Why Prices of Urad and Tur Dal are Constantly Increasing?

In Latur, Maharashtra, the cost of tur dal has increased significantly from Rs 97 to Rs 115. In the past six weeks, the prices of urad and tur dal have increased by more than 15% due to waterlogging, which has sparked worries about crop damage and led to a slight decline in acreage during the current Kharif season.

The prices of both dals have increased as a result, especially when combined with lower carry-forward stocks. Good quality tur dal is now ex-mill priced in Latur at Rs 115 per kg, up from Rs 97 about six weeks ago. According to the most recent sowing data released by the agriculture ministry, the area planted with tur was 4.6% lower compared with a year earlier, while the area planted with urad was 2% less.

Further, incessant rains in important tur growing areas and the resultant water logging have raised concerns about crop damage.

“Fundamentals for tur right now are solid. While there isn't much carryover stock and tur sowing has decreased as farmers switch to soyabean” According to Harsha Rai, importer of pulses in Maharashtra.

She continued by saying that they expecting a consignment of 5,000 tonnes from Africa in August or September.

Although more damage to the urad crop is anticipated from heavy rains, the supply situation might not be under pressure as imports are expected to increase.

B Krishnamurthy, managing director of 4 P International, stated that although the urad crop in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat has some crop damage, the crop is the largest and second-largest producers, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, is in good condition.

According to him, urad prices would likely stay stable despite rain damage as imports from Myanmar were expected to grow. "India did not obtain much urad from Myanmar during the last four months, Due to their currency issues, which decreased monthly urad imports by more than 50%, " Krishnamurthy said.

Now that the currency situation has improved for Myanmar exporters, we will be able to import more urad from that country.

While the cost of tur and urad has gone up, customers have seen a minor decrease in the cost of masur, which has been high for the past year. From Rs 71.50 per kg on June 29, the cost of imported whole lentils has decreased to Rs 67 as on August 8.