I - --ii

Proceedings of the Workshop on Ascocl'yta Blight and Winter Sowing ofChickpeas (Saxena, M.C.
and Singh. K.B.. eds.). ICARDA. 4-7 May 1981, Aleppo, Syria
Chickpea Improvement in Tunisia
A. MLAIKI and SALAH BEN HAMADI*
*Chef du Labwatoire de Cryotagamie et Vacteriologie,
INRAT-ARIANA, Tunis, Tunisia; Office des Cerdales, Tunis, Tunisia, respectively.
Agriculture is the main source of the Tuaiisian economy. Grain legumes cover
ony 6% of the total area cultivated with food grains in Tunisia. Faba beans and
chickpeas, which are grown as rainfed crops, sre the dominant graiti legumes
(86%).
Chickpea culture covers around 23,000 ha especially in the northern part of
the country. Two areas are important for chickpea proouction: the primary area
includes Bizerte, Beja, and Jendouba: the secondary area where production is
less important includes Kef, Siliana, Tunis, and Nabeul. The chickpea area and
production vary from year to year (Table 1) depending on the amount and
distribution of rainfall during the whole sLason. Generally, total rainfall in these
regions varies from 400 to 800 mm.
Major Factors Limiting Increased Production
Diseases, rainfall, and seed production capacity are the main problems.
Diseases: During the rainy springs, most of the damage caused is due to
ascochyta blight; however, during the dry springs fusarium wilt is predominant.
Rainfall: Its distribution prevents the early sowing of chickpeas.
Seeds and Cultivars: There are no improved Tunisian cultivars; local landraces
such as Amdoun are seeded, which could be considered a limiting factor
& : ie production because these cultivars are low yielding.
Production Technology
Crop is commonly grown in a three- or four-course rotation system, for example
forage, chickpea, wheat; and sugar beet, wheat, forage, chickpea, respectively.
255