Chickpeas Hold Firm

VANCOUVER - Sep 29/06 - SNS -- International chickpea markets remained firm against relatively good demand during the past week.

The Indian subcontinent remains active in desi and small caliber kabuli chickpea markets, reducing spreads between those sizes and larger caliber chickpeas.

The USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation office sets prices to be used by country offices for determining marketing loan repayment rates. The price for small chickpeas was unchanged at U.S. $9.00 per 100 pounds for 2006 crop product.

At this level there is no Loan Deficiency Payment (LDP) for chickpeas based on a loan rate of $7.43.

As of September 29, growers have placed no 2006 crop product under loan, nor have they requested LDPs on any. In 2005-06, growers placed no chickpeas under loan, compared to 1.11 million pounds in 2004-05 and 200,000 pounds in 2003-04.

In 2005-06, they requested a total of $183,840 in LDPs covering 10.711 million pounds. Growers in Idaho requested LDP payments of $110,960 on 6.63 million pounds, versus $54,630 on 3.252 million pounds in Montana; $180 on 11,000 pounds in Nebraska; $420 on 29,000 pounds in Oregon; $14,990 on 632,000 pounds in South Dakota; and $2,660 on 158,000 pounds in Washington.