The week began on Monday with new chana in Delhi and Jaipur, Rajasthan priced between ₹5625-5650 per quintal. By Saturday evening, the prices had risen to ₹5850-5900 per quintal. During the past week, the demand for chickpea dal and besan remained strong, which led to a ₹250 per quintal increase in prices. Due to weak arrivals and improved demand, chickpea prices continued their upward trend for the third consecutive week. The market strengthened due to the strong buying by stockists, and chickpea prices have increased by more than 10% in the last 15 days. Key Highlights: Strong Buying by Stockists: The prices of chickpeas have risen due to the strong purchasing activity by stockists. Strong Demand from Stockists: The demand from stockists is very strong, and as a result, farmers are not willing to sell chickpeas at lower prices. Stock in Australia: It is estimated that Australia has a stock of 3.6 lakh tons of chickpeas. Australian Exports: Australia has exported 20.67 lakh tons of chickpeas during the current marketing year, of which 73.78% (15.25 lakh tons) was exported to India. Australia now has 3.6 lakh tons of chickpeas left in stock, and they are not in a hurry to sell, as the new crop will take time to arrive. Government Procurement of chana: The latest data on government procurement of chickpeas has not been received yet. However, it is estimated that so far, the government has procured no more than 25,000-50,000 tons of chickpeas, which is much lower than expected. Future Outlook Based on April Arrivals: A large portion of chickpeas from Maharashtra and Karnataka has already arrived in the market. In the coming month of April, the arrival of chana in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, along with stockist buying, will determine the market direction. Price Levels to Watch: If chickpea prices in Delhi fall below ₹5700 per quintal, the market could weaken. However, if prices close above ₹5950, they could reach the ₹6500 range. This season, chickpeas in Delhi have not gone above ₹5950. In the short term, the price range for chickpeas in Delhi is likely to remain between ₹5700 and ₹5950. The next two weeks will be crucial for chickpea prices, as the arrivals have been lower than expected in recent weeks. Since stockists are not getting chickpeas at lower prices, they are buying at every level. It will be better to observe the market trend next week to make informed decisions regarding procurement.