Farmers in Vidarbha said the crop was affected in Dec, when unusually low temperatures coincided with flowering and pod formation. “The cold reduced yields, as tur is sensitive to low temperatures,” said Milind Pachpande, a farmer from Vidarbha.He said harvesting has begun, but production is visibly below normal levels. “Overall, there is around 30% crop loss, with variations across regions depending on the severity of the cold spell,” he added.The impact is already visible in wholesale markets. Pachpande said earlier, tur was selling around Rs 6,000 per quintal, but the price has now touched Rs 8,000 per quintal. “The rate may rise further,” he added.Traders said the supply pressure is not confined to Maharashtra. Karnataka, the country’s largest tur-producing state, has also recorded a sharp decline in output due to excess and untimely rainfall.“Price has increased because production is down,” said Amit Kasat, a city-based grain broker.”In Karnataka, output is about 60%, meaning a 40% loss, due to extended rainfall even after the monsoon season. Extra rain after sowing damages the crop as the soil absorbs too much water,” he said.Kasat said Vidarbha, which was initially expected to deliver a full crop, has also disappointed.“Earlier, we thought Vidarbha would give 100% output, but farmers are now saying the crop is weak there too because of the cold. On average, there is a 25% shortfall with Karnataka and Vidarbha combined,” he added.Kasat saidhigher dollar rates and lower-than-expected imports have further tightened the market. “Imports are costlier, and the flow is not as smooth as last year. That is also adding to the price rise,” Kasat said.Bharatlal Unecha, wholesaler and retailer in Gokhalenagar, said. “Tur dal retail price is increasing due to a shortage in the market.”Pawan Karnavat, a retailer at Nal Stop, said, “Wholesale price has gone up by around Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg, pushing retail price by nearly Rs 20 per kg. The retail price is now around Rs 140–150 per kg.”He said theprice could stabilise, but it will depend on arrivals.“It is difficult to predict the future price. If crop arrivals improve, there could be a reversal, though the chances look slim,” he said.
