CHICK PEAS
Chick Peas are edible legumes belonging to the family of 'Fabaceae' with slightly round & irregular shape, and are slightly longer in size than the normal peas. They are also known by the names of 'garbanzo beans', and have a nut like taste with a high protein content in them.
The plants of the chickpeas grow between 20-25 cm and have feathery leaves on both sides of the stem. The scientific name of chickpeas is 'Cicer arietinum', and they are also known as 'chana' in Hindi and several other names like 'Bengal Gram', 'Kadaale Kaalu', 'Sanaga Pappu', 'Shimbra', etc. Chickpeas can grow well only in sub tropical and tropical climates requiring an annual rainfall of more than 400 mm.
Peas are the part of legume family and also known as dried peas. In latin they are called pisum sativum. Yellow and green peas are the two varieties which are widely grown in the world and traded. Peas are highly nutritious and are an excellent source of vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates. Canada is the largest producer and exporter of peas in world market. Canada is estimated to grow around 3 million tons yearly. Though India too stands as one of the top producers of peas, its local demand is so high that it has to import yellow and green peas in large quantities.
India's annual food inflation higher to 11.47 percent for the week ended Aug 28 from 10.86 percent for the week before. India is likely to produce a record pulses crop of 16.5 million tons in 2010-11 due to improved acerage and adequate rainfall. India is the world's largest consumer of pulses, and higher output will help it reduce imports from around 3 million tons a year. The 4th Advanced Estimates of crop production for Year 2009-10 puts Indian pulses production at 14.59 million tonnes including 7.35 million tonnes for chickpeas.
Prices of pulses in India are expected to come down due to prospect of good local arrival and the import support of 7-8 lakh tonne contracted by the government and the private parties, which will come at all the ports. India’s second-largest producer Maharashtra’s summer pulses harvest is likely to jump 65%, which contributes a fifth of India’s total production. As on Sept. 2 area under kharif pulses stood at 10.95 million hectares, compared to 9.02 million hectares a year ago.
Canada, United States, France & Australia are the major exporters of peas in world. India is the largest importer of peas in international market. Spain, Bangladesh, Belgium, China, Pakistan, South America are the other major importers of yellow and green peas.
