Chickpea
Chickpea & Gram (Chana) Farming Guide for Rabi
How to grow chickpea and gram (chana) — desi and kabuli types — in the rabi season in Gujarat and India: soil, sowing, seed rate, low-moisture management and the best research chickpea seeds.
Updated Fri May 22
Chickpea — gram or chana — is India's most important rabi pulse, and Gujarat is a significant producer. As a hardy, nitrogen-fixing crop that grows largely on conserved soil moisture, chickpea is both profitable and good for the soil, fitting cleanly into winter rotations.
Why grow chickpea
Chickpea is low-input and soil-improving. It tolerates low-moisture, cooler-season conditions, fixes its own nitrogen (benefiting the following crop), and serves a strong food market in both desi and kabuli forms. For rabi farmers with limited irrigation, it is one of the most dependable choices.
Desi vs kabuli
- Desi (gram/chana): smaller, darker, very hardy seed — the traditional dal and besan market.
- Kabuli: larger, lighter, premium-grade seed for the table and export markets, usually fetching a higher price.
Match the type to your market and your soil's fertility.
Soil and field preparation
Chickpea prefers well-drained medium to heavy soils with good structure. It does not tolerate waterlogging. Because it is often grown on residual moisture, a seedbed that conserves moisture — neither too fine nor over-worked — helps establishment.
Sowing time and seed rate
- Season: Rabi, October–November
- Desi gram: ~60–90 kg/ha
- Kabuli chickpea: ~90–130 kg/ha (higher, due to larger seed)
Sow into adequate moisture for uniform germination. Treating seed and, in new fields, inoculating with rhizobium helps nodulation and nitrogen fixation.
Crop care
Chickpea needs little water — often one protective irrigation is enough where moisture is limited; avoid excess, which encourages excessive vegetative growth and disease. Watch for pod borer during flowering and podding, and manage it with recommended integrated practices.
The right chickpea & gram seed
- Nirav (Research Gram) — desi gram (chana) type for rabi with good adaptation to low-moisture conditions and stable seed set.
- Royal Kabuli (Research Chickpea) — kabuli-type entry aimed at premium seed size and market quality.
- Royal Gulabi (Research Chickpea) — chickpea line focused on stable pod load, adaptability and quality grain.
The short version
Sow chickpea in October–November on well-drained medium-to-heavy soil, pick desi (Nirav) or kabuli (Royal Kabuli) to suit your market, use the right seed rate for the type, irrigate sparingly, and guard against pod borer. A hardy, soil-improving rabi pulse with a reliable market.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is chickpea (gram) sown?+
Chickpea is a rabi pulse, sown in October–November. It is grown on conserved soil moisture in many areas and is well-suited to low-moisture, cooler-season conditions.
What is the difference between desi and kabuli chickpea?+
Desi (gram/chana) types have smaller, darker seeds and are very hardy; kabuli types have larger, lighter, premium-market seeds. Kabuli generally needs a higher seed rate due to larger seed size.
What is the seed rate for chickpea?+
Desi gram is sown at about 60–90 kg/ha; kabuli chickpea needs more — roughly 90–130 kg/ha — because of its larger seed size.
Recommended Varsha Seeds products
Need help choosing the right seeds?
Talk to the Varsha Seeds team for dealer enquiries, product recommendations and region-specific farming guidance.