Prices of pulses have surged significantly on the retail markets because of the country's currency is regularly weakening against US dollar and increasing fuel prices, traders said on Tuesday. The price of dal moong reached Rs 92 per kg which was previously available for Rs 85, while this daily kitchen item was priced Rs 50 in August.
Dal mash was being sold for Rs 130/kg, and is now available at Rs 135, according to retailers. Dal chana is tagged with Rs 58 and Rs 60 per kg while it was priced Rs 55 previously. Price of Kabuli chana has reached Rs 119, up from Rs 100. Dal masoor is now being retailed for Rs 120 per kg, up from Rs 115, they added.
Leading pulses importer and chairman of Karachi Wholesalers and Grocers Association Anis Majeed said that rupee devaluation on regular basis against dollar and pulses' global high prices have cumulatively spurred the commodity prices upward. He said that the government has also continued increasing the fuel, gas and electricity prices, which also had negative impact on the commoditay transportation, storage and selling.
The forthcoming pulses crop in the country is also not healthy because of low rains to carter to the needs of local consumers, he said, adding that the crop is likely to arrive in March this year. He said: "India had low crops of pulses last year despite being the largest producer and consumer. It is also the largest exporter and importer of the commodity, simultaneously, which brought about the commodity's slighter shortage, globally." Crops in Australia and Canada also went down slightly last year, Anis said, adding that such global constraints and local issues increased the pulses prices.