Minor millets in South Asia: learnings from IFAD-NUS project in India ...

54 minor millets in south asia
production enhancement was
further demonstrated in the
project villages through front line
demonstrations (FLD).
The front line demonstrations
(FLD), in real terms showed the
technology potential to achieve
an additional grain yield of
6.0-8.0 q/ha under appropriate
p r o d u c t i o n m a n a g e m e n t
conditions. In economic terms,
it translated to gain of INR 3,000-
4,000/ha by cultivating farmer
selected improved varieties. This
created much awareness on the economic advantages of growing farmer selected
varieties, GPU 28 and L 5 and these varieties started spreading in the district with
more than 35-40% of farmers growing these varieties. Wider adoption of these varieties
in and around the project villages increased the demand of their seed. This led to
capacity building efforts
to train the farmers in
production of quality
seeds of these varieties.
The selected farmers
successfully produced
the quality seed of these
two varieties which
was procured by the
Karnataka State Seed
Corporation. These two
varieties of finger millet
were also recommended
for large scale cultivation
in Kolar district of
Karnataka State.
Fig. 5. gpu 28: a blast resistant and high yielding
variety of finger millet
Fig. 6. A view of L5 variety of finger millet in farmer’s field in
hadigere village
6.4. Farmers’ contribution through on-farm conservation
During 1950s and 1960s, the farmers themselves used to preserve the best grains
/seeds of important landraces such as Hulubelae, Giddaragi, Karikaddi, etc. for
use as seed for raising the crop next year. They used to share the seed materials
with their close relatives, and sometimes with others on cash and carry basis. The
women used to play an important role in preserving the seed materials in earthen
containers and conducting periodical monitoring of the seed materials for insect