Chickpea is generally consumed as a seed, being a good source of protein, quality starch and other essential human nutrients. However, mature green seeds, roasted green pods and young chickpea leaves also are eaten as a cooked vegetable green and as spinach in some parts of the world, and could be a useful source of dietary nutrients and fiber. It compliments human nutrition by providing limiting amino acids in cereal foods. Chickpea’s low glycemic index (7 compared to 100 for wheat) makes it as one of the best diets for diabetic people. There are many uses of this grain legume as herbal medicine in the old world. If these properties are scientifically proved, chickpea can excel as health food and as herb. Such value addition could make it as a cash crop in eastern Canada Chickpea leaves and young shoots contain about 60% water, 8% protein, 1% fat, 27% carbohydrate 3.5% ash, 0.3% calcium, 0.2% phosphorus and 6700 IU per 100 g carotene. Overall, chickpea leaves are a good source of several minerals required by humans, and for most minerals, their levels significantly exceed those for spinach and cabbage. Researchers in USA have found that macronutrient minerals (Ca, Mg, K, P) vary from 1.3-fold to 1.8-fold and micronutrient minerals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, B, Ni) vary from 1.5-fold to 2.4-fold in various chickpea accessions. Chickpea sprouts enhance the protein and vitamin utilization and therefore the biological value. These have twice the amount of vitamins C than that in the dry seeds.

Chickpea is beneficial to the environment. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen and requires low dozes of chemical fertilizers. Chickpea needs relatively lesser use of pesticides. It has deep root system and is an ideal crop for rotation with cereals. Therefore it enhances sustainability of agriculture by improving soil health. As it is a cool season crop, it can be planted earlier than some of the common crops grown in eastern Canada and thus can take benefit of good moisture conditions early in the season. Thus it will be useful to investigate chickpea as a crop in eastern Canada.

Objectives:

Expected economic impact in eastern Canada

The farmers in eastern Canada will benefit from the availability of an adapted crop that will widen their options. Since there is a great export potential, the other intermediate dealers will also benefit. Local and foreign consumers will have a choice of delicious health food that will allow them to eat sufficient quality protein without the danger of intake of accompanying fat that is associated with food prepared from peanut, soybean and animal products.

Agriculture Environment Renewal Canada (AERC) Inc. has a well established breeding program for chickpea in the region to provide improved varieties to the farmers. This program will be able to develop and test the new germplasm and make available new varieties to the farmers. By the year 2003, one chickpea variety will be selected for seed production in eastern Canada. Chickpea will be available for the growing market in North America for both the canning industry and salad bars. Chickpea flour can be locally made from home grown chickpea used for pancakes, breading, thickeners, fried noodles, Indian special sweets and curry vegetable dishes. This will also help to meet the domestic steady demand from the ethnic population familiar with this crop in Canada.

If 10,000 acres of chickpea is cultivated in eastern Canada in the year 2004 and farmers get a benefit of $ 60 / acre over corn/soybean, the region will get additional $ 1.5 million income. This benefit can be multiplied if chickpea-leaves, green seeds and roasted pods are popularized and exported. Also if 10,000 acres tobacco/rye land is replaced with chickpea, the health and other benefits will be immense. Replacement of rye may benefit the region with another $ 2 million income.

Table 1. Area under major and some cash crops in Ontario 1996 and 2001

Table 2. Area under major crops in Quebec 1996 and 2001

Table 3. Prices of major crops/tonne in Ontario from 1996 to 2000.

Click here to download the Chickpea Brochure.