Chana sowing holds key to pulses inflation

India's winter chickpea, or chana, acreage could determine inflation in pulses next year, as water shortages and a looming El Nino threaten planting prospects, according to wire material. Chana, the most consumed pulse in India, is crucial for making a variety of foods, from salty snacks to nutritious meals. Adequate soil moisture and cool weather are essential for a good chana crop.

Sowing has begun in some regions, but progress has been slow. State advisories to conserve water and shift to less water-intensive crops have raised concerns about winter sowing.

Chana prices have surged 30% from a year earlier in the wholesale market, while other pulses like tur, urad, and yellow peas have seen increases of 35-45%. Chana constitutes about 45-50% of total pulse consumption in India, with tur accounting for about 15-20%. With the monsoon deficit expected to reduce tur production, chana's good yield is vital for controlling pulse inflation.

Tender prices in auctions of chana from government buffers have risen by around 25% in the past two months, primarily due to October's lack of rainfall. However, there is still a sowing window of over a month for chana. Nitin Kalantry, a pulse processor in Latur, Maharashtra, noted that the crucial sowing period remains.

Maharashtra's chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, advised farmers to prioritize water conservation for drinking purposes, avoiding rabi crop planting where necessary. Some states, like Rajasthan and Karnataka, have similarly encouraged less water-intensive crops. In Vidarbha and Marathwada, where farmers lack assured irrigation, chana sowing may not occur this year.

With El Nino's impact intensifying on India's agriculture, leading pulses-producing countries are approaching India, aiming to boost exports to the world's largest pulse consumer.