Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat

pod is sufficient to raise crop in 1 ha field in the third season. The cycle is repeated with 2 kg of selected
pods from third season. Farmer level self-sufficiency in seed is attained through this model. This system has
high adoption among farmers in both states as the majority of them use their own-saved seed. The second
seed system model is of semi-formal type, which is being implemented successfully for the past four years
in Karnataka state. In this model Basic Seed is supplied to the farmers by the university and farmers can
either offer seed production plots for certification to enter formal seed chain or also have an option not to
choose for certification. Truthfully labeled seed is produced without certification but it will be monitored
by the university/NGOs/farmers’ association. A similar model is also promoted in Tamil Nadu. Semi-formal
seed systems were found to be very successful in meeting the local groundnut seed demand. In Tamil Nadu,
the transport cost of 100 kg of pods alone is about 700 Indian rupees (INR), which is 20% of seed cost
(3500 – 4000 INR during last three years). Thus, the alternate seed systems save more than 10% on seed
transportation cost.
Through the semi-formal model, implemented in five districts, namely, Erode and Thiruvannamalai
in Tamil Nadu and Bagalkot, Hiriyur and Raichur in Karnataka, linkages were established between
formal and informal seed sectors through supply of basic quality seed by the university. In Karnataka
state, additional linkages were also facilitated through certification of seed production plots by the
state seed certifying agencies leading to Certified Seed production. This seed was procured by the state
seed corporations or state department of agriculture. The basic seed (100 kg each) of ICGV 87846
was supplied to ABI, ICRISAT, KVK, Sandhiyur and RRS, Vridhachalam for further multiplication and
distribution to farmers through this system. Similarly, 100 kg seed of ICGV 00351 was also supplied to
ABI, ICRISAT, during the 2010 rainy season.
A workshop with 137 participants involving all stakeholders of seed chain: farmers, private and public seed
sectors, NGOs etc. were conducted in Tamil Nadu to appraise the situation of groundnut seed systems. A
policy document for the state of Tamil Nadu titled ‘Groundnut cultivation and existing seed systems” was
prepared and communicated to the authorities. In four training programs conducted in both the states, 493
officials including 72 women from extension department, NGOs and seed sector (both private and public)
were imparted training on various aspects of seed production, processing, packing, labeling, storage, and
marketing. A total of 4,267 farmers were trained during three years in the two states on various aspects
of seed production, seed health and seed processing and storage to encourage local seed production and
storage by farmers through PDKV and semi-formal seed systems. Seed production manuals in Tamil and
Kannada were published and distributed.
A total of 87 field days on farmers’ fields were conducted in eight districts of both states in which
5,456 farmers participated. In addition, two farmers’ days and one farmer trade fair were organized at
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Over 10000 farmers from the two states were made aware of farmers-preferred
varieties of groundnut through various means, as participants in the PVS and paired comparisons, visits
to farmer demonstration plots on field days and distribution of pamphlets on farmers’ day/fair. Farmers’
awareness was also enhanced through print and electronic media, as many as seven television shows,
three radio talks and over 15 newspaper publications were made from time to time on aspects of
new groundnut varieties and improved production practices. Pamphlets on farmer-preferred groundnut
varieties were published - ICGV 87846 and ICGV 00351 in Tamil and ICGV 91114, ICGV 00350 and
R 2001-2 in Kannada. More than 5,000 copies of these pamphlets were distributed to the farmers in
these states.
During the project period, a total of 6,505 small seed samples ranging from 2 – 10 kg pods were supplied
to the farmers. Six farmer-preferred varieties, namely, ICGV 87846, ICGV 00351, ICGV 91114, ICGV
00350, R 2001-2 and GPBD 4 were distributed in these two states. The farmers receiving small seed
samples were encouraged to adopt the PDKV model of seed system to multiply the seed of improved
varieties and also supply them to the neighboring farmers.
Progress of Phase 1
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