Farmers in the country have sown chana across 8.37 mln ha, down 12.8% on year. A fall in acreage of the pulse in major growing states of Karnataka and Maharashtra due to drought in key growing regions of the states led to the overall decline in sowing. The Maharashtra government has declared drought in 151 talukas of the state. Around 100 talukas of 24 districts of Karnataka have also been declared drought-affected. Area under chana in Karnataka fell 14.7% on year to 1.16 mln ha, and in Maharashtra, it was down 35.2% at 1 mln ha. Chana acreage in the largest producer Madhya Pradesh was 5.6% lower from a year ago at 3.16 mln ha. Weak prices of the pulse last year and insufficient procurement by government agencies may have deterred farmers from sowing chana this year.