Farmers participatory approach in seed multiplication of pulses in Bundelkhand region -A case study

A farmers participatory action research programme (FPARP) was carried out in seed production and multiplication of major pulses through modern seed plot techniques (SPT) to generate awareness about SPT and ensure availability of quality seed to farmers during 2009–2011 in Baank and Bannki villages in Hamirpur district of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 161 farmers with 61 ha of net cultivated area participated in this FPARP programme by sharing half of the seed cost in three major pulses viz., chickpea, lentil and pigeonpea. Farmers were trained through one institutional, six field level and one special training on “know your crops (KYC)” for acquiring initial know-how and subsequent skill/expertise development. The study amply demonstrated that yield advantages to the tune of 37.3, 24 and 51% in improved varieties of chickpea, lentil and pigeonpea, respectively over their counterparts (local variety) were obtained following above practice. The highest yields of 1320, 1000 and 1370kg/ha were realized in chickpea, lentil and pigeonpea, respectively under farmers’ condition. The average cost of cultivation improved varieties of chickpea, lentil and pigeonpea were also reduced to the tune of 7500, 9386, 7287/ha, respectively resulting in higher benefit cost ratios (BCR) in chickpea (2.20), lentil (2.32) and pigeonpea (3.11) over the local (1.23, 1.09 and 1.17, respectively). Due to FPARP, farmers could able to produce 19.3, 9.0 and 14.2 tonnes of truthful level seed for the chickpea, lentil and pigeonpea crops, respectively. In addition, significant quantity (73.4%) of this produce could also enter into the seed chain (31.2 t of seed materials out of 42.5 t total produce) by the adopted farmers themselves. Chickpea seed was diffused fastest (from 60 adopted farmers to 119 other farmers in the very first season) and farthest (from the adopted villages to other 18 villages in a radius of 24 km). The factors affecting the overall yield levels and variations in the yields included soil based (nature of soil, moisture level and water stagnation), plant based (plant population and timely weeding), climate based (continuous fog, frost at flowering and winter rains) and pest and diseases based (aphid, root rot and pod borer) i.e., both abiotic and biotic in nature. Thus, the study suggested that with awareness and knowledge upgradation through FPARP, the farmers could ensure quality seed production and its multiplication and thereby, making seed production system viable and remunerative.