Hit By Inflation: After onion and tomato, now the rate of pulses has also increased, know the latest price

HR Mandi Bhav News, New Delhi: Consumer price inflation has increased to 4.81 percent. In such a situation, pulses can be the most expensive food item after tomatoes and other vegetables. High prices of vegetables are normal during monsoon, but this year the prices of pulses have increased a bit.

Inflation rate of pulses almost doubled

According to rating agency CRISIL, the inflation rate of pulses has almost doubled in the last five months. In May, wholesale price index inflation of pulses was shown at 5.8 percent and CPI was shown at 6.6 percent. 

Whereas in June the inflation rate of pulses increased to 10.58 percent. Thus, the prices of pulses have increased much more than those of grains like wheat and rice, making the Indian thali extremely expensive. 

Meanwhile, the prices of rice have also increased by about 10 percent, while the prices of wheat have also increased by 12 percent.

Highest fluctuations in Arhar and Urad

Among pulses, maximum fluctuations are being seen in the prices of Arhar and Urad dal. According to DK Joshi, Chief Economist, CRISIL, “From increasing imports in the National Pulses Mission to increasing the MSP for pulses, the government has been proactive in its policy of controlling pulses prices. The government has promised that they will buy all the pulses but the intervention will have to continue. 

Pulses, a source of protein for many Indians, are also a part of mid-day meal schemes run by many states. Pulses are generally considered nutritious foods. In such a situation, continuous increase in the prices of pulses can affect the domestic budget.

Production of pulses also increased in India

Pulses are mainly cultivated in the country in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, Coastal and Eastern Karnataka and some parts of Maharashtra. However, India has been importing pulses in large quantities from countries like Myanmar and Canada. 

Over the past few years, several measures have been taken to reduce India's import dependence for pulses. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare, the production of pulses in India was in the range of 16-19 million metric tonnes during 2010-2016, which has increased by about 48 per cent to 25-27 MMT by 2021-22.

What is the government's planning?

The focus area has been to increase the production of pulses under the National Food Security Mission. This led to the use of better technology and distribution of high yielding seeds. 

Apart from this, government efforts have been made like increasing MSP, opening export market for pulses, removing import ban on pulses. The government is further focusing on increasing the stock by importing pulses, while there are preparations to ban the export of rice once again.