Industry sees lower rabi chana output on unusually cold weather

Contrary to Government estimate, chana output this rabi season is expected to be lower at 6.5 million tonnes (mt), according to trade estimate at the Pulses Conclave 2014 held in Goa. This was largely due to unusually cold weather and overestimate of pulses acreage.

Earlier, the government has estimated a bumper chana output at 9.8 mt this year against 8.88 mt harvested in the same period last year.

Speaking to media on the sidelines of the pulses conclave, Bimal Kothari, Vice-Chairman, Indian Pulses and Grains Association, said if the industry estimate comes true the overall pulses output this year would be much less than Government’s estimate of 19.8 mt as chana crop alone accounts for 40 per cent of the rabi crop.

“Given the huge variation in government and industry output estimation, the Association plans to appoint a private agency to do crop survey in a scientific manner. We are already talking with SGS, the world’s leading agriculture inspection, verification, testing and certification company,” he said.

If all goes as per plan, the first crop survey by a private agency should start from next kharif season, he said.

Highlighting the fact that tur and chana prices have fallen below the minimum support price, Kothari said the quantity of Government’s pulses purchase at MSP is low and is not sufficient to protect farmers’ interest. Chana prices in the wholesale market has fallen to ₹25-27 a kg against the MSP of ₹31 a kg. Chana was sold at ₹45-50 a kg two years back when the Government introduced special incentive programme to enhance output.

The Government should consider appointing a dedicated agency to procure pulses at MSP.

The Association expects pulses imports to fall this year to three million tonne from four million tonnes recorded last year due to higher crop output.

The association has urged the Government to allow free exports and felt that such a move will not spike in domestic pulses prices as the international demand for pulses is very low. India last year exported just 3-4 lakh tonnes while it imported 3.30-3.40 mt. In the first nine months of this fiscal, pulses imports were at 2 mt.