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small plots on farmers' fields is very heavy damage from small mammals such as
moles, voles and rabbits. The extent to which this is likely to be a major problem
on large-scale field plantings is yet to be determined. It is expected, however, that
considerably less damage would be caused.
Although it is possible to successfully grow winter chickpeas under much
lower rainfall situations than is possible for the spring-sown crop, the extension of
the crop into non-conventio ial chickpea areas may have to be accompanied by
inorulation with Rhizobium if nodulation is to be adequate to meet the nitrogen
needs of the crop.
Limitations of time in the winter planting season may prevent the crop being
sown at that time. Farmers frequently give priority to planting cereals, following
which the season may be too advanced, and the soil too wet, to allow access
before early spring.
Although ascochyta blight has been identified as the major problem, if winter
sowing is practised on a large scale, new diseases and pests may appear. Diseases
that favor cool and wet conditions, such as Botrytis grey mould and Stemphylium,
may become important on winter chickpeas in the future. The parasitic
angiosperm, Orobanchecrenata has already been observed on winter chickpeas;
it is rarely seen on the spring-sown crop. It is possible that new strains which are
virulent on chickpeas might build up in the future. The pest and disease situation
will therefore have to be monitored closely.
Conclusions
In the South Europe, North Africa and West Asia region, chickpeas were grown
on nearly 600,000 hectares in 1979 (Table 4). Mean yields in excess of 1000
kg/ha were recorded only in Lebanon, Turkey, Italy, Iran, Morocco and Bulgaria.
If the experience in Syria to date can be repeated throughout the region, it
might not be unreasonable to expect total production to increase from its present
level of just over 500,000 tonnes to almost one million tonnes. Such a target
might even be exceeded if areas which are currently considered too dry for
chickpeas (down to the 250 mm isohyet) are brought into cultivation of the
winter-sown crop.
If this is to come about, much work remains to be done. The currently available
sources of resistance have to be closely monitored and efforts to develop
cultivars with potentially more stable resistance should be increased. Seed production
and distribution must be efficient and reliable, and inoculants may have
to be made available to farmers in the drier regions. A close watch will have to be
kept for new pest and disease problems which may arise. In each country,
different problems may be encountered which may result from socioeconomic as
well as biological or environmental factors. Optimum cultural practices for