Chickpea also known as Garbanzo Bean or Bengal Gram.

It is an annual plant of the pea family, widely grown for its nutritious seeds.

Chickpea is an important food in India, Africa, Central and South America.

India is the major Chickpea producing country, the major Chickpea producing states of India are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order: Fabales
• Family: Fabaceae
• Genus: Cicer
• Species: arietinum

• Seeds are the most economically important part of Chickpea.
• Tender leaves of young gram crop are also used as a vegetable.

Chickpea is a cool and dry season crop.

The temperature ranging from 18 ˚C to 25 ˚C is good for crop growth.

It grows in areas receiving 650 to 1000 mm rainfall per annum.

Bright sunshine during growth period helps in getting maximum yield.

Chickpea can be grown on wide range of soil.

But well drained medium to black cotton soils are more suitable.

It can also be grown in light alluvial soils which are rich in organic matter.

• The major challenges involve Biotic and Abiotic causes.
• Biotic Causes:
  • Major Pests: Cut Worm, Gram Pod Borer and Gram Caterpillar
  • Major Diseases: Wilt, Sclerotinia Blight, Grey Mold, Rust and Ascochyta Blight.
• Abiotic Causes
  • Pink Pigmentation
  • Chlorosis
  • Purplish Leaves
  • Brown Necrotic Patches.