Despite the scarcity of pulses in the market, triggering rate escalation, some 25 lakh tonnes of pulses imported from foreign countries have no buyers.
The worried state government has written to the Centre asking it to help to get the pulses into the local market. Sources in the market said the businessmen are not ready to buy these pulses, as only 350 tonnes can be kept in storage as per government norms.
“We have sought advice from the Centre on the issue of imported pulses and are expecting its reply in two days. We want the pulses to be made available in the open market as well as in ration shops, but it will not happen immediately,” agriculture minister Eknath Khadse said. The issue was discussed in the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.
Businessmen, on other hand, are scared of making purchases as rates are constantly changing and consumers are also reluctant to buy. “Traders are unwilling to buy the pulses, as there is pressure from the government because of the raids. Also the prices are constantly changing and consumers are also not willing to buy pulses owing to sudden escalation,” Harsh Mehta, a businessman from the Agricultural Produce Marketing Corporation, Vashi said.
Mr Mehta also said that a new crop of tur dal is expected to arrive in December from Karnataka, which will bring respite to all. “We hope the prices go down to Rs125 per kg in the coming days when the crop from Karnataka arrives in the market,” he added.
In order to bring some relief to consumers, the government is negotiating with associations of traders who deal with pulses, the minister said. “We have convinced them to make available pulses at Rs 130 per kg which they have assented to in principle,” Mr Khadse said.
Highlighting the government’s efforts, public distribution and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat said that so far 4,122 raids had been conducted and 37,727 metric tonnes of pulses have been seized. “We are trying to make available the seized pulses in the market but we have to follow rules. We have spoken to the Centre so that the seized pulses can be brought into the market directly without holding auctions. We are also trying to get the imported pulses to the market,” Mr Bapat said.
