Stock limits fail to curb prices of wheat, pulses

The government imposed stock limits in June to curb price inflation

- Puja Das

Prices of wheat, tur (pigeon pea or arhar), and urad (black gram) continued to climb despite the Centre imposing stock holding limits, raising concerns of food inflation in the next few months amid weak monsoon rainfall.

Wheat prices in key markets of Indore, Jaipur, Kanpur and Delhi have risen from ₹2,358-2,490 a quintal to ₹2,400-2,475.

While Tur prices remained little changed at ₹10,200-10,400 in Akola and Gulbarga, from ₹10,250-10,400 a quintal on 31 May, urad was trading a shade higher at ₹7,600-8,550 from ₹7,500-8,600 a quintal, according to spot trade sources.

To counter rising prices of key commodities, the government implemented stock limits on tur and urad on 2 June, followed by wheat on 12 June. Subsequently, prices dipped briefly, only to bounce back as the market grappled with production losses.