MUMBAI, 15 Jun (Commoditiescontrol): The prices of tur, chana, and urad dals are likely to decline starting next month, buoyed by expectations of a favorable monsoon and increased imports, Union Consumers Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare announced on Friday, urging the public to remain calm and not panic.
Khare highlighted that the import volumes of these three pulses will rise from July, enhancing domestic supply. "Prices of tur, chana, and urad dals have been stable over the past six months but at elevated levels. However, the price situation for moong and masoor dals is more comfortable," she told reporters.
As of June 13, the average retail prices stood at Rs 87.74 per kg for chana dal, Rs 160.75 per kg for tur (arhar) dal, Rs 126.67 per kg for urad dal, Rs 118.9 per kg for moong dal, and Rs 94.34 per kg for masoor dal. These figures are sourced from the consumer affairs department, which monitors prices from 550 major consumption centers.
Khare noted that starting in July, tur, urad, and chana prices are expected to soften, driven by the weather office's forecast of a normal monsoon. "We are anticipating good monsoon rains, more than average. This will likely increase the area under pulse cultivation as farmers respond to high market prices. Positive market sentiments will follow," she said, adding that the government is also distributing better seeds to farmers.
The secretary reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring sufficient domestic supply and stabilizing retail prices. She pointed out the government's initiative to sell Bharat chana dal at Rs 60 per kg as a measure to provide relief to the public. "We are leaving no stone unturned to boost domestic availability," she emphasized.
India imported approximately 8 lakh tonnes of tur and 6 lakh tonnes of urad in the last financial year, primarily from Myanmar and African countries. Khare assured that her department is actively engaging with global suppliers to enhance imports and collaborating with domestic retailers and wholesalers to prevent hoarding.
In the 2023-24 crop year (July-June), tur production reached 33.85 lakh tonnes against a consumption of 44-45 lakh tonnes. Chana production was 115.76 lakh tonnes, with a demand of 119 lakh tonnes, and urad production was 23 lakh tonnes, with a consumption need of 33 lakh tonnes. The gap between demand and supply is met through imports.
Addressing vegetable prices, Khare mentioned that monsoon rains are expected to positively impact retail prices. The demand for potatoes has surged due to the heatwave affecting the harvest of green vegetables. The government has begun procuring onions for buffer stocks, with 35,000 tonnes already secured. Efforts are also underway to extend the shelf life of onions through cold storage and irradiation processes.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91 98201 3018)
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