No Relief in Pulses Prices in the Market, Kitchen and Hotel Budgets Affected

People are worried about inflation after the Lok Sabha elections. The scorching heat and delayed monsoon have led to a rise in vegetable prices. There was a surge in pulse prices before the elections. Additionally, the extreme heat has reduced milk production from animals, prompting all milk companies to increase milk prices by two rupees per liter, directly impacting household budgets.

Why does the Modi government coalition believe this situation will improve soon? Prices of tur (arhar), chickpeas, and urad dal are expected to moderate from July due to predictions of a better monsoon and increased imports, according to Union Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare on Friday. She stated that the import of these three pulses will rise from next month, aiding in boosting domestic supply.

With the increasing population, the consumption of pulses has risen. The extreme heat has reduced the availability of green vegetables. For the crop year 2023-24 (July-June), arhar production is estimated at 33.85 lakh tonnes, while consumption is estimated at 44-45 lakh tonnes. Gram production was 115.76 lakh tonnes, while the demand was 119 lakh tonnes. Urad production stands at 23 lakh tonnes, with an estimated consumption of 33 lakh tonnes. The gap between demand and supply is being met through imports.

Regarding vegetables, Khare mentioned that the monsoon or rains will positively impact retail prices. She noted that the demand for potatoes has increased due to the drought affecting green vegetable crops. The government has started procuring onions for buffer stock, with 35,000 tonnes already procured. Efforts are also being made to extend the storage time of onions through cold storage and irradiation processes.

Source : khalihan news (https://khalihannews.com/)