Mumbai: Unable to handle about 25 lakh quintal storage of tur dal, the government has decided to sell it in malls and private shops at RS 55 per kg for which it will bear loss of Rs 5 to 10 per kg as the purchase was around RS 60 per kg and cost of storage for 10 months was also added in it. However, the farmers' leaders have expressed apprehension that the prices of new harvest will drop if the government brings the stocked tur dal in private market.
After the bumper harvest of tur dal last year, the market prices came down leaving farmers in deep trouble. The government intervened in the matter and decided to purchase the excess tur from the farmers at about Rs 60 per kg. In May 2017, the government procured 25 lakh quintal of the tur for Rs 1500 crore.
In 2015-16, the state faced tur dal paucity that skyrocketed the prices upto Rs 150 per kg in retail market. Intending to avoid the situation in the next season, the state government encouraged the farmers to go for tur cultivation. So, the area under tur cultivation in the state rose from 12.3 lakh hectares in 2015-16 to 15.3 lakh hectares in 2016-17 that increased the production to 11.7 lakh metric tonne against 4.4 lakh metric tonne.
Now, the tur dal will have new harvest this year, the government is under pressure to sell the stored tur with minimum price. An official from agriculture and marketing department said, "The government has kept the tur dal in ration shops but did not get the desired response hence the government has decided to sell the tur dal in private markets like malls and shops for about RS 55 per kg. A committee has been appointed to plan the strategy under the minister of agriculture and marketing."
However, Kisan Sabha leader Dr Ajit Navale said that the move could harm prospects of new harvest and affect farmers ultimately. "Instead of bringing the tur dal in the private market with low rates, the government should use it for midday meal scheme or keep it on ration shops with even less rates. If the tur dal is brought in the market with lower rates, the farmers will not get desired price for the new harvest and the market prices for tur dal will fall again."
