Mumbai. This week, a downward trend was seen in the lentil market. Prices fell in the market due to increased selling pressure at increased prices and weak buying. Customer demand is sluggish at the domestic level, while profit booking at higher prices has increased by stockists and farmers. This has put pressure on the market. Lentil crops are being affected by untimely rains in Saskatchewan and Alberta in Western Canada. There is a possibility of damage to the early crop and profit for the late crop. Due to rain, there is a possibility of problems in harvesting and deterioration in the quality of grains, while the risk of pests and diseases has also increased. Experts believe that the impact on the total production will be limited, but if the production of thick green lentils decreases, prices may rise. At present, the demand in the market is weak and traders are following the policy of 'wait and watch'. Last week, buying and selling of imported lentils remained sluggish due to which no increase or decrease was seen in the prices and at the end of the week, the prices of Mundra remained stable at Rs. 6125, Hazira at Rs. 6225/6250, container Canada at Rs. 6350 and Australia at Rs. 6300/6350 per quintal. Similarly, no increase or decrease was seen in the prices of Kolkata lentils this week and at the end of the week, the prices of Australia remained stable at Rs. 6500 per quintal.

Due to increased selling pressure and sluggish buying, there was a decrease of Rs. 250 in the prices of small lentils in Delhi and Rs. 150 per quintal in Desi Badi and with this decrease, at the end of the week, the prices of small quota remained at Rs. 7800/7850, Bundi at Rs. 8350/8450, Uttar Pradesh at Rs. 8550/8650 and Desi Badi at Rs. 6900/6950 per quintal.

Last week also, due to weak buying, prices of lentil in Madhya Pradesh witnessed a fall of Rs. 100/200 per quintal and at the weekend the prices remained at Ashoknagar Rs. 6400/6500, Bina Rs. 6400/6600, Sagar Rs. 6400/6700, Damoh Rs. 6200/6700, Indore Rs. 6050, Kareli Rs. 5000/6055 and Katni Rs. 6850 per quintal. Uttar Pradesh

Due to weak buying at high prices, prices of small lentils in Uttar Pradesh declined by Rs. 300/400 and thick lentils by Rs. 100/150 per quintal during the last week. With this decline, prices remained at Bareilly small Rs. 9000, thick Rs. 6900/6950, Lalitpur thick Rs. 6200/6400, small Rs. 8400/8500 and Orai Rs. 5800/6300 per quintal.

Due to the impact of all-round decline and weak demand, prices of Bihar lentils declined by Rs. 100 per quintal last week. With this decline, prices remained at Barh Rs. 7600, Khusrupur Rs. 7500 and Mokama Rs. 7600 per quintal during the weekend. Similarly, Raipur lentil prices also fell by Rs. 100 per quintal this week and remained at Rs. 6400 per quintal at the end of the week.

Due to the impact of the fall in lentil prices and slow buying, lentil prices fell by Rs. 100 per quintal during the last week and with this fall, the weekend prices remained at Indore Rs. 7500/7650, Barh Rs. 8500/8800, Khusrupur Rs. 8400/8700, Mokama Rs. 8500/8800, Chandausi Rs. 9200/9700 and Hyderabad Rs. 8050 per quintal.