Prices have moved up by ₹225-300 over the past couple of weeks
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KAMAL NARANG
As festive demand picks up, chana (gram) prices have firmed up over the past couple of weeks and are seen inching towards the minimum support price (MSP) levels. Prices have moved up by ₹225-300 over the past couple of weeks on tightening supplies.
“The festival demand has picked up,” said Satish Upadhyay, Hon Secretary, India Pulses and Grains Association. Also, the remaining stock of the domestic crop is not of good quality and the prices of yellow peas have also firmed up, partially shifting the demand to chana.
IPGA in its weekly update said prices of both domestic and imported chana increased for the third consective week ending January 10, on steady demand from trade and processors. Prices were supported by firm imported chana and tight domestic supply as mandi arrivals were low.
Buyers going slow
Moreover, the imports of chana have also slowed down as importers, anticipating a higher domestic crop have slowed down the purchases ahead of the new crop arrivals, he said. Chana imports from Australia for the current season are down by around 6 per cent at 3.89 lakh tonnes over last year.
Upadhyay said the prices are likely to remain range-bound hovering around the MSP levels, depending on the government procurement strategy. The government has announced MSP of ₹5,875 for chana for the rabi 2026-27 marketing season. Average mandi prices of gram stood at ₹5,417/quintal on January 10, marginally lower than the MSP of ₹5,650 for the 2025-26 season.
As per latest sowing data, chana has been sown in an area of 95.88 lakh hectares (lh) as of January 9, up 5.11 per cent from 91.22 lh a year ago. Overall, rabi pulses acreage is up by 2.83 per cent at 136.36 lh.
Rahul Chauhan of IGrain India said prices have firmed up on improving demand and slowing imports. Chana imports have slowed down as farmers in Australia are holding back, anticipating higher prices. “The Australian farmers are waiting for the prices to improve,” he said, adding that the Australia is having a huge crop of 2.2 million tonnes.
Published on January 12, 2026
