Traders stop importing arhar dal

Customers turn away after prices cross Rs 200/kg

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Oct 28: As prices of pulses soared, wholesalers here have cut down import of arhar dal which was has touched Rs 220 at places in the State, prompting a majority of customers to drop it from their grocery shopping list.

Arhar is being sold at Rs 190-220 (depending on the variety) in retail.

Last year this season, the price of the pulse was around Rs 67-75.

S Mondal, a wholesaler of Fancy Bazar who has been trading in the pulse for thirty years, said there is a huge gap between the demand and supply of arhar dal.

"Around 50/60 per cent of the pulse is imported from countries like Cada and Australia. If the production of pulses declines further this season, prices of the other pulses may also touch Rs 200," he said. Masur and Moong dal are also going at over Rs 100 in the wholesale market.

"Ninety per cent of the wholesalers have stopped importing arhar dal due to the dip in demand. Those who are getting it are doing in small packets," said a source.

While the Central government has seized nearly 75,000 tonnes of pulses from hoarders in raids across 13 states, wholesalers here have ruled out any such blackmarketing in the State, citing that the daily transaction details are submitted to the administration regularly.