DST - ICRISAT Collaborative Project

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Enhancing the income of resource poor farmers through

introduction and expansion of improved crop production
technologies (ICPT) of chickpea and other crops in rainfed rice
fallow lands (RRFL) in Jharkhand

Farmers awareness activities

M Sharma, R Ghosh, CS Mahto and S Pande

Problem and Need

Exposure visit to ICRISAT, Hyderabad

Field day, Ranchi

Kisan mela, Ranchi

About 11.65 million ha remains fallow

during the rabi (post-rainy season) after
harvest of kharif (rainy season) rice.
About 1.48 million ha rainfed rice fallow
lands (RRFL) are located in 24 districts of
Jharkhand and thus offer an opportunity
to grow a second crop with pulses
(chickpea, lentil and field pea) and
oilseeds (mustard and linseed). These
second crops would be able to utilize the
residual soil moisture left by previous
rice crop. However, various technology
gaps to grow these crops in RRFL of
Jharkhand are:

RRFL of Jharkhand

Non-availability of improved technologies for establishment of crops

Non-availability and delivery of seeds of improved varieties
Non-availability of disease/pest management technologies (IPM/IDM).

Project Sites
Two districts Ranchi and Palamau were chosen based on the RRFL, tribal
population and small holder poor farming families for introduction, adoption
and further expansion of improved crop production technology.

For more details, please contact: Mamta Sharma, mamta.sharma@cgiar.org

Target districts and small-holder farmers in Jharkhand

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Project Goal and Objectives

The science and technology inputs of the project had following major
objectives:
Evaluate and identify improved high-yielding disease resistant
varieties for further introduction and expansion
Promote cultivation of high yielding chickpea and other crops
(linseed, lentil, mustard and field-peas) through Improved Crop
Production Technologies (ICPTs) in participation with farmers.
Develop Village Level Seed System (VLSS) to achieve selfsufficiency in seeds of farmer-preferred improved varieties of
chickpea and other traditional crops.
Capacity building of farmers, NGOs, and self-help groups on
ICPT components for sustainable intensification of RRFLs.
Provide research backstopping for refinement and research on
ICPT components as identified by researchers and farmers in the
target area.

S & T Interventions and Activities

Technology and approach was farmers centric and farmer owned involving
Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS), Improved Crop Production
Technology demonstrations (ICPT) and Village Level Seed Systems (VLSS)
along with backstop research.
Technology package: ICPT

Sustainability of the program

Seed distribution

Zero-tillage sowing

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Strategy and approach

The research and development process aimed to integrate locally adopted
improved cultivars of chickpea/ other crops and ICPT crop management
practices. Flow chart illustrates the strategy & approach adopted to achieve
the project milestones.

Project deliverables and salient achievements

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Impact