Agriculture is a key sector of Pakistan economy. It contributes 19.2 percent to country’s GDP and provides employment to around 38.5 percent of the labor force. Pulses are a high-quality source of proteins and vitamins which are very important for human health. Chickpeas are high in essential vitamins including riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, folate, and beta-carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A. The agro-food value chain encompasses all activities that occur at the farm or rural level and throughout the movement of products from farm to consumer, such as input supply, management, storage, processing, packing, supply and all the activities of products move through various stages. The purpose of this study is to calculate the economic advantages of various stakeholders participating in the chickpea value chain, as well as to identify challenges in and explore opportunities for upgrading the chickpea value chains in Punjab Pakistan. The lack of awareness about value chain is a major issue in our country. Primary data was collected from 100 value chain actors through well-designed and pre-tested questionnaires from districts of Bhakkar and Layyah, Punjab. Collected data was analyzed by using appropriate statistical technique and results are presented in the form of thesis. Calculated profitability of value chain actors. Results indicated the involvement of each actor in chickpea value chains. Profit of grower per acre was 8924.69 PKR, profit of commission agent per mond was 89.2 PKR, profit of processor per mond was 273.71 PKR and retailers per mond was 1002.48 PKR respectively. Most of farmers had small landholdings. The yield of chickpea can be maximized by providing the latest machinery and improved varieties of seeds. The government must promote the use of modern irrigation technologies like artificial rain system and sprinkler irrigation system to improve the productivity of chickpea crop.

Keywords: Agriculture GDP, Chickpeas, Value chain