Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat

Development of infrastructure facilities
The research stations have the responsibility of producing nucleus seed and breeder seed of the varieties
developed by their institutes. Modest support was provided to strengthen infrastructure facilities for
seed production, processing and storage at the participating research stations. The following facilities
were developed:
RARS-Nandyal: Renovation of existing seed storage structures, motorbike, electronic weighing Balance,
digital seed counter, sump motor, and multi-crop thresher.
ARS-Darsi: Seed processing plant (capacity: 2 MT/hr), seed storage stands for the seed store and
motorbike.
UAS-Dharwad: Mobile seed processing plant, seed storage bins, seed cabinets, and motorbike.
ARS-Gulbarga: Sprayers, seed storage bins, motorbike, digital camera, and computer.
Degree students
Four students (3 men + 1 woman), one PhD student from India (Tosh Garg), two MSc studentsfrom Kenya
(Peter Kaloki and Nancy WathimuNjogu) and one MSc student from Ethiopia (TadesseSafera), were
accommodated for conducting their theses research on chickpea (Table 7-17). Except one student from
Kenya (Peter Kaloki), all students completed all or part of their research work at ICRISAT-Patancheru.
Thesis research of two of these students has some components of the application of molecular markers
(linked to TL I). Two students (TadesseSefera and Peter Kaloki) have already been awarded degree, one
student (Nancy WathimuNjogu) is writing thesis, and the remaining one student (Tosh Garg) is expected
to submit his thesis during 2012.
Table 7-17: Degree students conducting research on chickpea activities under TL-II project
Student Gender Degree University Subject field
Tadesse Sefera M MSc Haramaya University,
Ethiopia
Molecular characterization of
Ethiopian chickpea varieties
Peter Kaloki M MSc University of Nairobi,
Kenya
Genetic variability for high
temperature tolerance in chickpea
Nancy Wathimu
Njogu
F MSc Egerton University, Kenya Helicoverpa resistance in chickpea
Tosh Garg M PhD Punjab Agricultural
University, Ludhiana,
Punjab
Molecular mapping of multiple
disease resistance in chickpea
Key lessons learned
The key lessons learned are as follows:
• Farmers’ awareness of the improved varieties and availability of the seed of improved varieties are
the key factors in spread of improved chickpea varieties;
• PVS trials are very effective in enhancing awareness of farmers to improved varieties and in spreading
new varieties;
• The farmers need some orientation and close follow ups for their active participation in PVS trials;
• Farmers participation in varietal selection reduces the time required for varietal testing and possible
high adoption of tested varieties before or after formal release;
Progress of Phase 1
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