El Niño hits common man’s pocket:Pulses become up to 11% costlier in a month on low rain, festive demand

While the government has successfully controlled the prices of edible oil and sugar, pulse inflation continues to rise. Driven by festive demand and fears of crop damage due to a weak monsoon, prices of key pulses—including chana, moong, peas, and tur (arhar)—have jumped by up to 11% in the last month. In just the past week, prices have gone up by 3% to 5%. El Niño Triggers Price Hike According to data from the Indian Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), wholesale prices of chana—the most consumed pulse in the country—rose by 11% in Delhi over the last month. During the same period, moong prices increased by 10.6%, tur by 6.5%, and peas by 6%. The association highlighted that the impact of El Niño is now clearly visible, especially after large parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra were declared drought-hit. Import Challenges and Global Supply Disruptions IPGA Secretary Satish Upadhyay stated that deficient rainfall is raising serious concerns over the upcoming Rabi (winter) crop sowing. Furthermore, import dynamics are adding to the pressure: Lower Imports from Australia: Chana shipments from Australia are expected to be lower than last year. Russia-Ukraine War Impact: Yellow peas, which are commonly used as a substitute for chana, have become expensive in the global market due to reduced supply from Russia amid the ongoing war. Yearly Price Trends: A look at the year-on-year price trends reveals a sharp contrast among different pulses: Peas: Up 47% Urad: Up 24% Chana: Up 23% Moong: Up 4% Masur: Up 2%