CHANA REPORT (MCX-ncdex REPORT)

CHANA REPORT

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Chickpea or chana is a very important pulse crop that grows as a seed of a plant named Cicer arietinum in the Leguminosae family. It contains 25% proteins, which is the maximum provided by any pulse and 60% carbohydrates. It places third in the importance list of the food legumes that are cultivated throughout the world.. Chana is used as an edible seed and is also used for making flour throughout the globe. There are mainly two types of chickpea produced i.e. Desi and Kabuli.

Chana is usually suited to those areas having relatively cooler climatic conditions and a low level of rainfall. It yields best when grown on sandy, it is harvested in February, loam soils having an appropriate drainage system as this crop is very sensitive to the excess water availability and a lack of such system can hamper the yield levels.

Chickpea is seeded in the months of September to November (Rabi Season) in India. The maturity period of desi type chickpea is 95-105 days and of kabuli type chickpea is 100-110 days. Harvesting of the plant is done when its leaves start drying and shedding and can be done directly or with the help of a harvester. In India, March and April.

Current Scenario

India is the largest producer of chickpea followed by Pakistan, Turkey and Iran. India produces around 6 to 8 million tonnes and contributes around 70% of the total world production. Chickpea is the most largely produced pulse crop in India accounting to a share of 40% of the total pulse production. India produces mostly the Desi type chickpeas.

Chana is grown in the drier areas of the country as they are best suited for its production. Madhya Pradesh produces the major share of around 40%. Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan follow Madhya Pradesh contributing to 16% and 14% of production respectively. Since 1990, a rise in the productivity of chickpea in India has been observed from 614 kg per hectare to 735 kg per hectare.

Future Prospects

The domestic demand of chickpea is so large that after it being the largest producer of chana, India is also the largest importer of chana in the world. Over 4/5ths of the chana produced in the country is used to produce Chana Dal and over 4/5ths of this Dal is ground to make flour termed as Besan in India. The Indian imports figure around 3-4 lakh tons i.e. 30% of the total world imports. The countries which exports chickpea to India are Canada, Australia, Iran, Myanmar, Tanzania, Pakistan and Turkey. To fulfill the growing protein requirement of vegetarian population of India, demand for Chana will be even higher in the future.

Chana Future

Chana Future started trading on NCDEX platform from April 2004 onwards. Because of higher open interest even in the far month contracts it has become an excellent tool for price risk management for processors and other market participants. Even an arbitrager can trade using strategies like cash and carry and calendar spread . Speculators can take directional view on future prices and accordingly take position in Chana futures.

Factors Influencing Prices

Obstruction in the information movement

* Crop situation in the countries from where India imports the crop

* Prices of the other competitive pulses produced

* Rainfall level and level of moisture in the soil