Govt concerned over fall in prices of some lentils

Government, which sees better pulses output this year, is now concerned about fall in prices of some lentils, especially moong, to below the MSP level.
The government has fixed the minimum support price (MSP) of moong at Rs 5,225 per quintal for this year. The wholesale prices of moong dal have started declining sharply these days and at present are ruling at around Rs 5,750 per quintal.
Experts say the moong prices could further fall once the harvesting of the crop begins from October.
"Prices of moong are falling. We are now worried if farmers demand for MSP purchase," Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters.

More farmers have shifted to pulses on account of significant increase in the MSP this year, he said.
"We are expecting better pulses production. I don't want a situation, wherein pulses prices fall to an extent that farmers demand solution from us," he said.
The government is expecting the production of pulses to rise to 18-20 million tonnes in 2016-17 crop year (July-June) on hopes on a better monsoon.
On the back of two consecutive droughts, the output of pulses had dropped in 2015-16 and 2014-15 to 17.06 million tonnes and 17.15 million tonnes, respectively, as against 19 million tonnes in 2013-14, leading to a spike in retail prices.