Desi Chana (Chickpea) — Madhya Pradesh's Rabi Protein Crop

Madhya Pradesh is India's largest chickpea (Cicer arietinum) producing state, with Indore, Vidisha, and Hoshangabad districts growing the smaller, darker desi variety with higher fibre and antioxidant content than the pale kabuli chana. Chickpea is a rabi legume grown in November–March on dryland black soil with minimal water. Besan (chickpea flour), chana dal, and roasted sattu are essential to Indian cuisine from every region.