Farmers in the Moree and Narrabri region have played a big hand in a producing a record crop of 1.3 million tonnes of chickpeas in NSW, most of which will be heading to India.
The massive haul of chickpeas is 272 per cent above the 10-year average yield and comes from a 287 per cent increase in area planted in NSW, according to ABARE’s quarterly Australian Crop Report for March.
Moree farmer and NSW Farmers Grains Committee member, Matthew Madden, said chickpeas have become a valuable addition to local food production on the North West Slopes.
“Farmers did take advantage of the temporary removal of the Indian import tariffs and switched cropping rotations to get more chickpeas in. There were prices of up to $1000 per tonne,” Matthew said.
“The yield results across the region were high. It was a good season for growing chickpeas.”
Matthew farms 1600 hectares near Moree and is also the Northern Director for Grain Producers Australia (GPA).
“Chickpeas are an ideal rotational crop for our area. It has the advantages of being a legume and provides the opportunity to double crop with sorghum and wheat.”
India suspended its tariffs on Australian chickpeas, which were as high as 66 per cent, in May last year.
Matthew said farmers are eagerly waiting on the outcome of government discussions about extending the tariff suspension, which expires at the end of March.
ABARES says overall winter crop production in New South Wales is estimated to rise by 79% to 20.3 million tonnes in 2024–25. This estimate is the second highest production level on record and 72% above the 10-year average to 2023–24.
Alfred’s rain skips Moree
North west grain farmers are banking on more rain for another bumper winter crop after missing out on the forecast rainfall remnants of ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred.
While it was a blessing for the last remains of the sorghum harvest and the impending cotton harvest, Matthew said the region’s soil moisture profile could do with a boost.
“Our eyes will be keenly on the skies looking for rain between now and mid-April after missing out on this event,” Matthew said.
“We only got 12 millimetres out of it. There were forecasts of up to 100mm, so a lot of farmers were putting fertiliser on in anticipation.”
“Subsoil moisture across the region is variable. We are about 80 to 90 per cent full at home, but some places are as low as 30 per cent.”
Matthew said farmers are preparing for planting winter crops, starting with canola, faba beans, early wheat and barley varieties and then chickpeas in May.
“Last season was a boomer for the winter crop. It was a record crop for many farmers and the second biggest on record for the north west region.”
“That was on the back of only average rainfall, but it was beautifully timed rain during winter and early spring.”
He said late spring and early summer rainfall also swelled the yields of summer crops, particularly sorghum.
“Farmers that planted sorghum early in August and early September were able to harvest in February and by all accounts, it was a very good crop.”
ABARES forecasts sorghum production to rise by 13% to 800,000 tonnes in 2024–25, which is 55% above the 10-year average to 2023–24.