CHICKPEA PRODUCTION

Chickpea harvest, India

Production

Most production and consumption of chickpea (95%) takes place in developing countries. It was grown on about 11.9 million hectares in 2010. Chickpea production has increased over the past 30 years from 6.6 million metric tons to 10.0 million metric tons. Most chickpeas are grown in South Asia, which accounts for more than 75% of the world chickpea area. India is by far the largest chickpea producing country. Over the period 1978–80 to 2008–10, the area under chickpea in India increased marginally from 7.6 million hectares to 7.9 million hectares, but production increased by 40% (from 4.8 to 6.8 million metric tons). Other important chickpea producing countries are Pakistan, Turkey, Mexico, Canada and Australia.

Despite being a crop of the temperate regions, advances in plant breeding have enabled chickpea cultivation to gradually spread to the sub-tropical and tropical regions of Africa, North America and Oceania. In Africa, it is grown mainly to utilize fallow lands. Africa’s share of the global chickpea area has gradually increased to 4.7% in 2008–10 from 3.8% in 1981–83.

For more information:
Chickpea production guide
CGIAR