AgCanada Forecasts Chickpea Area Drop

VANCOUVER - Feb 9/08 - SNS -- In its latest monthly review of Canadian chickpeas Agriculture Canada's market analysis branch in Winnipeg made its first prediction of what seeded area and production will look like in Canada this year. It is important to note the forecasts are not based on surveys of growers. There are based on mathematical formulae and discussions with industry contacts.

Agriculture Canada expects said production in Canada in 2008 to drop from 225,000 to 150,000 MT. Seeded area is forecast to drop 29.9% to 301,500 acres.

Agriculture Canada is forecasting exports for 2008-09 at 140,000 MT. This season's exports are forecast at 130,000 MT, down 20,000 from the last report. Domestic use in 2007-08 is forecast at 55,000 MT, down 5,000 on the month; while domestic use in 2008-09 is forecast at 55,000 MT.

Season ending stocks are expected to total 30,000 MT at the end of the 2007-08 marketing year, unchanged from last month's forecast. They are forecast at 8,000 MT by the close of the 2008-09 marketing year.

Agriculture Canada estimates grower bids average between $530 and $560 across all classes and sizes of chickpeas in 2007-08, compared to last month's prediction between $530 and $560. Bids are forecast at between $545 and $575 for 2008-09.

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