Erratic rains hit crops, dals to pinch pocket

Hyderabad: The production of pulses like channa, dals, split grams, moong, etc. has suffered due to the unseasonal rains and hailstorms in March. Production has been reduced by 5 million tonnes, states a recent study conducted by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.

The production, when compared to March 2014, is lower by 17 million tonnes. The setback is both, in terms of quality and quantity.

D.S. Rawat, secretary general of Assocham said, “Rain-damaged crops can’t be stored for long. There is going to be a glut of damaged channa, mustards, chickpeas, oats and many other Rabi pulses in the market. This might give a deceptive, but temporary respite on the availability but shortages will soon surface.”

The recommended intake is 50 to 60 gms per day, per person, but the availability in the market is 30 grams per day, per person. This low availability has increased the prices in the retail market of split pulses like channa dal, tur/arhar dal, urad dal, moong and masoor dal by 20 per cent.

The prices of most split pulses have shown a rising trend since January 2015 and the prices continue to rise. The present market rates show that tur/arhar dal is priced at '100 to Rs 120 per kg while moong dal is between Rs 100 to Rs 120 per kg and masoor dal at Rs 85 per kg.

Agriculturist D. Ravindra said, “There is a growing concern that the prices will further rise because the Kharif pulses, urad and moong, which are widely consumed, will depend on the rain. There has been erratic production of these pulses since the last two years because of insufficient rains.”

The Kharif production has been 25 to 30 per cent lower compared to Rabi crops. The yield has reduced because of bad seed quality, less water and also climate change, due to which production is less by 800 kg per hectare.

Simply put, pulses have become a luxury for the middle class, and even the weaker section of the population which is dependent on dal as a source of protein.