Dal prices rise to almost Rs 200 per kg - Inadequate harvests because of- Navbharat Times Photodhamal

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Inadequate harvests because of erratic weather and hoarding by middlemen have sent lentil prices skyrocketing, some to more than double what they were last October.

In This Pic : Dal prices rise to almost Rs 200 per kg

Pic Courtesy : BCCL - Non Copyright

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Arhar dal is trading in the wholesale markets at Rs 190 per kg against Rs 90 last October; retail prices are Rs 20-30 higher than that.

In This Pic : Dal prices rise to almost Rs 200 per kg

Pic Courtesy : BCCL - Non Copyright

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Urad dal is selling at a wholesale rate of Rs 160 per kg from Rs 85 last year. Comparatively, the increase in masoor dal price has been more modest, to Rs 90 from Rs 70 in the wholesale market.

In This Pic : Dal prices rise to almost Rs 200 per kg

Pic Courtesy : BCCL - Non Copyright

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Market experts say the situation has worsened in the festive season because the state government failed to react swiftly to the Centre's warnings of a price spiral."Had the state government worked on the Centre's circular, prices of pulses would not have gone up to this extent. The government must explain why it had not acted, and what action has been initiated hitherto to help curb prices," said Shirish Deshpande, the head of the Mumbai Grahak Panchayat.

In This Pic : Dal prices rise to almost Rs 200 per kg

Pic Courtesy : BCCL - Non Copyright

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This year crops were damaged in lentil-producing areas like Jalna, Nagpur, Latur and Dhule, due to hailstorms, unseasonal rain and erratic monsoons. "Apart from these natural factors, farmers have lost interest in pulses due to high production costs that leads to less profit," said Pandurang Gulane, a farmer.

Pic Courtesy : BCCL - Non Copyright