Tur dal all set to humble chicken

Price of lentil to cross Rs 100

This was disclosed by traders and officials at a meeting convened by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to explore ways to control soaring tur prices in the State. The Government, however, could not take any decision in the meeting to rein in the runaway price of the yellow lentil.

Major reasons
Sources said the officials and traders cited three major reasons for the abnormal rise in tur price. First, there has been an appreciable drop in tur production this year. As against 12.65 lakh tonnes produced last year, production this year plunged to 9.71 lakh tonnes.
Secondly, neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are buying nearly 50 per cent of the State’s produce. After purchasing bulk quantities from Karnataka, both Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are distributing the dal to people at subsidised rates under the Public Distribution System.

A third reason is the decision by Myanmar, which exports tur to India, to hike prices since tur is considered a lucrative export item. The cumulative result is a wide gap between demand and suppy. Interestingly, tur prices shot up in just six months. For instance, 1 kg of tur, which was available for Rs 36 six months ago, now costs Rs 92-94.

During the meeting the officials, comprising the food and civil supplies commissioner and the principal secretary food and civil supplies department, gave three main suggestions to rein in the prices: Distribute tur dal under the PDS at a subsidised rate, encourage the use of tur and not other lentils under the mid-day meal scheme in schools and ask wholesalers and retailers to bring down the stock they can store at a time. Besides, it was suggested that a cabinet sub-committee be set up to monitor the price graph, sources said.

CM upset
But Yeddyurappa is understood to have been furious at these suggestions, asking officials not to throw up “fancy” ideas like distribution of tur under the PDS. He also struck down the suggestion on setting up a sub-committee.
Instead, he directed the officials to stop the export of tur and begin a crackdown on hoarders. But officials said the State cannot stop the legitimate movement of foodgrains to other states and curbing hoarding will not contain the upward trend in prices.  “Under the present circumstances, we can only hope that both Gulbarga and Bidar, major tur growing districts, receive copious rain, resulting in good crop,” officials said.