Chickpea popularly known as "BengalGram" or “Chana” or “Gram” in India. It is one of the oldest pulse cash crops cultivated across India.
The Andhra Pradesh state has experienced unprecedented growth in area, production and productivity in chickpea during the last one decade. With the present area of 4.74 lakh ha under cultivation, its yield is 1,596 kg/ha. A substantial part of area of sorghum and tobacco has also come under chickpea in recent years
Chick pea occupies about 38 per cent of area under pulses and contributes about 50 per cent of the total pulse production of India.
Main varieties of chickpea /Bengalgram
There are two main varieties of Bengal gram based on size,colour, thickness and shape of seed.
Desi chickpeas:
These chickpeas are widely cultivated under dry lands .they are smaller in size and having thick coats.Colour varies from tan to black colour.These varieties are mainly cultivated in India and Andhra Paradesh.Variety (JG 11,) cover 90% of the chickpea area in Andhra Pradesh and these chickpeas have low glycemic index hence market value is more than Kabuli chickpeas.
Kabuli chickpeas:
These are large in size with thin coats and color will be of white color.
Variety (KAK-2) is popular in in Andhra Pradesh.In order to Promote location specific high yielding new varieties APSSDCL introduced two new varieties in Chickpea Nbeg-49 (Desi) and Nbeg-119 in (Kabuli)., varieties and organized production during Rabi 19-20 season for distribution during Rabi 2020-21 in A.P.