Pulses prices fall by Rs 20, to ease more on kharif arrivals

New Delhi: Government on Tuesday said pulses prices have fallen by an average Rs 20 per kg following raids on hoarders and the rates would ease further with the arrivals of kharif crops.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the prices of essential commodities ahead of the festive season. He asked the Agriculture as well as Food & Consumer Affairs ministries to boost procurement of pulses for creation of buffer stock.

"The finance minister emphasised the importance of ensuring adequate availability of essential commodities and taking proactive steps to hold the price line at reasonable levels," an official statement said.

Following the sustained de-hoarding operations undertaken, the government said, the wholesale and retail prices of pulses have moderated in the last two weeks.

"On an average, prices across the country have declined by about Rs 20 per kg," the statement said.

With the ongoing market arrivals of urad dal and arrival of the new crop of arhar dal expected in early December, the "prices would ease further".

The supply situation would further improve when 1.3 lakh tonnes of pulses seized in the states come into the retail market.

"Jaitley directed the Secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Affairs to remain vigilant, work closely with the states and take immediate measures, including stepping up procurement of pulses, enhancing and building up of buffer stocks," the statement said.

The minister asked all the related departments to ensure that the common citizen has access to adequate supplies of essential commodities in the ensuing months, especially during the festive season.

The meeting was attended by the Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary besides Secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture, Food, Consumer Affairs, Revenue and Commerce.

The Cabinet Secretary also held a video conference with the Chief Secretaries of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh to review the disposal of pulses seized in the de-hoarding operations.

States have been directed to complete the disposal process and ensure availability of pulses in the retail market early.

Pulses prices have risen sharply as production fell to 17.20 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year due to poor rains as against 19.25 million tonnes in the previous year.

Retail prices of tur dal is as high as Rs 185 per kg, urad dal Rs 190 per kg, moong Rs 135 per kg, masoor dal Rs 107 per kg and gram at Rs 85 per kg.

The Agriculture Ministry has moved a Cabinet proposal to create a buffer stock of 3.5 lakh tonnes of lentils during the current 2015-16 crop year through domestic purchase or imports to prevent a further price rise in pulses.