Weak monsoon: Ordinary dal at 5-star price

The big monsoon letdown has meant that the average Indian's Tur dal is now selling at five-star prices.

In Tamil Nadu, the dal is priced Rs 86 per kg, in New Delhi it's between Rs 92 to 95, in Maharashtra, people have to shell out Rs 90 for a kg of it and in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, the Tur dal is being sold at above Rs 90 per kg.

And its price is all set to touch Rs 100, leaving people agitated and governments panicky.

And this is the reason why Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa convened an emergency meeting about the humble dal. But there seemed to be no magic solution.

"I have instructed all officials and departments. We will try to control it," Yediyurappa said.

Karnataka has a cause for concern as it is the highest Tur growing state in the entire country. But this year, its production has dipped by more than 30 per cent. Last year across the state, over four lakh hectares earmarked to grow Tur remained uncultivated.

"There was a delay in monsoon, so sowing took place only around August. In over 50 per cent of crops there was reduced yield," said Dr Dharmaraj, Director, Agriculture Research Station, Gulbarga.

"Demand is more from other states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Kerala for their PDS. Everyone is coming to Gulbarga and taking Tur. The whole country is depending on Karnataka," said Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, president, pulses and grain merchants association.

Shrinking land available for dal cultivation, bad government policies and delayed rains -- there is more than one reason why the pulse prices have shot up so much this season. But with the present factors prevailing, it will be quite a while before the dal in your meal gets any cheaper.

Tags: dal prices, India, weak monsoon

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