An increase of 22,1 percent is expected in chickpea production this year

Chickpea production, which is still being harvested all over Turkey, is expected to increase by 22,1 percent this year compared to last year and reach 580 thousand tons.

Chickpea is preferred by farmers because it is not difficult to grow and can be planted in arid areas in Anatolia.

Chickpeas, which can also be consumed green without the seeds drying out, decorate the tables in dried form as a meal, especially in winter. In the 2020/2021 marketing year of chickpea, the domestic usage amount was 509 thousand tons, the per capita consumption was 5,1 kilograms and the qualification rate was 122,3 percent.

While the average chickpea production for the last 5 years reached 567 thousand tons in the country, the average yield was calculated at the level of 116 kilograms per decare.

Within the scope of the estimation of the Turkish Statistical Institute, it is predicted that the chickpea production in 2022 will be at the level of 22,1 thousand tons, with an increase of 580 percent compared to the previous year. Last year, 475 thousand tons of chickpea production was realized.

MOST OF THE PRODUCTION IS IN 6 CITIES IN CENTRAL ANATOLIA

Chickpea production in Turkey is concentrated in Ankara, Yozgat, Kırşehir, Konya, Karaman and Çorum. Turkey exported the most chickpeas to Iran with 14 percent last year. Iran was followed by Pakistan and Syria with 8 percent and Iraq with 6 percent.

In the January-June period of this year, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Lebanon and Georgia drew attention in exports. In this period, Iraq ranked first in exports with 71 percent, followed by Azerbaijan with 12 percent, Lebanon with 9 percent and Georgia with 6 percent.

“OUR COUNTRY IS THE GENE CENTER OF LEGUMES”

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişci said that being a self-sufficient country in agriculture is of great importance at the point reached today.

Stressing that they see the need for seeds to be met domestically as a necessity in order to become a self-sufficient country, Kirişci stated that 911 domestic and national varieties have been registered in field crops.

Noting that 94 types of registered legumes such as chickpeas, dry beans and lentils are edible, Kirişci said:

“Our country is the gene center of legumes, especially chickpeas. Legumes; It is an important product because of its contribution to employment, export potential, easy access to crop rotation, and being effective in reducing fallow areas.”