New Delhi: Pulses traders want the Centre to allow additional imports of five to six lakh tonnes of urad, tur, and yellow peas to ensure steady availability and stable prices at home, as late autumn rains have caused a drop in domestic crop output this season.
Urad prices recorded the highest increase of 30 per cent in the past one month to Rs 70 a kg in the Mumbai wholesale markets. In the same time period, the price of moong has risen by 15 per cent to Rs 65 a kg.
“We have asked the government to increase the quota of import by two lakh tonnes each for urad and tur. Also, the government can allow one to two lakh tonnes import of yellow peas,” said Bimal Singh Kothari, vice president of the Indian Pulses and Grains Association. He said that the move would help avoid price volatility.
The All India Dal Mill Association in Indore has also asked the government to allow urad imports from Myanmar, said its president Suresh Aggarwal. “We expect the government to allow additional imports by January,” he said.
Analysts expect prices to remain firm until March, when the new rabi crop will be harvested.
“Prices of most pulses have been gradually increasing from September and we can expect this trend until end-February, when the kharif crop is harvested,” said Manoj Kumar Jain, director, India Nivesh Commodities. Analysts are also watching the sale of pulses by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation. Currently, the state agency has 34.25 lakh tonnes of pulses: They include 19 lakh tonnes of chana, 6 lakh tonnes of tur,4.5 lakh tonnes of urad, 2.8 lakh tonnes of moong, and 1.5 lakh tonnes of masur.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com