Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
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The approach<br />
With TL <strong>II</strong> project, the identified constraint has necessitated the strengthening <strong>of</strong> collaboration between<br />
the public and private sector. The seed systems objective (Objective 8) was instrumental in catalyzing<br />
up-scaling Foundation and Certified Seed, seed delivery testing models, and raising the level <strong>of</strong> farmers’<br />
awareness. The project has initiated linkages between public and private partnership to facilitate<br />
efficient seed production and efficient marketing <strong>of</strong> legumes <strong>for</strong> efficient seed diffusion. For example, the<br />
involvement <strong>of</strong> Andhra Pradesh State Seed Development Cooperation (APSSDC) and Andhra Pradesh<br />
State Seed Certifying Agency (APSSCA) in roguing, inspection and selection, and certification <strong>of</strong> farmer’s<br />
seed production fields has ensured the purity and quality <strong>of</strong> chickpea, groundnut and pigeonpea seeds.<br />
In Maharashtra, the involvement <strong>of</strong> the Maharashtra State Seed Corporation, Ltd (MSSCL) and Krishi<br />
Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) has linked farmer groups <strong>of</strong> selected villages involved in seed production <strong>for</strong><br />
efficient marketing and diffusion <strong>of</strong> certified seed in the project sites. The MSSCL function is to monitor<br />
seed production plots, which will lead to the assurance <strong>of</strong> the procurement <strong>of</strong> seed produced by the<br />
farmers. This has necessitated the selling <strong>of</strong> farmer’s seed as Truthful Labeled seed to farmers.<br />
Groups <strong>of</strong> farmers in the project sites were <strong>for</strong>med as a result <strong>of</strong> the TL <strong>II</strong> project. This enabled the<br />
marketing <strong>of</strong> own seed to co-farmers. In the project sites, government also provided seed subsidies<br />
under various schemes and packages. Diverse marketing schemes were also observed in the project<br />
area. Even though private traders and Department <strong>of</strong> Agriculture are the two key players in seed delivery<br />
<strong>of</strong> legumes in India, majority <strong>of</strong> the farmers still saved their own seed and the excess seed kernels were<br />
sold in the village during market days and co-farmers purchased them with a very minimal transaction<br />
cost involved. For traders, seed is outsourced from the local area with good quality, much cheaper, and<br />
is well perceived by local farmers since the varieties are adapted to the locality and are high yielding<br />
and sold within the area without incurring transport charges as compared to the seed procured outside<br />
the districts or state (more <strong>of</strong>ten, the seed is not authenticated, much expensive, no guarantee <strong>of</strong> the<br />
per<strong>for</strong>mance since this is new in the area, and in many instances the yield is low). The traders fixed<br />
Rs.3 to 4 ($0.08) as pr<strong>of</strong>it margin <strong>for</strong> a kg <strong>of</strong> seed. In other districts, where seed is accessible and moves<br />
freely, some farmers no longer keep their own seed, hence, they are dependent on the traders.<br />
Infrastructure and equipment<br />
Seed production facilities were upgraded at partner NARS research stations in Andhra Pradesh and<br />
Maharashtra. Installation <strong>of</strong> submersible pump, laying <strong>of</strong> PVC pipelines (2800 ft) and fencing <strong>of</strong> field<br />
were upgraded in PDKV, Akola research station to strengthen and improve irrigation facilities and protect<br />
the crop from animals <strong>for</strong> better seed production. In Andhra Pradesh, facilities <strong>for</strong> seed production were<br />
upgraded at the ANGRAU Research Station in Tandur (Table 9-7).<br />
Table 9-7: List <strong>of</strong> equipment purchased by AP<br />
No. Item Qty. Purpose Cost (Rs.)<br />
1 HDPE Nylon net 205 kg For isolation in Nucleus seed plots 67,035.00<br />
2 Meteorological equipment 1 For recording daily weather parameters. 41,490.00<br />
3 Winnower 1 For winnowing <strong>of</strong> harvested produce. 49,044.00<br />
4 Water tanker 1 For providing lifesaving irrigation to<br />
227,552.00<br />
Germplasm and breeding material.<br />
5 Cooling incubator cum shaker 1 For maintenance <strong>of</strong> Fusarium udum cultures. 350,000.00<br />
6 Horizontal and vertical<br />
1 For molecular variability work <strong>of</strong> the wilt 125,000.00<br />
electrophoresis systems.<br />
pathogen.<br />
Total 860,121.00<br />
Seed storage facility (go down) with capacity <strong>of</strong> 300 MT is constructed at ARS, Tandur, Andhra Pradesh.<br />
However, in Maharashtra, farmers were not keen on having a seed storage facility due to non-availability<br />
<strong>of</strong> land to construct the facility.<br />
Progress <strong>of</strong> <strong>Phase</strong> 1<br />
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