The area under the chana crop across the country in the ongoing rabi season is likely to rise 35-40% from 9.9 million ha the previous year. Chana acreage so far is more than double the year-ago level. Even if the pace of sowing slows down, area could be 35-40% higher this time. India’s chana output in 2016-17 was 31.7% higher on year at 9.3 million metric tonne. The country’s total pulses output in 2017-18 is expected to be around 22.0 million metric tonne, against 22.95 million metric tonne the previous year. Though there was a shortfall in production of pulses in the kharif season, the rabi crop is likely to compensate for it and the year’s output is likely to match the year-ago level.