Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Much to the discomfort of consumers, retail prices of key pulses and onions have risen sharply in most parts of the country in view of likely shortfall in kharif production of lentils following deficient rains.
People who recently battled nearly record high rates of onions are now faced with costly pulses.
Onions are adding to the misery of consumers, which at the retail level shot up to Rs 80 per kg in the national capital due to tight supply despite the government's steps to keep a lid on prices.
The onion rate at the mandis in Delhi is ruling firm because wholesale traders are getting the commodity at very high prices from key growing states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
Depending on quality, the price varies between Rs 70 and Rs 80.
Onion prices are hardening due to the fall in production and sluggish supply of stored onions, which are meant for meeting demand during the lean July-September.
Total onion production is estimated to be lower at 189 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June), slightly lower than 194 lakh tonnes a year ago.
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh are the top three onion-producing states in the country.
Among metros, Delhi consumers are paying the maximum price for tur, urad and moong, followed by Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata.
In Delhi, retail prices of chana, urad, masoor and tur are ruling in the range of Rs 75-135 per kg.
Pulses are largely grown in rainfed areas and because of deficient monsoon kharif production of the urad and tur is expected to be hit and has already pushed up their prices.
However, since maximum pulses are grown in the rabi (winter) season that starts next month, the government is aiming to make up shortfall of the key lentils during this period.
