Amid Soaring Tur Dal Prices, a Glimmer Hope for Better Times

Piparia Block, Madhya Pradesh: The Piparia crop wholesale market is almost deserted these days with just a handful of farmers showing up to sell tur dal. Since July there has been a sharp decline in the procurement of tur dal as erratic rain has affected its production. However, officials say there may be other reasons for the shortage.

Dinesh Kumar Patel, President of Krishi Upaj Mandi Committee of Piparia, said, "Compared to last year, this time procurement is down by 75 percent because of lesser production. The farmers do not hoard crops because they have financial liabilities. But the tur coming for procurement presently is what has been hoarded by traders."

Phool Chand, 45, switched to growing rice and wheat from tur as soon as he got access to irrigation. Many farmers made this switch as tur crop takes about six to seven months to mature which meant only one crop per year, whereas growing rice and wheat take about three to four months so, farmers were able to grow two crops per year.

But this August, many farmers have sowed tur as they have seen its price rising.

"I used to grow rice and wheat but this summer seeing the tur prices I decided to sow it hoping for good returns. Earlier it used to sell for Rs 3,000 or 4,000 per quintal but this year it has gone up to 14,000 per quintal," Phool Chand said.

Considering the higher cultivation of tur, traders are now hoping that when the pulse is harvested in December the gap between demand and supply will significantly reduce and the skyrocketing prices of tur dal will come down.