Andhra Pradesh Chickpea Farmers Face Crisis as Prices Plunge Amid Import Surge
Farmers cultivating Bengal gram, commonly known as chickpea or chana, across Andhra Pradesh are experiencing significant distress as market prices have crashed dramatically. Growers are pointing to a substantial increase in cheaper imports as the primary factor eroding their incomes and threatening the viability of pulse cultivation in the region.
From Stable Crop to Financial Strain
Once considered a stable and remunerative agricultural product, Bengal gram is now confronting a steep decline in market rates that raises serious concerns about the sustainability of pulse farming. The state remains a crucial producer, with cultivation extensively spread across districts including Prakasam, Palnadu, Markapur, Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur, and parts of Kadapa.
According to agriculture department estimates, Bengal gram is grown on approximately 6 to 7 lakh hectares annually, yielding between 4 and 5 lakh tonnes depending on rainfall patterns and seasonal conditions. Its popularity in rain-fed agricultural areas stems from relatively low input costs and suitability for the rabi season.
Economic Reversal and Price Collapse
The economic landscape has turned decidedly unfavorable this year. Prices that previously hovered around ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 per quintal during the last season have now plunged below ₹5,000 in several key markets throughout the state. Traders and agricultural experts cite a combination of oversupply from domestic production and a significant surge in imports as driving forces behind this dramatic price collapse.
In Prakasam district particularly, farmers who transitioned from tobacco cultivation to Bengal gram report being hit hardest by the current crisis. Many expanded their acreage with expectations of better financial returns, only to confront substantial losses at harvest time. Numerous growers are now struggling to recover even their basic cultivation costs, creating widespread financial hardship.
Market Dynamics Disrupted by Imports
Agricultural specialists note that steady domestic production combined with sudden import inflows has severely disrupted market dynamics. Imports of chickpeas have risen sharply, coinciding with peak domestic arrivals and thereby worsening the price slump. With procurement mechanisms limited and government intervention minimal, growers fear that prolonged market weakness could discourage future sowing, potentially impacting overall pulse output in the region.
Political Response and Farmer Demands
Amid mounting financial losses, a delegation led by BJP Member of Parliament Daggubati Purandeswari recently met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, urgently requesting central government action. The delegation specifically sought higher import duties, stricter import curbs, and the establishment of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹7,000 per quintal to help stabilize market prices.
"Unless imports are halted or significantly restricted, local prices will continue to dip further," warned Vasu, a prominent member of the farmer delegation. This political intervention highlights the growing pressure on policymakers to address what has become a critical agricultural crisis affecting thousands of farming families across Andhra Pradesh.
The situation underscores broader challenges facing India's pulse sector, where domestic production must balance against international trade dynamics while ensuring farmer livelihoods remain sustainable. As the crisis deepens, stakeholders across the agricultural value chain are calling for comprehensive solutions that address both immediate price stabilization and long-term market security for Bengal gram cultivators.
