Pulses Rate : Given the festivals, the government has asked the retailers of pulses to pass on the benefit of the fall in wholesale prices to the common consumers. Along with this, the government warned that if they make abnormal profits, necessary steps will be taken against them. The government has had to give this warning because the wholesale prices of pulses have been declining in recent months, apart from this, there is better availability of Kharif pulses and more sowing area this year. During the last three months, the prices of Arhar and Urad have fallen by an average of about 10 percent in major mandis, but such a decline has not been seen in retail prices.

Businessmen are earning more money.

While discussing the price scenario and trends of major pulses with the Retailers Association of India (RAI) and major organized retail chains, Nidhi Khare, Secretary, of the Department of Consumer Affairs, said that during the last three months, prices of tur and urad have declined by about 10 percent on an average in major mandis, but such decline has not been observed in retail prices. She said that in the case of a gram, mandi prices have witnessed a decline in the last one month, but retail prices continue to rise.

He said that the divergent trends between wholesale mandi prices and retail prices are indicating unfair margins being extracted by retailers. The trends are being closely monitored and if the gap is found to be increasing, necessary measures will have to be initiated.

The meeting was attended by officials of RAI and representatives of Reliance Retail Limited, Vishal Mart, D Mart, Spencer's, and More Retail.

Businessmen reduce prices

In Khare said that the arrival of Kharif urad and moong has started in the markets, while the import of tur and urad from East African countries and Myanmar is continuing to augment the domestic stock. In preparation for Rabi sowing, the Agriculture Department has assigned focused schemes to each major producing state to increase the production of pulses and achieve self-sufficiency.NAFED and NCCF will be involved in the registration of farmers and distribution of seeds among farmers in the upcoming Rabi season, as was done in the Kharif sowing season this year.