Extended rains lower acreage in rabi season; sowing of gram down 22%

Sowing of gram, one of the biggest pulses grown during the rabi season, was around 22 per cent less than the same period last year (till Friday). 

This was because of the excess moisture in the soil left behind from the extended rains in major growing states, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

According to most market participants, with the ideal time for sowing chana nearing its end, final output could get impacted unless there is a big jump in acreage in the next few weeks. This should ideally push up chana prices in the spot markets. Rates already jumped in the futures on