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Chana
Chickpea or chana is a veryimportant pulse crop that grows as a seed of a plant named Cicer arietinum inthe Leguminosae family. It contains 25% proteins, which is the maximum providedby any pulse and 60% carbohydrates. It places third in the importance list ofthe food legumes that are cultivated throughout the world.. Chana is used as anedible seed and is also used for making flour throughout the globe. There aremainly two types of chickpea produced i.e. Desi and Kabuli.
Chana is usually suited to thoseareas having relatively cooler climatic conditions and a low level of rainfall.It yields best when grown on sandy, loam soils having an appropriate drainagesystem as this crop is very sensitive to the excess water availability and alack of such system can hamper the yield levels.
Chickpea is seeded in the monthsof September to November (Rabi Season) in India. The maturity period of desitype 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 andcan be done directly or with the help of a harvester. In India, it is harvestedin February, March and April.
Current Scenario
India is the largest producer ofchickpea followed by Pakistan, Turkey and Iran. India produces around 6 to 8million tonnes and contributes around 70% of the total world production.Chickpea is the most largely produced pulse crop in India accounting to a shareof 40% of the total pulse production. India produces mostly the Desi typechickpeas.
Chana is grown in the drier areasof the country as they are best suited for its production. Madhya Pradeshproduces the major share of around 40%. Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan followMadhya Pradesh contributing to 16% and 14% of production respectively. Since1990, a rise in the productivity of chickpea in India has been observed from614 kg per hectare to 735 kg per hectare.
Future Prospects
The domestic demand of chickpeais so large that after it being the largest producer of chana, India is alsothe largest importer of chana in the world. Over 4/5ths of the chana producedin the country is used to produce Chana Dal and over 4/5ths of this Dal isground to make flour termed as Besan in India. The Indian imports figure around3-4 lakh tons i.e. 30% of the total world imports. The countries which exportschickpea to India are Canada, Australia, Iran, Myanmar, Tanzania, Pakistan andTurkey. To fulfill the growing protein requirement of vegetarian population ofIndia, demand for Chana will be even higher in the future.
Factors influencing prices
Rainfalllevel and level of moisture in the soil
Obstructionin the information movement
Cropsituation in the countries from where India imports the crop
Pricesof the other competitive pulses produced
Chana Futures
Chana Future started trading onNCDEX platform from April 2004 onwards. Because of higher open interest even inthe far month contracts it has become an excellent tool for price riskmanagement for processors and other market participants. Even an arbitrager cantrade using strategies like cash and carry and calendar spread . Speculatorscan take directional view on future prices and accordingly take position inChana futures.
Source :- www.ncdex.com |