Chickpeas

Revised September 2021chickpeas

Introduction

Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, (Cicer arientinum) belong to the legume family, which includes a variety of beans, peanuts, soybeans and lentils. Although the common chickpea in the market is tan or beige, there are also yellow, red, dark green or brown varieties. The two main varieties of chickpeas are the large, light-seeded kabuli type, referred to as garbanzo beans, and the small, dark-seeded desi type.
Chickpeas are native to the Mediterranean region and are a major ingredient of many Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Indian dishes, such as hummus, falafels and Indian curries. Growth in domestic demand for chickpea-containing products have helped to support prices and expand growth in production. 

Chickpeas offer specific benefits to a healthy diet. A one cup serving of chickpeas provides 29 percent of the daily value of protein and 49 percent of the daily value of fiber. They also contain vitamins and minerals and significantly boost your intake of manganese and folate. 

Marketing

Nearly all domestic pulse crop (grain legume) production is marketed through processors, with about 20 percent of production contracted and the majority (80 percent) sold on the cash market. Chickpeas take many forms as food items. In North America, most kabuli chickpeas are marketed as canned chickpeas for salads. They are also marketed as dry chickpeas and ground flour for baking purposes, particularly with the rise in gluten-free options and preferences for consumers.

Production

In 2020, approximately 3295,00 pounds of chickpeas were produced in the U.S. on approximately 210,000 acres, yielding an average of approximately 1,570 pounds per acre. Total U.S. acreage of chickpeas planted was down 38 percent in 2020 compared to 2019. Chickpeas are grown primarily in Montana (35 percent of total production), Washington (32 percent), Idaho (19 percent), and North Dakota (7 percent). Washington leads the nation in the production of large kabuli chickpeas and small desi chickpeas. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) figures, India is the world’s largest producer of chickpeas, followed by Australia and Turkey. (ERS, 2021)

Chickpeas also offer additional benefits to producer as they make an excellent rotation crop, particularly with grain crops. They are known to assist in reducing disease potential, pests, insects and weeds, as well as increasing nitrogen in the soil like many other pulse crops.

Prices

In recent years, the pricing of chickpea has been calculated according to a three-tiered pricing schedule based on seed size. According to the USDA ERS, the season-average price for chickpeas was $0.17 per pound in 2019, down significantly from its $0.26 per pound pricing in 2017.

Financials

The economic viability of a specialty crop such as chickpea will ultimately depend on several factors such as market development, contract and seed pricing, and production capability.  

Sources

Crop Values 2019 Summary USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Vegetables and Pulses Outlook (2021)

Chickpea Production in the High Plains (South Dakota State University, University of Wyoming, and University of Nebraska)

Chickpea Production Guide Dryland (Oregon State University, 2004)

Chickpea Production, Montana State University Extension