Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) commonly known as Bengal gram and locally Chana is an important and unique food legume because of its use in the variety of food products like snacks, sweets etc. Condiments and vegetables are prepared from it world-wide. It is also consumed in the form of processed whole seed (boiled, roasted, parched, fried, steamed sprouted etc.) or as dal flour (besan). Gram is a good source of protein (18-22 per cent), carbohydrate (52-70 per cent), fat (4-10 per cent), minerals and vitamins. It is an excellent animal feed. Its stover has good forage value. India is premier chickpea growing country in the world, accounting 76 per cent of total area and 67 per cent production of the world.