The government advised the retail industry at a recent meeting to reduce the price of pulses in line with the decline in wholesale rates. Although the price of tur, masur, chana, moong, yellow peas, urad etc. have declined by 5-20% in the past two months in the wholesale markets, the retail prices continue to rule firm.Food and consumer affairs ministry officials recently met industry representatives to understand why retail prices are not coming down. Some of the top industry sources told ET on condition of anonymity that the government has advised the retail trade to sell at least some pulses at lower prices and aim for a 15-20% reduction. It is learnt that if the retail prices are not reduced, then the government may opt to increase the sale of Bharat brand pulses in the open market.
Expectations of a good kharif harvest and heavy import of yellow peas and chana have helped ease prices of pulses. Prices of most pulses except chana are currently lower than last year. "Prices of tur have declined by 15-20 per kg during the last two months. As of now, the tur crop standing in the fields looks the best in the last three to four years, although it is a little delayed," said Nitin Kalantry, a pulses processor from Latur in Maharashtra. Cheaper availability of winter vegetables has reduced the demand for pricier pulses.
"The prices of whole tur had come down by 20%, chana and yellow peas by 10% and masur and urad by 5-10%. The prices of pulses like kabuli chana and rajma are also bearish. Cheaper availability of vegetables has also reduced the pressure of demand on pulses, helping the prices to ease," said Satish Upadhyay, a senior office bearer of the Indian Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA).
