Competition from wheat and mustard keeps chickpeas acreage in check in India

The area under chana (chickpeas) in the 2025–26 rabi season is expected to remain stable or see a slight increase compared to last year. Higher sowing in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan is likely to offset a potential decline in Madhya Pradesh, a central state where wheat has emerged as a key competitor for this major pulse crop.

Industry analysts note that higher residual soil moisture and discussions of a possible bonus over the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat are influencing planting patterns in Madhya Pradesh. Farmers are increasingly leaning toward wheat as a more profitable crop under current market conditions.

“Current prices are not very encouraging for farmers to plant chana. Another challenge is that the forward prices we are receiving from Australia are about 10% lower than the MSP,” said Satish Upadhyay, Secretary of the India Pulses & Grains Association.

Experts believe that despite local shifts in sowing patterns, the overall acreage under chana in the country is likely to remain close to last year’s levels. Future trends will largely depend on market prices and government support mechanisms such as MSP or bonus payments.

Market participants also point out that competition from mustard, which maintains stable prices and strong demand from processors, may further influence farmers’ choices in key regions. They note that clarity on the season’s planting trends is expected in the coming weeks as sowing in major states reaches its peak.

Tags: chickpea, India