New Delhi: In response to the decline in tur dal production by nearly 10-12 lakh tonnes, the government is considering procuring tur dal to be sold at rates similar to Bharat Chana Dal. This move aims to stabilize prices and address concerns related to food inflation, according to Bimal Kothari, Chairman of India Pulses and Grains Association.
Bharat Dal, a major government initiative, focuses on making pulses available at affordable prices by converting government chana stock into chana dal.
In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Kothari discussed the surge in pulse prices, particularly tur and urad, in the past year. He noted that while tur prices have decreased by Rs 15-20/kg, chana prices have seen a reduction of almost Rs 5-6/kg, and lentils are selling below the maximum selling price (MSP).
“Government allowed the import of yellow peas after five years at 0 percent duty, this shows the govt wants to cut food inflation at any cost,” he added.
The tur output in the country witnessed a 20 percent decline to 3.43 million tonnes in the 2022-23 crop year compared to 4.29 million tonnes in the previous year. With the country consuming about 4.5 million tonnes of tur annually, the government’s move aims to ensure stability in tur dal prices.
Kothari also addressed the tur dal issue in Mozambique, where over two lakh tonnes are stuck at ports due to issues with a specific company. He assured that the matter has been brought to the notice of respective governments.
Additionally, he mentioned that tur will be imported from Myanmar, which is set to harvest the crop next month. Myanmar has approximately 4 lakh tonnes of crop, providing a potential solution to the production shortfall.
