Pulses prices soar past Rs 100/kg; no tenders yet for import

Amid a supply crunch, retail prices of many pulses have crossed Rs 100 per kg mark in major cities across the country, but the government agencies are yet to float the tender for their import to check the price.

Barring gram and masoor dal, all major varieties of pulses -- including tur, urad and moong -- are being sold at prices above Rs 100 per kg in the four metro cities due to lower production of the key lentils during the last harvest.

Consumers in Mumbai and Chennai are paying the maximum price for tur, urad and moong, followed by Delhi and Kolkata.

Prices have increased by more than 60 per cent in the last one year as the domestic production fell by nearly two million tonnes (MT) in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) due to unfavourable weather conditions.

To check the prices, the government has decided to boost supply by importing pulses in large quantities, while it has also finalised the modalities for the import through state-trading agencies like MMTC.

However, they are yet to float the import tenders.

The government last week also announced a significant hike in the MSP of pulses by upto Rs 275/quintal to encourage domestic production and ensure adequate supply.

Though India produces 18-19 million tonnes of pulses, it also imports 3-4 million tonnes annually to meet the domestic shortages.

According to the data maintained by the Consumer Affairs Ministry, tur prices in Mumbai and Chennai have increased to Rs 116/kg at present, from Rs 72-79/kg in the year-ago period, while rates of urad dals have risen to Rs 121-123/kg from Rs 79-84/kg in the said period.

Similarly, moong prices in these two cities have shot up to Rs 111/kg from Rs 92-97/kg, while gram dal rates have increased to Rs 68-70/kg from Rs 47-61/kg in the period under review.

In Delhi and Kolkata, consumers are paying Rs 105-113/kg for tur at present, as against Rs 68-73/kg in the year-ago period. They are paying Rs 108-112/kg for urad, Rs 103-105/kg for moong, Rs 84-94/kg for masoor and Rs 64-68/kg for gram.

In the year-ago period, tur and urad were available in these two metro at Rs 68-73/kg, moong at 85-92/kg, masoor at Rs 60-70/kg and gram at Rs 44-49/kg, the data showed.

A similar situation prevails in other cities in the country, where consumers are feeling the pinch of price rise.