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

Food seCuritY and inCome enhanCement through small millets in northern KarnataKa 81
regional adaption and inbuilt genetic resistance for biotic and abiotic stresses. In
a well managed crop improvement programme, maintenance of released variety
becomes very important in order to prolong the consistency of performance. In this
context, training was given to farmers for production and supply of good quality
seeds. The farmers who were involved in conducting frontline/field demonstrations
were given training for adopting proper procedure for maintaining the genetic
architecture of the variety.
The seed production programme was taken up at the Agricultural Research
Station, Hanumanamatti for production of quality seeds of little millet variety
Sukshema, foxtail millet variety HMT 100-1 and finger millet variety GPU 28. The
quantity of seed produced for these varieties for distribution to the farmers of the
project village are given in Table 9.
Table 9. Quality seed production for selected PVS varieties
S. No. Crop Variety Seed quantity (q)
(2003) (2004) Total
1 little millet sukshema 10.0 22.0 32.0
2 Foxtail millet hmt 100-1 10.0 10.0 20.0
3 Finger millet gpu 28 4.0 4.0 8.0
Total 24.0 36.0 60.0
6.6. Farmers’ contribution through on - farm conservation
In situ/ on-farm maintenance of local varieties is a potential strategy for genetic
conservation. By its very nature, on-farm conservation is dynamic because the
varieties that the farmers maintain continue to evolve in response to natural and
human selection and thus the crop population retains adaptive potential for the
future. One notable example is the variety Halu Navane (sweet foxtail millet)
which is conserved on-farm through cultivation by farmers in Hirekolochi village
of Bellary district.
Under the project, the process of on-farm conservation started with a group
meeting involving local farmers to educate them about the need and importance of
conserving local landraces and to seek their cooperation in this process. An area of
1.0 hectare was selected in each village and the farmers were persuaded to grow all
local cultivars. Project scientists documented the special features of the local cultivars
by observation and through discussion with farmers and made regular visits during
the crop growth period in order to keep continuous interaction with the farmers.
These cultivars possessed the characteristic features of purple pigmentation, thin
stem, small leaves, and 100-110 cm plant height. The maturity period varied from
90-95 days with low grain yield potential of 6-7 q/ha. Straw yield varied from 40-50
q/ha, which is a preferred trait of a good variety in the region due to the importance
of fodder in this dry tract. The fodder quality of local varieties was better because
of thin stem and more succulent leaves. For this reason, farmers took great care to