New Delhi. The chickpea market witnessed a downward trend during the current week. Traders refrained from buying due to sluggish demand at high prices. Meanwhile, the increased availability of Australian chickpeas at the ports prompted stockists and importers to sell aggressively, further increasing market pressure. Chickpea prices have remained subdued due to increased selling and the lack of expected improvement in demand for chickpea dal and gram flour. Demand has weakened at both the retail and wholesale levels, which is directly impacting prices. According to data released by the Union Agriculture Ministry, an increase in chickpea sowing area has been recorded in the current Rabi season. The area under chickpea cultivation has increased to 62.49 lakh hectares this year compared to 60.13 lakh hectares last year. The increased acreage indicates an increase in production in the coming days, which is likely to further increase supply in the market. Market experts say that until demand improves, pressure on gram prices may remain. Due to subdued buying by dal millers, Delhi gram prices declined by Rs 50 per quintal this week, and with this decline, the prices of Madhya Pradesh line remained at Rs 5550/5575 and Rajasthan line at Rs 5625/5650 per quintal at the end of the week.

Due to increased selling pressure from importers and subdued buying, imported gram declined by Rs 50/100 per quintal this week. And with this decline, the prices of Mumbai, Tanzania remained at Rs 5250, Navasheva, Australia Rs 5450/5500 and Mundra Rs 5350 per quintal.

Due to weak buying, Rajasthan gram prices declined by Rs 25/50 per quintal this week, and with this decline, the prices at the weekend were Rs 4800/5250 in Jodhpur, Rs 5650 in Jaipur, Rs 5650 in Bikaner, Rs 5300/5350 in Kishangarh, Rs 5000/5250 in Kota, and Rs 4600/5100 per quintal.

Due to increased selling pressure at higher prices and weak demand, Maharashtra gram prices declined by Rs 50/100 per quintal during the current week, and with this decline, the prices at the weekend were Rs 5500/5850 in Solapur, Rs 5400 in Latur, Rs 5400 in Akola, Rs 5650 in Nagpur, Rs 5650/5675 in Ahmednagar, Rs 5500/5700 per quintal.

Due to continued lack of demand, prices of gram in Madhya Pradesh declined by ₹50 per quintal this week, and with this decline, prices at the weekend stood at ₹5100/5300 for Ashoknagar, ₹5000/5400 for Ganjbasoda, ₹4800/5300 for Sagar, ₹5500/5550 for Katni, and ₹5550/5700 per quintal for Indore.

Due to continued sluggish demand, Kanpur gram prices declined by ₹25 per quintal during the current week, and with this decline, prices ended at ₹5650/5675 per quintal. Similarly, Raipur gram prices also declined by ₹50 per quintal this week, and with this decline, prices ended at ₹5600/5800 per quintal.

Due to sluggish demand, the prices of Chana Dal declined by Rs 50 per quintal during the current week and with this decline, the prices at the weekend stood at Rs 6550/6825 in Delhi, Rs 6850/7000 in Bhatapara, Rs 6850/7000 in Katni, Rs 6900 in Gulbarga, Rs 6800/6900 in Jalgaon, Rs 6700/7300 in Indore, Rs 6600/6750 in Jaipur, Rs 6375 and Rs 6600/6700 per quintal in Kanpur.