Crop details

Chickpea (choroko)

Cicer arietinum

Family: Fabaceae

Quick stats

Family	Fabaceae
Typical harvest	1.8 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	6
Seasons	3

Crop profile

Growth habit	annual
Days to harvest	110
Main uses	Dry grain for stews, boiled chickpeas and flour; also used as animal feed and for soil improvement.
Pollination	self
Origin / where it grows	Chickpea (choroko) is grown in cooler and drier highland and mid-altitude areas, often after cereals in rotation.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	15–25 °C
Rainfall	400–700 mm/yr
Altitude	800–2300 m
Best pH	6.5–7.5
Soil type	Well-drained loam or sandy loam; Chickpea (choroko) does well on slightly calcareous and moderately fertile soils.
Row spacing	45 cm
Plant spacing	10 cm
Planting depth	5 cm
Seed rate	70 kg/ha
Nursery days	—

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 110 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for dry grain for stews, boiled chickpeas and flour; also used as animal feed and for soil improvement..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by self. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Chickpea (choroko) is grown in cooler and drier highland and mid-altitude areas, often after cereals in rotation. It is grouped under: Legumes & Pulses.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 400 to 700 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 2300 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 6.5 to 7.5. It does well in well-drained loam or sandy loam; chickpea (choroko) does well on slightly calcareous and moderately fertile soils.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 45 centimetres apart, and leave about 10 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 5 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 70 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Plant Chickpea (choroko) at the start of the cool, dry season when soil has stored moisture. Place 2–3 seeds per hole, about a hand finger deep, and thin to one strong plant.

Transplanting: Choroko is direct seeded; no transplanting is needed.

Irrigation: Chickpea is drought tolerant and is often grown on residual moisture. Avoid heavy irrigation or long wet periods which increase disease.

Fertigation: Use a small amount of starter phosphorus and inoculate seed where chickpea has not been grown before. Extra nitrogen is usually not needed.

Pest scouting: Check fields weekly for pod borers, aphids and leaf diseases. Look at flowers and pods closely for any caterpillars or damage.

Pruning: No pruning required. Keep weeds low in the first month so Chickpea (choroko) can close the canopy.

Harvest: Harvest when most pods are yellow–brown and seeds are hard, before pods split and spill the grain.

Postharvest: Cut plants or pick pods, dry them on clean tarpaulins, then thresh. Dry Chickpea (choroko) grain until hard and store in dry, airtight bags.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal at planting	0	TSP or NPK with higher P (e.g., 0-26-10)	80 kg/ha	N: 0, P₂O₅: 25, K₂O: 10	Band fertilizer a little away from the row; inoculate Chickpea (choroko) seed where needed.
2	Optional K topdress (early flowering)	40	Muriate of potash (MOP)	25 kg/ha	N: 0, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 15	Use where Chickpea (choroko) straw is often removed and soils test low in potassium.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	8	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	25	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	15	kg/ha
N	Topdress_early	0	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_early	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_early	15	kg/ha

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
Early kabuli chickpea	KE	100	Larger cream seeds, early maturing; suited to cool, drier areas.
Desi-type chickpea	TZ	110	Smaller brown seeds, good for split peas and flour.
Local choroko landrace	KE	115	Traditional taste and good adaptation; moderate yield.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	TSP or NPK with P (e.g., 0-26-10)	80	Gives phosphorus for root growth and nodulation of Chickpea (choroko).
Topdress (optional K)	Muriate of potash (MOP)	25	Use in K-deficient fields, especially where crop residues are removed.

Name	Type	Symptoms	Management
Pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera)	pest	Holes in pods of Chickpea (choroko), webbing and chewed seeds inside.	Plant early, scout from flowering, and use recommended biopesticides or insecticides when first damage appears.
Aphids	pest	Clusters of small insects on young shoots and buds; curled leaves and sticky honeydew.	Encourage natural enemies; use selective sprays only when numbers are very high.
Cutworms	pest	Seedlings of Chickpea (choroko) cut at ground level, leaving gaps in the row.	Keep field weed-free before planting and replant missing spots quickly.
Ascochyta blight	disease	Dark spots and lesions on leaves, stems and pods; plants may dry prematurely.	Use clean seed, rotate with non-legumes and avoid overhead irrigation that wets foliage.
Fusarium wilt	disease	Chickpea (choroko) plants wilt and yellow; when stems are cut open, brown streaks appear inside.	Rotate fields, avoid planting in heavily infested areas and use tolerant varieties where available.
Storage beetles and bruchids	pest	Holes in stored Chickpea (choroko) grain and powdery dust in bags.	Dry grain thoroughly and store in airtight or treated bags; clean stores between seasons.

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Smallholder rainfed (low input)	0.9	0.6	1.2	Local choroko types, little fertilizer, basic weeding and limited pest control.
Smallholder rainfed (improved management)	1.8	1.2	2.5	Improved Chickpea (choroko) varieties, good seedbed, starter P and timely pest and disease management.
High input / irrigated or well-managed residual moisture	2.8	2	3.5	Good soil fertility, disease control and careful use of supplementary irrigation where needed.

Country	Region	Planting	Harvest
KE	Cool highland and upper mid-altitude zones (after main rains)	Jun–Jul	Oct–Nov
KE	Highland short-rains season	Oct–Nov	Feb–Mar
TZ	Southern highlands and cooler plateaus	May–Jun	Sep–Oct

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	Cool highland and upper mid-altitude cropping zones	High
KE	Very hot, low, humid coastal belt	Low
TZ	Southern highlands and cooler plateaus	High
UG	Highland and cooler mid-altitude areas	Medium