FKCCI says its tur sale forced retailers to cut prices

With retail price of tur dal coming down, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) has decided to close its centres where it sold the pulse at Rs 130 a kg directly to consumers.

Good quality tur dal is currently available at Rs 130 to 140 a kg at retail shops. The price was hovering around Rs 150 to Rs 160 a kg when the initiative was started on July 8 across many cities and towns in the state, including Bengaluru. Traders affiliated to FKCCI and the Bengaluru Wholesale Food Grains and Pulses Merchants Association had taken up the initiative to provide relief to consumers.

In Bengaluru, tur dal was sold at three centres – two at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yard and one at New Tharagupet near Chamarajpet.

About 12,000 kg of tur dal was sold in Bengaluru city alone. FKCCI had opened centres in Mysuru, Tumakuru, Mandya, Hubballi, Kalaburagi and Bidar.

Association president Ramesh Chandra Lahoti said the initiative yielded results as retailers reduced prices.

“The main aim of the initiative was to force retail traders to reduce prices. Retailers had kept the price high despite the wholesale prices coming down. But the government used to blame wholesale traders for high prices,” he added.

Prices may come down
Lahoti said prices of pulses are likely to come down in the coming days following good monsoon. Sowing has been going on in full swing.

Traders expect a good crop this year. Last year, there was severe shortage of pulses due to failure of monsoon rains, leading to price rice.

Besides, prices of mung dal have come down in the last few days. The pulse, which cost Rs 120 a kg two months ago, now costs Rs 90 a kg. Fresh stocks are expected after August 20, bringing down prices further, he said. Fresh stocks of urad dal are expected in September.