28 April,2015 01:45 PM IST | | Ankoor Anvekar
Rates of udad daal, tur daal, chavali, moong and coriander seeds have gone up by Rs 5-10 per kg in the retail market; prices may continue to rise for the next few months
The month of April heralds the harvesting season for crops, with farmers naturally expecting good returns on their yield. However, untimely rains accompanied by gusty winds in the northern part of the country have impacted the harvest, causing foodgrain prices in the retail market to go through the roof over the past few weeks.
Rains have come at the time of harvesting, hampering the output of essential commodities. File pic
Compared to last week, rates of essential commodities including udad daal, tur daal, chavali, moong and coriander seeds have gone up by Rs 5-10 per kg in the retail market. Traders at the retail market revealed that prices are expected to go up further by next week.
Shashi Khatari, a retail grocery shop owner, told mid-day, "This year's fluctuation in weather has severely affected the agricultural produce. Rains have come at the time of harvesting, hampering the output. Prices will keep on escalating at least for a few more months.
"Last week udad daal was available between Rs 85-87 per kg; it now costs Rs 100-110 per kg in the retail market. Similarly, cumin seeds are available for Rs 200 per kg compared to Rs 160 per kg last week. Traders added that in the upcoming week, the rates of these commodities would further increase by Rs 2-3/kg.
The prices won't come down for the next six months. That's because the crops that were planted in winter season last year were about to be harvested during this period. However, rain and wind destroyed standing crops in states such as Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
