a further increase in pulses stocks. The rainfall in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh has led to the low production of pulses. 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.
Prices of vegetables are also high in the retail market. Potato prices have increased from Rs 25 to Rs 40 per kg, capsicum from Rs 80 to Rs 120, cauliflower from Rs 70 to Rs 100, green chilli from Rs 70 to Rs 100, onion from Rs 30 to Rs 50 per kg.
In an attempt to check the rising price of pulses, MoCA has offered ‘urad’ and ‘tur’ at subsidised rates for retail sale to state governments.
Tur is being offered for retail intervention at Rs 85 per kg. Accordingly, dhuli urad is being offered to states at Rs 79 per kg for K-18 variety and at Rs 81 per kg for K-19 variety.
According to the ministry, the retail packs are being provided for retailing fair price shops of Public Distribution System (PDS) and other marketing/retail outlets of the state goverments such as dairy and horticulture outlets and consumer corporation society.
The ministry had earlier introduced a mechanism to supply pulses from the buffer stock to states at minimum support price plus 10 percent other charges.
Overall, India is a pulse-deficient country, with the overall domestic production falling short of consumption.