JAIPUR: In the last two weeks, prices of edible oils and pulses have dropped as the production units have started operating at full capacity.
The government had earlier banned mustard oil blending and import of edible oils from countries like Nepal and Bangladesh along with futures trade on seven agricultural commodities.
"Ever since the government stepped in, there has been a regular dip in the prices. The government had also cut import duty. Compared to the price of mustard oil in April 2020 (Rs 190 per litre), its price is now at Rs 135 per litre. Likewise, the price of the soybean oil, which was Rs 140-150 per litre, is now at Rs 110 to Rs 120 per litre," said Pankaj Gupta, a wholesale dealer of edible oils at Sodala.
He added that the prices of edible oils will drop further. "Government has also imposed the stock limit of edible oils, which will bring down the prices further," said Sunil Dadhich, a wholesale dealer of edible oils at Vaishali Nagar.
Consumers are now buying pulses at the prices during the pre-Covid era.
"During the first wave of Covid-19, suddenly there was a rise in the demand due to the panic buying by the customers. Then the production too had dipped due to the migration of labourers. These were the main reason behind the price rise of pulses. But now the production has improved. Also, the customers are no longer into panic buying. Hence, we are getting pulses at the prices in 2019," said Ramawtar Gupta, a retailer dealing with pulses at Malviya Nagar.
