Prices of pulses soar amid hoarding fears

Ruchika M Khanna & Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh/Amritsar, Oct 13

Already bearing the brunt of rising prices of fruit and vegetables, the common man has been hit hard by soaring costs of pulses in the local markets across the region. If experts are to believed the “artificial shortage” created by hoarders could be a major contributing factor in the price rise.

The prices of pulses — the staple diet of the common man — have seen a phenomenal rise in the past one month. With festive season round the corner, it doesn’t seem the situation is going to get any better. The cost of tur, black gram, green gram and Bengal gram is hovering between Rs 110 and Rs 190 per kg.

Tur dal costs Rs 170 per kg now as compared to Rs 70 in October last year. Similarly, the price of Urad dal has risen to Rs 160 per kg from Rs 110 per kg last year. Bengal gram is also costing Rs 110 per kg. Moong dal (dhuli and sabut) is hovering at Rs120- Rs 130 per kg (from Rs 90 per kg two months ago).

“Are these the “achche din” that we were promised?” lamented Payal Mohindra, an entrepreneur in Ludhiana, on the rising food prices.

Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, Director, Dr NP Singh said the price rise could be result of the hoarding of pulses.

“ The electronic trading of pulses and panic buying, too, has added to the problem,” he said.

Dal Merchant Association, Punjab, president Anup Jindal said the possibility of hoarding of pulses by companies could not be ruled out, which had led to a sharp hike in prices.

Besides, there is a shortfall in the area under cultivation of pulses. The acreage under pulses came down from 2.66 lakh hectares in 2012 to 2.09 lakh hectares in 2013 and 1.88 lakh hectares in 2014, resulting in the fall in production of pulses. The erratic rainfall has also led to the fall in yield.