Centre convenes meeting on pulses

Alarmed over the rising prices of pulses, the Centre has convened a meeting of committee of secretaries to review the situation. The panel will also look at onion prices as part of advance planning, sources said.

The concern is in respect of four varieties of pulses. Tur/arhar is selling 50.68 per cent higher over last year at Rs. 110 per kg, gram dal is higher by 40 per cent at Rs. 70 per kg, urad dal is up by 53.52 per cent at Rs. 109 per kg and masoor dal is higher by 36.23 per cent at Rs. 94 per kg.

The prices of pulses are appreciating owing to shortfall in production due to inclement weather and unseasonal rain that hit the rabi pulses production.

There are also reports of hoarding by traders.

The Agriculture Ministry revised downward the production of pulses this year in its third advance estimates released on May 13.The revised estimates for 2014-15 put pulses output at 17.38 million tonnes as against 18.43 million tonnes for corresponding estimates in 2013-14, a shortfall of 5.6 per cent.

Crop hit in Myanmar

What is worrisome for the government is that no pulses will be available from Canada before August and from Australia before November.

The Myanmar pulses crop has been hit by inclement weather as in India, sources said.