It'll take time for farmers to capitalise on pulses exports

Lack of immediate export orders and availability of cheaper pulses from Africa and Myanmar in global market will prevent farmers from instantly benefitting from the government's move to open export of tur, moong and urad pulses, which comes after a decade, say traders and millers. However, they say that in the long run it will help farmer and correct price distortions. The industry also wants the government to allow export of chana and masur dal so as to be competitive in selling Indian branded pulses in the global market.

“It's a good move by the government but should have come a bit earlier. In the long run, the farmer will benefit but this harvest season he may not. With a huge crop coming in October, prices will crash below Minimum Support Price ( MSP). The government will have to enter the market and procure,“ says Nitin Kalantry, a trader and dal miller from Latur.

Currently, the crop harvest season has begun in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karantaka.

Urad, whose MSP was Rs 5,400 a quintal of 100 kg, was being sold in the range of Rs 4,900-5,300 a quintal, says Kalantry.

Similarly, moong's MSP has been fixed at Rs 5,575 a quintal and is now selling at Rs 4,500-5,500 a quintal depending on the new crop, he says. The tur harvesting will begin by December.

Prices of commodities crash when the harvest season picks up and crop arrivals increase in mandis.