Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat

Enhancing Groundnut Productivity and
Production in India
P Vindhiya Varman (TNAU-Coimbatore), KP Viswanatha (UAS–Bangalore),
HL Nadaf (UAS-Dharwad), CR Konda (UAS-Raichur), SN Nigam (ICRISAT-Patancheru),
P Janila (ICRISAT-Patancheru)
Breeding
Summary
This report highlights the progress made during the last three years of project implementation in India,
where it is implemented in two states, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Cultivation of obsolete varieties and
non-availability of quality seed are identified as major constraints for groundnut productivity in these
states. The major activities under this project are focused on farmers’ participatory variety selection (PVS),
crop improvement, and capacity building. Significant achievements have been made in all the areas.
PVS trials were conducted in three districts of Tamil Nadu and five districts of Karnataka. A total of 635
PVS and 1,222 paired comparison trials were conducted during the project period. From the results of
these trials in the two states, nine improved varieties were identified; the PVS method enabled adoption
and spread of new varieties in the target districts. Further spread of these varieties is fuelled by creating
awareness among the farmers through 87 field days conducted in the last three years, in which 5,456
farmers participated and visited the demonstration plots in farmers’ fields. Awareness is also created
through publications; one booklet and seven pamphlets/leaflets on various aspects of groundnut in
local languages were published and distributed to farmers. The nucleus and breeder seed production
programs at state universities were supported to enable increased seed production and also entry of
improved varieties into seed chain with concomitant phasing out of obsolete varieties. During the
project period a total of 159.09 MT of nucleus and breeder seed were produced by formal seed sector
in both the states.
The breeding activities at partner centers are strengthened, first through supply of about 270 new
breeding lines by ICRISAT to the NARS during the three year period. Evaluation trials of these new lines
were conducted at partner locations and superior lines were identified based on their performance.
Second, through infrastructure strengthening; hybridization facilities were strengthened at one partner
center in Karnataka, ARS, Chintamani and appropriate phenotyping facilities were established at
three research centers, viz., Coimbatore and Tindivanam in Tamil Nadu and Raichur in Karnataka for
efficient screening of breeding material for foliar diseases and drought. Significant progress has been
made at partner centers in breeding activities. Over 200 fresh crosses were completed during the same
period by partner centers with various objectives such as improving foliar disease resistance, yield,
and oil quality; segregating generations (F 2
–F 7
) derived from 259 cross combinations were studied and
selections made during the same period.
Under capacity building, two students (one MSc and one PhD) have successfully completed their
research and submitted their thesis under this project. Two scientists and six technicians were also
trained at ICRISAT. Over 5000 farmers were made aware of improved varieties by directly reaching
them either through VPS and comparison trials (1,602 farmers) or through farmers visit to the trial plots
on field days (5,456 farmers). More than 10000 farmers have received farmer-friendly literature in local
languages with information on new PVS and groundnut production aspects.
Progress of Phase 1
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