Government Procurement of Chana Not Picking Up

23-May-2025 09:16 AM

Government Procurement of Chana Not Picking Up
★ So far this season, only 2 lakh tonnes of chana have been procured by agencies like NAFED and NCCF, against the buffer stock target of 10 lakh tonnes.
★ In mandis, chana is trading below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 5,650/quintal — for example, around Rs. 5,500/quintal in Bikaner — discouraging farmers from selling to government agencies.
★ Private traders and companies have been actively buying, reducing government procurement opportunities.
★ Duty-free import of yellow peas has impacted the demand for chana in the domestic market.
★ The government is considering direct market purchases to meet buffer stock requirements.
Procurement in Previous Years (in lakh tonnes):
2021–22: 261
2022–23: 235
2023–24: 0.43 (43,120 tonnes)
★ Central pool stocks of pulses are low, with only moong and tur (pigeon pea) stocks being satisfactory.
★ Only 8 days remain before the deadline for duty-free yellow pea imports (Bill of Lading date).
★ It is likely that the government may continue imports with some import duty, given the low central buffer stock situation.