Prices of pulses soar amid supply crunch and adverse weather

Pulses are edible seeds from legume plants. In India, pigeon peas, black gram and chickpeas are widely used in foods such as dal and gram flour. Their importance is both culinary and economic because price changes can affect everyday food spending. The article focuses on these three pulses as their supplies tighten and prices rise.

Pigeon pea is commonly called arhar. Chickpeas are also called gram in the article’s reference to gram flour. Black gram is another major pulse traded in domestic and import markets. Festival demand for dal and gram flour is helping support chickpea prices, showing how food demand can influence markets.

The current concern is that poor weather, lower arrivals and costlier imports are lifting prices across several pulses. The article does not quantify their nutritional contribution, but it shows their direct role in household food consumption. Further crop problems could make these staples more expensive before new supplies arrive.

Pigeon pea prices have risen sharply, but the exact increase varies by market. In Akola, Maharashtra, wholesale prices reached ₹108-108.25 per kg. In Gulbarga, Karnataka, they reached ₹103-113 per kg. IPGA data showed increases of ₹17-19 per kg over the past month in some cases.

Black gram also recorded a clear increase. Imported Myanmar fair average quality black gram was quoted at ₹101 per kg in Delhi on October 10. That was up from ₹88.75 a month earlier, an increase of ₹12.25 per kg. The rise came despite fresh domestic arrivals.

Retail pigeon pea was even higher than the quoted wholesale levels. The national average retail price stood at ₹127.90 per kg on October 11. These figures show how supply concerns, import costs and market disruptions are feeding through to consumers, with pigeon pea moving toward its earlier retail peak.

Pulse prices rise when available supply cannot keep pace with demand. The article reports lower domestic production prospects for pigeon pea, black gram and chickpeas. Adverse weather and dry conditions have weakened crop expectations in important producing areas. Fewer arrivals leave traders and mills competing for limited stocks.

Imports are not providing an easy solution. A falling Indian rupee increases the rupee cost of overseas purchases. Black gram has also faced higher export offers from Myanmar and delays at Chennai port. Congestion delayed vessel berthing, reducing stocks available for immediate delivery. These pressures combine with domestic supply concerns.

The result is a broad increase rather than a problem limited to one pulse. Pigeon pea wholesale prices jumped in key markets, black gram became costlier in Delhi, and chickpea prices rose before rabi sowing. If the next crops remain uncertain, pressure could continue in the coming months.

Dry conditions and adverse weather are reducing confidence in India’s pulse crops. For pigeon pea, the article identifies Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh as key areas where weather has affected crop prospects. That creates concern about how much produce will reach markets after the kharif season.

The effect on chickpeas is more specific. In Maharashtra and Karnataka, low soil moisture and deficient rainfall could affect sowing for the coming rabi season. This means the supply risk is not limited to an already-growing crop. It may also affect the next planting cycle before new chickpea supplies are harvested.

The immediate market response is higher prices. Pigeon pea is nearing its earlier highs, while chickpea prices are already rising because of buying by traders and mills, festival demand and lower arrivals. If rainfall and soil moisture remain inadequate, the next crop outlook will stay uncertain and price pressure may intensify.

Imported pulses are usually purchased in foreign currency or at prices linked to foreign markets. When the Indian rupee falls in value, an importer must spend more rupees for the same overseas shipment. Even if the foreign-currency price does not change, the pulse becomes costlier in India.

The article connects this mechanism to rising import costs for pulses. Black gram from Myanmar faced limited supplies and higher export offers, while shipments through Chennai were delayed. These pressures can add to the currency effect. Importers and traders then face higher replacement costs, which can influence wholesale quotations and later retail prices.

The rupee’s decline therefore compounds domestic crop problems. India is already facing lower production prospects and weather-related uncertainty. Costlier imports provide less relief when local supplies are tight. The article reports Myanmar black gram at ₹101 per kg in Delhi on October 10, up from ₹88.75 a month earlier.

Black gram prices are being pushed higher by problems on both the import and domestic sides. Myanmar, an important source mentioned in the article, has limited supplies and is making higher export offers. Delays at Chennai port have made the situation worse by slowing vessel berthing and reducing stocks available for immediate delivery.

Domestic arrivals have not fully solved the shortage. Although fresh black gram has reached markets, IPGA reported that around 60-70% of new crop arrivals were of poor to average quality. Lower quality can reduce the volume suitable for buyers seeking better grain. This helps explain why prices rose even as new supplies appeared.

Together, restricted imports, shipping delays and weaker-quality arrivals have tightened usable supply. Imported Myanmar fair average quality black gram in Delhi rose to ₹101 per kg on October 10, from ₹88.75 a month earlier. Continued logistics or crop problems could keep prices under pressure.

Pigeon pea previously reached an extreme level during the 2023-24 price surge. Retail prices crossed ₹200 per kg, establishing a benchmark for the current rally. The article reports that present pigeon pea prices are moving toward those highs as supply and weather concerns intensify.

The mechanism is straightforward. Adverse weather and dry conditions have affected the kharif crop outlook in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Lower expected production means fewer supplies may reach markets. At the same time, a falling rupee is increasing import costs, making it harder for imports to offset domestic shortages.

Wholesale prices have already risen sharply. They reached ₹108-108.25 per kg in Akola and ₹103-113 per kg in Gulbarga, while the national retail average was ₹127.90 per kg on October 11. Prices could climb further before the next harvest if crop prospects remain weak and available stocks tighten.