Retail prices of pulses jump up to 41% in last 1 year: Govt

Prices of pulses have increased by up to 41 percent in retail markets during the last one year on decline in production due to account of adverse weather conditions, the government on Friday informed Parliament. "Over the last one year, the increase in retail prices of major pulses have ranged between 12.63 percent to 40.73 percent. The main reason for the sharp increase in prices of pulses is a decline in production on account of adverse weather conditions," Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The All India daily average retail price of moong dal has increased by 12.63 percent to Rs 98.47 per kg as of July 20, compared with Rs 87.43 per kg on July 18, 2014. During the period under the review, retail prices of urad dal have shot up by 34.39 percent to Rs 99.03 per kg, while rates of arhar/tur dal have increased by 40.73 percent to Rs 99.31 per kg. Prices of masoor dal have gone up by 23 percent to Rs 82.53 per kg, while chana dal rates have risen by 30.53 percent to Rs 60.29 per kg, according to the data placed before the Upper House.

In a separate reply, Paswan said that the government has decided to import pulses to augment supplies in the domestic market and check prices. "Rise in prices of essential food items including pulses are triggered by several factors such as adverse weather conditions, rise in transportation cost, supply constraints and artificial shortage due to hoarding and black marketing," he said. Retail prices of most pulses have increased due to supply crunch in the wake of a decline in domestic production by nearly two million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) on account of unfavourable weather conditions earlier this year.

Pulses production is estimated to have fallen to 17.38 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from 19.25 million tonnes in the previous crop year due to deficient monsoon last year and unseasonal rains and hailstorms during March-April this year. India imports about four million tonnes of pulses, largely through private trade, to meet domestic shortfall.