Rain, hike in MSP & demand raise pulse, oil prices by 30%
07.12.2020 (www.dailypioneer.com) - After facing uncertainty due to Covid-19 pandemic, skyrocketing prices of edible oils and pulses have hit the masses hard. The average retail prices of pulses and edible oils have gone up by around 30 per cent in the past few days.
For instance, arhar (tur) dal, which was being sold for around Rs 70-80 per kg till last month, now costs around Rs 125-130 per kg. Moong dal which cost around Rs 80-90 per kg is now being sold at around Rs 130 per kg.
Similarly, mustard oil is being sold at Rs 155-165 a kg. The price of mustard oil was Rs 120-135 a kg till last month. The retail prices of pulses and edible oils were recorded highest in northeastern States.
According to the Consumer Affairs Ministry, the retail prices of arhar, moong, masoor, gram, groundnut, mustard, vanaspati, soyabean, sunflower and palm have increased up to 20-30 per cent while the spike in the case of palm, soyabean and sunflower oils by up to 20-30 per cent as compared to past few months.
The increased prices of pulses and edible oils have been attributed to short supply, destruction of crops due to heavy rainfall, hike in minimum support price and increase in public demand after opening of restaurants, hotels and roadside dhabas. The reduction in palm oil production in Malaysia in the past six months has been one of the reasons behind increase in prices of other edible oils. The high prices of pulses and edible oils have impacted the sale of small shopkeepers across India.
As per the Ministry’s data, the retail prices of mustard oil have gone up from Rs 142 per litre in September to Rs 156 in November. The groundnut oil is being sold at Rs 200 per litre; vanaspati at Rs 164; sunflower at Rs 150 and palm oil at Rs 135. There is an increase of 20 to 40 per cent in the edible oil.
Similarly, the retail price of arhar dal which is being sold at Rs 125, recorded highest in Kharagpur. masoor dal is being sold at Rs 110 per kg. The rate of masoor was Rs 90-95 per kg till last month. The retail prices of gram dal which was being sold at around Rs 60-70 per kg, now costs at Rs 90 per kg. The price of rajma increased from Rs 90 to Rs 120-125 per kg.
Interestingly, according to the Ministry’s data, arhar dal was sold at Rs 99 a kg; urad at Rs 104; moong at Rs 104 and masoor at Rs 80 in the retail market on December 4. Contrary to it, the prices quoted by the Ministry in its daily report, is much lower than the retail market in the capital. The dals were being sold at much higher prices in the NCR markets. Similarly, the Ministry’s data quoted that groundnut oil was sold at Rs 180 per litre while mustard oil at Rs 140. The prices are higher in the retail markets.
Traders say the overall Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) and inflation rate of vegetables and pulses has been increasing constantly.