Pulses dearer by 64 per cent in first year of Narendra Modi government

Bucking the overall trend of easing inflation, pulses got costlier by up to 64 per cent in the first year of the Narendra Modi government across major metro cities, primarily due to fall in domestic production.

Amid forecast of a poor monsoon for the second consecutive year, the government is considering importing pulses through state-owned trading firms such as MMTC to boost domestic supply and check the rise in retail prices. According to the data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry, the maximum increase in retail prices was witnessed in urad in the past one year while tur, masoor, gram and moong dal prices have also shot up.

One of the major achievements of the government - which is completing its one year in office - has been the inflation control during the period.

According to the latest government data, the overall consumer price inflation dropped to its four-month low of 4.87 per cent in April while wholesale price-based inflation has been in the negative territory for six straight months.

While inflation has eased in a number of food articles, the data showed that pulses have been getting costlier considerably, at least, in the metros.

Currently, urad is being sold in the range of Rs 105-Rs 123/kg in metros as against Rs 64-80/Rs kg a year ago. Urad prices have risen sharply by 64 per cent to Rs 105/kg at present in Kolkata from Rs 64/kg in May 2014 while the rates stood at Rs 123/kg in Mumbai, Rs 109/kg in Delhi and at Rs 116/kg in Chennai. Similarly, tur or arhar dal prices have increased by up to 53 per cent and are ruling in the range of Rs 102-Rs 116/kg from Rs 68-Rs 86/kg in the last year.

Masoor prices have risen by up to 40 per cent and are ruling in the range of Rs 80-Rs 94/kg as against Rs 60-Rs 75/kg in the year ago, moong prices have increased by 26 per cent to Rs 107-Rs 116/kg in metros as against Rs 92-Rs 105/kg in the review period.

According to experts, pulses are cultivated in rainfed areas and prices of lentils have been on rise due to fall in domestic production during the ongoing 2014-15 crop year in the wake of below normal monsoon. Pulses production is estimated to fall to 18.43 MT in the 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from 19.78 MT in the previous year.