India chana climbs on acreage woes, kharif pulses

MUMBAI, Nov 4 (Reuters) - India's chana futures climbed on Wednesday, supported by firm prices of kharif pulses and as traders were betting acreage under the winter pulse may fall in Rajasthan on scanty rains, analysts said.

"A sharp rise in other pulses has been firming up chana," said Nitin Kalantri, a dal miller based in Latur, Maharashtra.

Chana, a winter-sown pulse, is priced lower than kharif pulses like tur, urad and moong, but follows their trend as consumers tend to buy the cheaper substitute.

"Market is worried the way monsoon behaved in Rajasthan. Conditions are not good there," said Ashwini Bansod, a senior analyst at MF Global Commodities India Ltd.

Western Rajasthan received 41 percent below-normal rains in June-September monsoon season while eastern part fell short 30 percent, weather department data showed.

Farmers in Rajasthan have so far completed sowing of chana on 220,000 hectares, down 39 percent from last year, due to patchy rains in the state, a senior government official said on Wednesday. See [ID:nBMB009019]

In the Delhi spot market, the price fell by 5 rupees to 2,525 rupees per 100 kg.

Following are the closing prices of chana futures in rupees per 100 kg on the NCDEX <0#NCH:>

Contract Reuters code Closing price Change in %