Pulses fall as government offloads stock in the open market

New Delhi: Prices of pulses like chana, masur, urad and moong have fallen with increased arrival of the rabi crop in mandis and the government offloading stock in the open market.

In the wholesale market, chana prices were down 6 per cent from the government’s minimum support price at Rs 4,350 per quintal while masur was down 8 per cent at Rs 4,100 a quintal. Prices of urad and moong, offloaded by government agencies, were down 10 per cent compared to the MSP at Rs 5,000 a quintal and Rs 6,400 a quintal, said Anuj Gupta, deputy vice-president of commodity research at Angel Broking.

Procurement by government agencies and export incentives were expected to boost prices, the trade felt.

“Except for tur, prices of all other pulses from chana, masur, urad and moong are ruling below the government assured price. If government procurement increases, or if there is some export incentive, then prices will firm up,” said Bimal Kothari, vice chairman, Indian Pulses and Grains Association. Kothari said pulses procurement by government agencies will help farmers get remunerative prices and check consumer prices too.

“We have procured five lakh fifty thousand tonnes of chana, mustard and masur from Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Haryana this rabi season. This is supporting prices in the mandis,” said Sanjeev Kumar Chadha, MD of Nafed.

“We have started selling kharif moong, urad and groundnut. Prices are inching upwards and are better than they were in the last two months. They will cross the MSP similar to tur,” said Chadha. Nafed sold 44,071 tonnes of moong procured in kharif 2018-19 and over 2.28 lakh tonne moong of 2017-18 crop. It has started sale of urad kharif 2018-19 in Madhya Pradesh procured under price support scheme of government.

“A lot will depend on the monsoon. If it is delayed, then prices will remain firm. With the government allowing import of over 6.50 lakh tonnes of pulses and another 2 lakh tonne from Mozambique, we expect the vessels to arrive in July-August, which will further put pressure on market,” said Suresh Agrawal, chairman of the All India Dal Mill Association that is headquartered at Indore.