Area and Distribution

Chickpea is cultivated on about 11.08 million hectares in the world, with an average annual production of 9.77 million Mt in the Year 2009 (FAO, 2009). Its average productivity is 882 kg ha-1.   The chickpea is widely grown in Indian sub-continent India, Myanmar,Bangladesh,Nepal which accounts for almost 76% of the world's crop. The crop is also grown in , Iran, Syria and Turkey in Asia.   Africa, mainly grown in Algeria, Ethiopia, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania and Tunisia, accounts for 5% of the world's production.

The North Central and south America produce 3.4% of the total chickpea of the world. The major chickpea growing countries are Canada, Mexico and USA. In Europe, chickpea is grown mainly in Spain and Portugal. Chickpea is grown in Oceania in Australia.