Production
- Canadian chickpea-seeded area has averaged nearly 300,000 acres from 2019/20 to 2023/24. Seeded area in Canada has fluctuated, but acreage has grown considerably since the early 2000s. Two types of chickpeas are grown in Canada: Kabuli and Desi. Kabuli varieties represent the overwhelming bulk of production. Canada produces 186,000 tonnes of chickpeas annually, with Saskatchewan representing approximately 85% of its output.
- Over the past decade, global chickpea production has increased by 56%, and international trade has improved by 10% in volume and dollar figures.
Trade
- Canadian chickpea exports averaged 170,000 tonnes from 2018/19 to 2022/23 and are purchased by various countries. The United States (U.S.) is the largest buyer of Canadian chickpeas (typically 25% of exports), followed by Pakistan, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and India. European demand has also been growing in recent years.
- Canada is a relatively small player in the global chickpea market, but export volumes have increased.
- India and Pakistan are responsible for more than half of global imports, but volumes can vary depending on domestic production. Chickpeas typically represent 40% of India’s total pulse production, the bulk of which are Desi, but India is also a large producer of Kabuli chickpeas. India and Mexico typically grow the most significant calibre of Kabuli. The U.S., Türkiye, and Argentina have grown from mid-sized to small-calibre Kabuli, with Russia emerging as a sizable exporter.
Processing & Uses
- Kabuli chickpeas are typically consumed whole (canned or dried and bagged), while Desi varieties are ground for flour usage.
Market Opportunities
- Chickpeas are expected to remain essential to Canadian farmers’ crop rotations with agronomic and financial benefits. Global consumption has been steadily rising, and in recent years, chickpeas have grown increasingly popular in North American markets via processed food products and hummus, expanding the market potential.
- Chickpea prices in Western Canada fluctuate significantly yearly but are frequently a profitable cropping option for producers.