Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat

Baby trials
A total of 91 trials were conducted in intercropping systems under rain-fed conditions at Vidharba
region (6 trial x 4 village x 2 resource divisions x 2 districts) of Maharashtra. Six trials in each of the
15 selected villages of two districts (Shelu-Khadse, Bhokarkheda, Sawad, Chinchamba Pen, Shelgaon-
Ingole, Karanji, Dudhala, Borala, Kurum, Kanzara, Hirpur, Sirso, Agar, Nipana and Sukli-Khurd). ICP-
8863 (Maruti) was used as a standard check in all these trials. Of the total 91 trials conducted, 18 trials
were located in Akola taluk, three in Murtizapur taluk, four in Risodtaluk and three in Malegaon taluk
failed for various reasons such as erratic and sporadic rainfall at project locations, long dry spell of 22-
25 days after the emergence of the crop, poor management practices and lack of irrigation facilities at
farmers fields. Results showed that farmers’ preferences differed by location; however, wherever ICPH
2671 and Asha is planted, these varieties were preferred by farmers (Table 9-3).
In AP, Asha and ICPH 2671 were identified by farmers as the preferred varieties due to high yield and
resistance to pests and diseases as shown in Table 9-4.
Screening breeding lines against drought
Forty eight breeding lines were received from ICRISAT and planted at Pulses Research Unit, Dr. PDKV,
Akola, and Maharashtra. The varieties Asha, BSMR-736, Vipula, Maruti and BDN-708 were preferred
by farmers in different villages. The sample of 1 kg seed of these varieties was distributed to 240 farmers
in seven villages of Akola and Washim districts for multiplication. The preference of these lines is
presented in Table 9-5. Among these lines, ICPB-2043, ICPB-2092, ICPL-20108, and ICPL-150 were
found superior in respect of yield, wilt and SMD. In terms of reaction to SMD, the incidence was
recorded in the range of 0.0 to 84.6% with susceptible SMD infection ICPB 2043, ICPB 2092 showed
highly resistant reaction against SMD.
Seed Production and Delivery Systems
Summary
A total of 141.67 MT seed of various categories (Breeder, Foundation, Certified, and Truthfully Labeled)
was produced by NARS in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The Certified and TL seed production
program of farmer-preferred varieties in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh was undertaken at village
level. The concept of ‘one village-one variety’ was successfully promoted in Gorvha village in Akola
district in Maharashtra with variety ICP 8863 (Maruti). However, this concept could not be implemented
successfully in other villages (Tiptala in Akola district and Karanji, Shelgaon Omkargir and Sukanda in
Washim district) in spite of conducting the promotional meetings due to the reason such as pigeonpea
intercrop with cotton was not permitted for seed certification (by seed certification agency), different
varieties are supplied under production management packages and farmers were reluctant in executing
the Certified Seed production program.
To facilitate efficient seed production and marketing, PDKV-Akola established linkages with
Maharashtra State Seeds Corporation Limited (MSSCL) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) at Karda
and Durgapura. In Andhra Pradesh, ANGRAU-Hyderabad established linkages with Andhra Pradesh
State Seed Development Cooperation (APSSDC) and Adarsh Rythu for the efficient seed diffusion.
The involvement of APSSDC and Andhra Pradesh State Seed Certifying Agency (APSSCA) in roguing,
inspection and selection, and certification of farmers’ seed production fields ensured the purity and
quality of pigeonpea seed. However, in Maharashtra, there is a need to strengthen informal seed sector
through the approach of ‘seed village concept’ where ‘one village- one variety’ strategy should be
popularized because formal seed sector cannot lead to supply huge quantity of quality seed.
Progress of Phase 1
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