Fall in wholesale prices of pulses yet to reach retail

Pune: Prices of chana, which accounts for 50% of the plant-based protein consumed by Indians, and tur have crashed by about 25% in the last two months, falling below their minimum support prices (MSP). Massive duty-free imports of yellow peas and chana, coupled with the arrival of the local crop have led to the big slide in chana and tur.

However, the retail consumer is yet to get the full benefit from the fall in prices at the wholesale level. According to data from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the all India average retail price of chana dal has declined only 4.3% during the two months – from December 26 to February 26. The price of tur dal has dropped 12% in this period.

Wholesale prices of other pulses like lentils and moong have also softened by 10% to 15% during the past two-three months. In the retail market, lentil and moong prices are down by only 1%, as per Ministry of Consumer Affairs data.

“Prices of most pulses are down by 10% to 25% from their peak levels,” said Satish Upadhyay, honorary secretary of the India Pulses and Grains Association, a trade body.

Increased availability of local crops has further aggravated the price situation. “We have heavy ongoing imports of all the pulses including, tur, yellow peas and chana. Now, the arrival of the local crop of tur and chana has also increased at all the markets in the country,” said Rupesh Rathi, executive member of the All India Dal Millers’ Association. Nitin Kalantry, a Latur, Maharashtra-based processor of pulses, said: “Chana is selling below the MSP at all the mandis in Maharashtra.”