Nagpur: Farmers finally have a reason to smile as traders including corporates are eyeing profit in tur — the common source of protein for masses.
Rates of tur whole have crossed the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs6,000 by over a thousand. A rate up to Rs7,100 a quintal is being quoted in farm produce markets across the state.
Tur whole is milled into tur dal, which is the edible form.
There is a general sentiment in the market that even the government would prefer that prices of commodity remain high, so that farmers can be appeased.
With imports already stopped, traders are expecting that there may be no intervention till the prices reach Rs9,000 a quintal at least. This makes them bullish on the commodity leading to mopping up of tur, said trade sources.
Market sources say big traders including corporates are buying tur in large quantities, which is moving up the prices. Eyeing the trend, even the smaller businessmen dealing in tur are stocking up the commodity.
If farmers may be getting good price for their produce, the consumers may end up shelling a higher amount in the coming days. Traders expect that rates of tur dal may again touch Rs120-130 a kg in the retail market. Prices have already crossed Rs100, say traders.
In two days the rates of tur whole have gone up by than Rs400 to Rs500 a quintal in the wholesale market. Imported tur from Myanmar is also costlier by Rs300 at Rs6,700 a quintal. Traders do not rule out a 2014 like situation when tur dal prices had touched Rs200 a kg.
Secretary of the Itwari Grain and Seeds Merchants Association said, “Domestic rates have gone up by Rs500 a quintal in markets at Akola, Latur, Ahmednagar and Gulbarga. The average arrivals are at 8,000 bags a day. It is the peak season and arrival should be in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 bags in a day.”
Vijay Jawandhia, a farm activist from Wardha, said that there were reports of a major fall in tur crop, which is driving the prices even among the importers.
A section of farmer TOI talked to say the domestic output in the region has dropped but it is marginal and not enough to impact the rates.
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