Despite the open import policy, tur dal prices have risen by over 10% in less than a month. The pulse processing sector has alleged that raw tur is in short supply for conversion into tur dal.
Despite the government suspecting hoarding by importers, the Indian Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) trade body has attributed the recent surge in tur dal prices to hoarding by exporting countries and Gujarat’s procurement of tur dal.
Tur prices in the Latur market have surged from INR 102-104/kg to INR 115-117/kg within a month, marking an increase of approximately 12%. Retail consumers are now shelling out INR 160-200 per kilogram of tur dal.
According to the processing industry, the recent price hike is attributed to a shortage of raw material, specifically the whole unprocessed tur beans, which are split into dal at mills, as well as the elevated prices of imported tur.
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Suresh Agarwal, chairman of the All India Dal Millers Association, highlighted, “Domestic tur production is notably lower this year, particularly in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The import policy should enable pulse processors to directly import pulses instead of relying solely on import houses.”
Despite India permitting unrestricted import of tur dal, Rupesh Rathi, a pulses processor from Akola in Vidarbha, remarked, “Throughout this year, the prices of imported tur have consistently stayed high since the start of the import season. Additionally, we are encountering a shortage in tur availability for dal production.”
Industry representatives anticipate a further increase in prices until the end of April, with consumers potentially experiencing some relief thereafter.
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