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Tur dal prices almost double in 3 months

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Pulses racing as dal prices near 200 per kg

HYDERABAD: A common south Indian staple, tur dal, has touched Rs 200 per kg in the retail market of Hyderabad , angering consumers and agriculture experts who are alleging massive hoarding behind the sudden spike.On Friday, the average price of the most commonly consumed red gram ( tur dal ) soared to even Rs 210 in some online retail stores.With prices of moong and masur dal also hovering between Rs 113 and Rs 150, many denizens said eating chicken was comparatively cheaper and a better option. “Since we live in a joint family, we are used to consuming large quantities of tur dal everyday. So now the best option seems to be chicken, which is now available at Rs 100-110 per kg,” said Snehal Rao, a resident of Banjara Hills.Owing to the fact that tur dal is a common kitchen ingredient, the impact of the sudden price rise has left a devastating impact on many consumers. “We never knew that one day chicken would be cheaper than dal,” said a smiling B Asish, a resident of Ameerpet.While some traders are surprised at the sudden spike in prices, spokespersons of different supermarkets said they have witnessed a shortfall in the number of consumers for pulses over the past one week.Fingers are also being pointed at middlemen, who usually hoard farm produce to induce an imbalance in the supply and demand chain. “Usually these hoarders hold back the produce till there is an acute demand for pulses in the market. Subsequently, the pulses are then released into the market at exorbitant rates,” said an agricultural expert from Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), who did not wish to be named as he is working on a government project.Tur dal stocks have also dwindled with most merchants in the city. “There are no stocks with anyone, even the northern centres are struggling to procure pulses. Until last month, we were procuring as much as 30,000 kg of red gram. But now, we hardly have 300 kg as reserve,” said Nagasigamani, proprietor, Neha Enterprises, Muktargunj.According to the civil supplies department, the average wholesale price of tur dal across the state is Rs 162.92 per kilo (on Thursday it was Rs 142.91/kg), compared to last year’s price of Rs 82.90.Some agriculture experts also attribute the soaring prices to abrupt rainfall pattern and crop failure. “This year, the season was not conducive for production of pulses. Because of the massive crop failure, there is utter imbalance in the supply and demand patterns of pulses in the city,” C Parthasarathi, secretary, Agriculture and Cooperation Department, told TOI.Whatever is the reason, the common man is feeling the pinch and with experts predicting a further spike, pulses could soon vanish from the menu of several households.“Until a few months ago, we used to buy as much as three kilos of tur dal in a month. But since the prices have gone up we have cut down our consumption of tur and are procuring other comparatively cheaper pulses,” said V Pradeep Rao, a resident of West Marredpally.