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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Washim district) in spite <strong>of</strong> conducting promotional meetings due to the following reasons: pigeonpea<br />
intercrop with cotton was not permitted <strong>for</strong> seed certification (by the state seed certification agency),<br />
different varieties are supplied under production management packages, and farmers were reluctant in<br />
executing the Certified Seed production program.<br />
In Andhra Pradesh, Foundation Seed production <strong>of</strong> Asha and PRG 158 varieties was successfully<br />
implemented by following 300 m isolation distance between varieties in Tandur village in Ranga Reddy<br />
district and Kodangal village in Mahaboobnagar district. Seed grower farmers were satisfied with the<br />
outcome <strong>of</strong> their produce.<br />
Constraints and opportunities<br />
Pigeonpea seed delivery systems, storage and marketing in both target states (Andhra Pradesh and<br />
Maharashtra) differ in constraints and opportunities. In Maharashtra, in<strong>for</strong>mation was collected from<br />
farmers during the group discussions, meetings, training sessions, and field days. The constraints to<br />
develop an efficient seed storage, marketing and delivery system <strong>for</strong> pigeonpea were identified as lack<br />
<strong>of</strong> storage facilities, pigeonpea seed is more vulnerable to storage grain pests, lack <strong>of</strong> drying facilities<br />
(more relevant when harvesting coincides with unexpected rains), lack <strong>of</strong> processing, packaging, and<br />
transport facilities, varying and inconsistent response <strong>of</strong> farmers to new varieties, and inconsistent<br />
market price by seed industries. In Andhra Pradesh, farmers face hard time in registering and getting<br />
their fields certified. However, farmers <strong>of</strong> this state consider selling seed as TL seed to co-farmers as an<br />
opportunity in seed delivery systems.<br />
Formal and in<strong>for</strong>mal seed sector linkages<br />
To facilitate efficient seed production and marketing, PDKV-Akola established linkages with Maharashtra<br />
State Seeds Corporation Limited (MSSCL) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) at Karda and Durgapura.<br />
While in Andhra Pradesh, ANGRAU-Hyderabad established similar linkages with Andhra Pradesh<br />
State Seeds Development Cooperation (APSSDC) and Adarsh Rythu <strong>for</strong> efficient production and seed<br />
diffusion. The involvement <strong>of</strong> APSSDC and Andhra Pradesh State Seed Certifying Agency (APSSCA)<br />
in roguing, inspection and selection, and certification <strong>of</strong> farmers’ seed production fields ensured<br />
purity and quality <strong>of</strong> pigeonpea seed. In addition, the seed village concept was instilled to grow one<br />
variety in target beneficiaries to guarantee isolation to avoid seed contamination. In Maharashtra, the<br />
involvement <strong>of</strong> MSSCL 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 Akola and Washim. The MSSCL function is to<br />
monitor seed production plots, which will lead to the assurance <strong>of</strong> the procurement <strong>of</strong> seed produced<br />
by the farmers.<br />
Transaction costs in seed marketing<br />
In Maharashtra, marketing <strong>of</strong> seed by individual farmer is not possible, but in Akola and Washim<br />
districts, farmers have organized themselves into groups to carry out marketing <strong>of</strong> their seed to other<br />
farmers. In both the districts, the government also provides seed subsidies under various schemes and<br />
packages. In Andhra Pradesh, seed produced at the local level has the authenticity <strong>of</strong> the source <strong>of</strong><br />
seed, is much cheaper, is well perceived by local farmers since the varieties are adapted to the locality<br />
and are high yielding as compared to the seed procured from outside the districts or state.<br />
Promotion and <strong>for</strong>mal recognition <strong>of</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mal seed sector<br />
In Maharashtra, there is a need to strengthen in<strong>for</strong>mal seed sector through the approach <strong>of</strong> ‘seed village<br />
concept’ where ‘one variety-one village’ strategy should be popularized because <strong>for</strong>mal seed sector<br />
cannot lead to supply huge quantity <strong>of</strong> quality seeds. The seed village concept will solve the problem<br />
<strong>of</strong> the lack <strong>of</strong> quality seeds needed by the villages. However, in Andhra Pradesh, seed produced in<br />
Progress <strong>of</strong> <strong>Phase</strong> 1<br />
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