Queensland could emerge as Australia’s leading producer and exporter of chickpeas following a research grant of $4.8 million announced in this year’s state budget for its university.
The research would focus on developing chickpeas varieties for the Indian market.
The grant will enable researchers at Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to develop new varieties of chickpeas and other pulses that are more drought tolerant and disease resistant, the university said.
Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities Deputy Director Sagadevan Mundree said the research would focus on chickpea varieties that are specifically targeted at the Indian market.
Queensland produces one-quarter of Australia’s 500,000 tonne annual chickpea output and the bulk of the crop is exported to India, he said.
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