Enhancing Pulses Production for Food and Nutritional Security, Improved Livelihoods, and Sustainable Agriculture in West Bengal Technical Report 2017-2018

Abstract

The project,” Enhancing pulses production for food and nutritional security, improved livelihoods, and sustainable agriculture in West Bengal” was implemented in 2017/18 crop season with two components: 1. Applied and adaptive research, 2. Technology upscaling in 155 villages of seven districts. ICARDA-FLRP, and Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidalaya (BCKV) were involved in applied research. Based on earliness, higher yield and disease reaction, at ICARDA-FLRP, 23 lentil, 20 Kabuli chickpea and 18 grasspea lines have been selected to share with research partners in West Bengal. At BCKV, 7 Kabuli chickpea, 6 grasspea, 4 lentil and 8 mungbean advanced lines have been identified for further testing in multilocations. Besides, lentil variety RVL-31 has been identified to perform well under zero-tillage condition, which is pertinent to rice-fallow system in West Bengal. Foundation seed production of lentil (465 kg) and grasspea (288 kg) was carried out at FLRP. Rice fallow areas are mapped and duration of fallow period has been identified. Cluster demonstrations of lentil, Kabuli chickpea, mungbean and blackgram was conducted across seven districts on 969.4 ha lands involving 3006 farmers. Yield advantage from improved varieties and production technologies ranged from 7 to 24%. Eight Village hubs were established where 184.45 tons seeds were produced and stored in plastic containers/traditional earthen pots. Capacity development of 644 farmers and 121 women was accomplished through training, field school, field days, etc. One FPO is established in Panpur village. Baseline survey by AFC has been conducted and shared with the Govt. of West Bengal. Besides ICARDA team visited all project sites during crop maturity and interacted with partners and Govt. officials. Value addition from pulses was done by women Self-help Group (SHG) (pappadam, Bori, dehulled seeds) and supplied to local markets.