India hopes for rise in local tur production, takes multi-pronged action to keep prices of pulses in control

By Abhimanyu Sharma

The Indian government has initiated multi-pronged action to keep domestic prices of pulses under control and ensure ample availability.

Sources privy to the developments have indicated that India may witness a rise in the cultivation of tur pulses this season, expressing hopes that the procurement of tur above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) may prompt farmers to move away from soybean and cotton.

Even as India is buying tur and urad pulses from agro-climatically suitable areas like Brazil and Argentina, it has refused to sign an MoU with the South American countries on the purchase of pulses.

Government sources explained that India has refused to enter into any contractual obligation for the purchase of pulses and will let the market decide on the quantum of purchase, as the government wants to keep leeway to purchase locally grown pulses in case domestic output rises by the next season.

While the government has written to Tamil Nadu’s chief secretary to probe reports of hoarding of large stocks of tur dal in the state, the Delhi Police has also been urged to probe speculative messages by AgriWorld Mumbai and take appropriate action.

The Delhi Police has been informed that Mumbai-based AgriWorld is indulging in spreading speculative information about the pulses market and prices via social media and its YouTube channel. The move has allegedly caused unscrupulous speculation & hoarding of pulses by market players, leading to artificial shortages and price rises in pulses.

This article has been republished from The CNBC TV18.