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(9.7%). The major chickpea producing countries in the region are Pakistan,<br />
Turkey, Morocco, Iran and Syria.<br />
Although in terms of production, chickpeas are the most important of the food<br />
legumes grown in the region, their productivity is amongst the lowest. In fact,<br />
whereas the productivity on the world basis has shown an increase in the period<br />
1949-52 to 1976-80, it has shown a small decline (by about 1.6%) in the<br />
ICARDA region and the increase of about 11.1% in production over this period<br />
has come from an increase in area. The countries in the ICARDA region where<br />
production has increased are Turkey, Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq and Egypt.<br />
The countries registering a decr. ase in production are Pakistan, Iran and Jorain.<br />
The increase in production of chickpeas in the region, which as mentioned<br />
earlier has all come from increased area, has not been able to keep pace with the<br />
increase in the population in the last 25 years, thus resulting in reduced per caput<br />
availability. Prices have risen, thus making this important legume out of reach<br />
for some of the lower income groups. Need for an increase in the productivity of<br />
chickpeas is therefore urgent.<br />
Use<br />
Chickpeas are used in a variety of ways. Major usage in the Indian subcontinent<br />
isin the form of 'dhal'. Chickpea flour is used for making sweets and snacks. One<br />
of the major chickpea preparations in parts of West Asia is 'Hommos-Bi-Tahineh'.<br />
Roasted chickpeas are also widely used as snacks. In North Africa and<br />
Spain, seeds are soaked overnight, boiled for an hour and sold in the market.<br />
Green seeds are eaten raw or cooked. Dry stems and seed hull are used as animal<br />
feed. Quality characters desired for different preparations are not well documented<br />
and therefore there is a need for the survey of the region for consumer<br />
preference and usage of chickpeas. Such information could be helpful in varietal<br />
improvement programs.<br />
Trade<br />
Although relatively insignificant in the world trade of food'grain, both export and<br />
import of chickpeas have increased substantially in the 1970. During 1971,<br />
106,735 mt at a value of US$ 23 million were exported. The export went up to<br />
167,069 mt at a value of US$ 123 million in 1980 (Tab. 2a). Major exporting<br />
countries of the world are: Mexico, Turkey, Spain, Morocco, Chile, Ethiopia and<br />
Tunisia. Likewise, import of chickpeas during 1971 was 70,265 mt at a value of<br />
US$ 16 million which rose to 147,335 mt at a value of US$ 123 million during<br />
1980 (Tab. 2b). Major importing countries are: Spain, Algeria, USA, Jordan,<br />
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