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

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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
82 minor millets in south asia conserve these varieties by growing at least in small area of their land. The local varieties/landraces of little millet and foxtail millet conserved on-farm during the period 2003-2004 are given in Table 10. Table 10. On-farm conservation of local varieties/landraces Crop Year Project area location little millet 2003 Budapanahalli, ranebennur taluk, haveri district 2004 Chikkalingadahalli and Kanapura, haveri taluk, haveri district Foxtail millet 2003 rajapura, sandur taluk, Bellary district 2004 hirekolachi, huvinahdagali taluk, Bellary district Special features of the local cultivars were documented by interviewing the farmers. These cultivars were observed to possess thin stems, small leaves, plant height of 90-100 cm, maturity period of 90-95 days, low grain yield potential of 5-6 q/ha and the straw used as precious fodder for livestock. 7. Agronomic practices for refinement of cultivation technology 7.1. Enhancing production through improved cropping systems A study was conducted in farmers’ fields by 11 farmers in four selected villages in Haveri and Dharwad districts to study the response of different small millets to different cropping systems. The treatment details in respect of little millet, finger millet and foxtail millet are as follows: A. Little millet: T 1 Little millet + pigeonpea in 4:2 row ratio T 2 Little millet + pigeonpea in 5:1 row ratio T 3 Little millet (sole crop) – horsegram sequence B. Finger millet: T 1 Finger millet + pigeonpea in 4:2 row ratio T 2 Finger millet + pigeonpea in 5:1 row ratio T 3 Finger millet (sole crop) – horsegram sequence C. Foxtail millet: T 1 Foxtail millet + pigeonpea in 4:2 row ratio T 2 Foxtail millet + pigeonpea in 5:1 row ratio The results of the response of little millet to intercropping (Table 11) indicated that intercropping of little millet with pigeonpea in 4:2 row ratio recorded the highest net returns (INR 11,899/ha) and benefit: cost ratio of INR 3.75 per rupee
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Minor Millets in South Asia Learnin
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contents iii Contents Foreword v Pr
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foreword v Foreword The project,
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foreword vii Foreword I extend my c
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prefAce ix Preface The small millet
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executive suMMAry 1 Executive Summa
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executive suMMAry 3 women. Informat
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executive suMMAry 5 and seed exchan
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executive suMMAry 7 systems. These
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executive suMMAry 9 available for s
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executive suMMAry 11 dissemination
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introduction 13 Introduction Backgr
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introduction 15 The project was dev
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introduction 17 l Develop value add
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promoting nutrious millets in tamil
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Page 42 and 43: promoting nutrious millets in tamil
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Food seCuritY and inCome generation
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promoting negleCted and underutiliz
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staFF inVolVed in implementing iFad
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Chennai platForm For aCtion 179 Ann
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Chennai platForm For aCtion 181 i.
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aCronYms 183 Acronyms ABD : Agricul
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aCronYms 185 PDS : Public Distribut
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Minor millets in South Asia: learnings from IFAD-NUS project in India ...

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