MUMBAI (Commoditiescontrol) - Australia's chana output in 2018-19 is projected to decline 40% at 6.16 lakh tonnes from 10.30 lakh tonnes a year ago due to a fall in area under the crop amid poor demand from India, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences said in a report.
Favourable prices of barley compared to that of chana may result in farmers shifting from chana, the report said.
Chana acreage in Australia is likely at 528,000 hectares in 2018-19, down from 11.2 lakh hectares last year, it said.
India is traditionally, Australia's biggest chana importer but the Asian country did not import any pulse in February as compared to 675 tonnes in January and 20,999 tonnes in December after it levied a customs duty of 60% in March to curb cheaper imports and support domestic prices.
Among other major pulses, production of lentils is likely to fall 17% on year to 385,000 tonne, the report said.
Fall in acreage in lentils may also result in lower output in 2018-19.
Sowing is seen at 270,000 hectares this year against 353,000 hectares in 2017-18, the report said.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-22-40015533)