Canada
April 21, 2016
Strong prices may be enticing, but a shortage of seed will likely limit Canadian chickpea acres this spring.
“Even though we have the desire to grow more acres, we can’t just because we don’t have high enough quality seed,” said Colin Young of Midwest Investments in Saskatchewan.
Given that limitation, Young said he expects Canadian chickpea seeded area this year will amount to around 100,000 acres, down slightly from last year’s 115,000. In contrast, Agriculture Canada is projecting 2016 chickpea seeded area at almost 136,000 acres.
(Statistics Canada is set to release its first acreage report for the 2016 growing season on Thursday, April 21).
But while acres here at home may not increase, Young said he expects global chickpea output will expand this year in reaction to the higher prices.
Canadian chickpea production was lower in 2015 at 83,500 tonnes, compared to 123,000 in 2014, and 169,400 in 2013. Meanwhile, Russia, India, and Mexico also fell short on production, Young said, adding that quality issues dogged the Argentina crop.
“Categorically in every country there’s been a disaster,” he said, adding there is no significant chickpea production on the horizon until Turkey harvests in August.
Prairie new-crop prices for top quality Desi chickpeas currently sit around 28.5 to 30 cents/lb, with 9mm Kabulis at 39 to 45 cents.
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