The Hon Katrina Hodgkinson MP

Minister for Primary Industries Minister for Small Business

MEDIA RELEASE Friday 18 October 2013

NEW CHICKPEA VARIETIES TO EXPAND EXPORT MARKETS Australian chickpea growers will now have greater access to profitable export markets thanks to the release of two new chickpea varieties, NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, has announced. Ms Hodgkinson said the new varieties are the result of extensive evaluation with the major focus on marketability, improved yield reliability and stability and seed quality. “The new varieties will boost local chickpea production and give growers greater access to key export markets,” Ms Hodgkinson said. “The new desi variety PBA Maiden was bred by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and is 28 per cent larger than current varieties and is targeted for whole-seed markets. “The seed quality of PBA Maiden has been assessed as suitable for direct consumption use by traders in India and the Middle East. “The new kabuli variety PBA Monarch yields up to 13pc higher than existing medium seeded varieties and is particularly well adapted to the shorter seasoned, medium rainfall environments of south eastern Australia.” Ms Hodgkinson said PBA Monarch is the first kabuli variety released from the Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) chickpea breeding program. “Both new varieties have been evaluated by PBA and the independent National Variety Trials program,” Ms Hodgkinson said. Ms Hodgkinson said about 70 per cent of Australia’s chickpeas are grown in the northern region – which includes northern parts of NSW – with the remainder in the southern region and only one per cent in the western region. “Pulse crops like chickpeas are a vital component of Australia’s cereal-based cropping systems,” Ms Hodgkinson said. “Pulse crops contribute to soil nitrogen and reduce the impact of cereal diseases, which in turn result in improved yield, quality, profitability and sustainability.” The PBA chickpea program is co-funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation and led by NSW DPI’s Dr Kristy Hobson chickpea breeder based in Tamworth.