The Chickpea farm network in Portugal

"The Chickpea Farm Network in Portugal"

Carlos Pereira -AICF Agro Inovação S.A. . Portugal

A presentation given during Webinar 2 "Optimising Legume Production" of the 8 Webinar series ‘European Legumes in Transition’ 20 April 2021

Chickpea crop is highly relevance for agricultural systems and soil conservation. They allow the diversification of crop rotation, interrupt disease cycle, contribute to weed control, improve soil structure and promote the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, as a result of the symbiotic association of their roots with the Rhizobium. With this it has been possible to practice sustainable agriculture, with a reduction in inputs, such as the application of fertilisers and plant protection products for weed and pest/disease control. In Portugal, the farmer network associated with chickpea cultivation already has more than 50 farmers spread throughout the Alentejo region with soils of high potential use. The farm network has pointed out as positive points the improvement of the physicochemical characteristics of soils and the guarantee of production flow at fixed prices under contract. The negative points are the reduced incentives for production and the dependence on specific weather conditions for the crop to obtain regular productions. According to most farmers, the cultivation of chickpeas goes beyond their economic interest.