Prices of pulses up 20% ahead of festive season

Pune: Festival season demand and a shipment delay has buoyed prices of pulses bucking a downward trend set in motion by fresh arrivals from a bumper khariff crop and firmed prices of tur, urad and chana by about 15% to 20% in last 15 to 20 days. In the last three weeks wholesale prices of whole chana rose by about 30% and tur, moong and urad by about 15%.

The Cabinet on Wednesday extended the validity of the Centre's orders issued last year to empower states to take steps such as imposing stock limits on pulses and cooking oils to improve market supply and discourage hoarding and profiteering.

Likely good demand for commodities during the October-December festival period and a shortage of chana in the market pushed prices up.

Besides, rains in Australia delayed shipments of chana expected midOctober by 2-3 weeks. Rains at home have also affected milling activity, especially in the case of tur.

“Our milling had reduced to about one third as rains had gathered pace,“ said a leading tur miller from Maharashtra, who did not want to be identified. Moong prices got support from the government procurement centres, though not much buying has happened there yet. Traders expect a firm downtrend in prices of most pulses to set in after October.