Pulses, spices dearer

Your soaring household budget will see a further hike. Prices of pulses have risen to twice as much of what they were at this time last year.

Your soaring household budget will see a further hike. Prices of pulses have risen to twice as much of what they were at this time last year.

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If that weren’t bad enough, a further hike could well be likely. Besides, spices have become costlier, as have wheat and rice. It’s oil that brings some relief with a marginal fall in prices.

“Though prices of pulses began rising about a month ago, there was a sudden spurt in the last 10 days,” said Yogesh Purshottam, a wholesale trader at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Complex in Vashi. “There is a hike almost every day. Today [Friday], prices have gone up by Rs 5.”

President of Grains, Rice, Oilseeds Merchant Association Sharad Maru attributed the price rise to a dip in import of pulses coupled with scanty rainfall.

“We depend heavily on imports. This year, the situation is bad in the country and abroad due to a fall in production,” said Maru. “Lack of rains in the country has worsened matters.”

There is some increase in prices of wheat and rice as well.

The other big price hike is in spices. “Prices of turmeric and chilli have gone up by 40 to 70 per cent as compared to last year,” said Tejas Shah, another wholesaler.

“Companies supplying branded products have also hiked prices,” added Shah. “In the case of pulses, we expect a further hike of Rs 10. The demand is set to rise with the onset of the festival season,” said Purshottam