Prices of chana (Bengal gram) have eased a tad
during March compared with the previous month. Factors such as the Government’s
move to make available Bharat dal at ₹60 a kg, increase in imports of yellow
peas and market arrivals of the new chana crop have contributed to the easing
prices, sources said.
Per the Agmarknet data, the average mandi prices
have eased almost across all producing States this month. In several mandis of
Madhya Pradesh such as Harda and Ganjbasoda, the modal price (the rate at which
most trades take place) of chana hovered around or below the minimum support
price (MSP) levels on Tuesday. Similarly, in mandis of
Rajasthan such as Bundi and Kota, the modal price of chana ruled below the MSP
on Tuesday. The MSP for chana for the 2024-25 rabi marketing season is ₹5,440
per quintal.
Slack demand
“The chana prices are stable and ruling below
the MSP in some mandis and hovering around MSP in some mandis.
The demand for chana has been slack. The market arrivals of chana are expected
to pick up after Holi. We expect large quantity arrivals in the days ahead and
ee no room for prices to go up. Also, lot of imports of yellow peas is
happening,” said Bimal Kothari, Chairman, India Pulses and Grains Association
The Government has extended the window for
duty-free imports of yellow peas by a month till April. “From December 8, 2023,
when the yellow pea imports were opened up, till April 30, we expect yellow pea
imports of around 1.5 million tonnes,” Kothari said.
Expected imports
Rahul Chauhan of Igrain India said the expected
imports of yellow peas till end-February were around 5.87 lakh tonnes (lt).
About 1.68 lt were imported till January-end and expected imports during
February was 4.18 lt. Bulk of the yellow pea imports into the country are from
Russia and Canada. Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia and Turkey are other countries
from where the yellow pea imports are taking place.
Besides the yellow pea imports, the steps taken
by the Government to make available the chana dal in the retail market and
increase in market arrivals is contributing to the easing price trend, Chauhan
said.
Per the second advance estimates released by the
government last month, the production of chana is seen at 121.61 lt for the
2023-24 rabi season.
