Farmers Maintain Strong Interest in Chickpea Sowing

05-Nov-2025 06:07 PM

New Delhi. Indian farmers' enthusiasm and interest in sowing chickpea, the most important pulse of the Rabi season, remains intact, as the government has significantly increased its Minimum Support Price (MSP) and weather conditions remain favorable in major producing states.

Chickpea has a 10 percent import duty, while a 30 percent customs duty has recently been imposed on yellow peas. This is expected to provide some strength to the chickpea market. In fact, compared to last year, Indian chickpea imports from Australia have declined significantly during the current financial year and are unlikely to increase significantly in the future.

According to data from the Union Agriculture Ministry, the domestic chickpea production area in the current Rabi season has increased to 14.92 lakh hectares as of October 31, 2025, which is 2.77 lakh hectares more than the 12.15 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

This year, the average area under chickpea cultivation is estimated at 10.1 million hectares, and the final actual area is expected to exceed this. Farmers are not facing any fertilizer or seed shortages.

All favorable conditions exist for improved chickpea sowing in top-producing states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Gujarat. In some areas, the price has fallen to around the minimum support price, but this is unlikely to significantly impact sowing activity.

The MSP has increased significantly, and if necessary, government agencies can make significant purchases for the central buffer stock.

Harvesting for the new chickpea crop is underway in Australia, and markets are consistently receiving significant arrivals. However, demand in South Asia remains weak.

Last year, India's massive procurement led to a surge in prices, but this time the market has softened. Meanwhile, the domestic supply and availability of chickpea remains largely stable. The Central Government has set a target of producing 118 lakh tonnes of gram for the 2025-26 season.