Vol. 7, Issue 9, Part C (2025)

The present study aimed to know whether the major markets of chickpea in India are seasonal and integrated and working efficiently. The seasonality was analyzed using the ratio-to-moving-average method, which revealed that arrivals peaked during February to April, while prices were highest from August to October, reflecting an inverse relationship between supply and price. Markets were selected viz., Damoh (Madhya Pradesh), Latur (Maharashtra), Rajkot (Gujarat), Lalitpur (Uttar Pradesh), and Gadag (Karnataka) on the basis of arrivals. The wholesale price and arrivals data were collected from AGMARKNET and APMCs for the period January 2015 to December 2024. The ADF and PP tests confirmed that price series were non-stationary at level but became stationary at first difference. The Johansen multiple co-integration test indicated a long-run equilibrium relationship among the selected markets with multiple cointegrating equations. Granger causality analysis showed both bidirectional and unidirectional linkages, highlighting price leadership of certain markets. The results confirmed that Damoh, Latur, Rajkot, Lalitpur, and Gadag markets are seasonal, integrated, and working efficiently.