Ag Canada Sees 190,000 MT Chickpea Crop

VANCOUVER - Mar 16/07 - SNS -- In its latest monthly review of Canadian chickpeas Agriculture Canada's market analysis branch in Winnipeg predicted production in Canada in 2007 will rise from 182,000 metric tons (MT) to 190,000.

Seeded area is forecast to increase 14.6% to 408,000 acres this year; while harvested area is forecast at 381,000. It should be noted this acreage guesstimate are not based on a grower survey.

Agriculture Canada expects this season's exports to total 130,000 MT, up 5,000 from last month; while next season's export are forecast at 135,000 MT, unchanged from the last report. This season's domestic use is forecast at 47,000 MT, unchanged from last month; while domestic use in 2007-08 is forecast at 50,000 MT, also unchanged.

Season ending stocks are forecast at 20,000 MT by the end of the 2006-07 marketing year, down 5,000 from last month's forecast. Ending stocks are expected to total 30,000 MT at the end of the 2007-08 marketing year, down 5,000 MT from last month's forecast.

Agriculture Canada estimates grower bids to range between $530 and $560 MT across all classes and sizes of chickpeas, compared to last month's prediction between $530 and $580. For 2007-08, grower bids are expected to range between $445 and $475, compared to last month's forecast range between $450 and $480 MT.

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