Pulses racing as dal prices near 200 per kg

NAVI MUMBAI: Prices of pulses have skyrocketed over the past 12 months, with tur dal rates more than doubling to touch an all-time high. It is trading in wholesale markets at Rs 190 per kg at the moment against Rs 90 in October 2014; retail prices are another Rs 20-30 higher. Following close on its heels is urad dal, which is going at a wholesale rate of Rs 160 per kg (Rs 85 last year). Market watchers blame the price rise (see detailed chart on P 4) on a variety of reasons—from erratic weather and a poor crop to hoarding by middlemen, MNCs and the mega retail chains —and claim the situation has turned worse in the festive season as the state government failed to react swiftly to the Centre's warnings of a price spiral. Comparatively, the increase in masoor dal price has been far more modest, from Rs 70 to Rs 90 in wholesale. With tur and urad retailing at Rs 220 and Rs 180 per kg, respectively, consumers' monthly budget has gone for a toss. Dal, a major source of protein for the common man, particularly the vegetarians, is proving to be a luxury. "We will not be able to buy the amount of dal that we need monthly due to the unwarranted price rise and that too during the festive season. It's shocking that retailers are making a killing out of an artificial shortage," rued Kiran Gulve, a housewife. This year crops were damaged in pulses-producing areas like Jalna, Nagpur, Latur and Dhule due to hailstorm, unseasonal rain and erratic monsoon, leading to curtailed supply. "Apart from these natural factors, farmers have lost interest in pulses due to high production cost that leads to less profit," said farmer Pandurang Gulane. TOI