The Hindu Business Line : Revival of monsoon crucial for pulses

Scanty monsoon in Maharashtra and prospects of lower output seem to have taken a heavy toll on pulses, particularly tur. The prices of tur are ruling at Rs 100 a kg against Rs 45 a kg a year ago on the back of festival demand and short supply in the market. High tur prices have already forced people to look for an alternative. They are using more chana, which is considered a substitute for tur.

Pulses inventory is quiet comfortable and pegged at three lakh tonnes and another four lakh tonnes is in the pipeline through imports.

Overall, pulses production is estimated at 14 million tonnes against 14.66 million tonnes logged in the same period last year. Private traders will import about four lakh tonnes of pulses in the next three months to cater to domestic demand.

The area under pulses cultivation has gone up by 9.63 per cent to 73.58 lakh hectares by July-end. The area under tur, in particular, has gone up 15-20 per cent compared with the last year. However, the lack of rain in south Maharashtra, including Latur and Akola, has raised concerns over yields.

If the monsoon does not revive before August-end, the market estimates that production will be lower by 15-20 per cent in this kharif compared to 4.78 million tonnes logged last year, according to analysts.

Pulses production last year was much lower at 6.4 million tonnes, which itself was down 20 per cent over the previous year.

(As told to Suresh Iyengar)

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