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Project Record
Assessing the potential for short-duration legumes in South Asian rice fallows
Start Date: 30/04/2000
End Date: 28/02/2001
R Number: R7541
DFID Programme: Plant Sciences Research
Funding Department: Central Research Department
Related Documents: View Related Documents
Managing Institute: CAZS Natural Resources, University of Wales, Bangor (CAZS-NR)
Regions: Asia, Southern Asia
Countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan
Objectives:
Better and updated quantification of rice fallow lands, and classification of their potential and constraints for post-rice legume cultivation.
Background:
Many smallholder rice farmers in South Asia, without, or with only limited irrigation, are locked into near subsistance farming, presenting few opportunities for enterprise and income diversification. They have limited opportunities to grow crops that would complement the staple rice diet, and thus improve family nutrition status. Leaving land fallow after rice due to lack of continued irrigation facilities, usually results in a waste of available soil water and residual nutrients that could be used to support a following crop, one that potentially could be remunerative to the farmers. Also, growing of legumes after rice would have beneficial effects on soil fertility and soil health (breaking pest and disease cycles) that should enhance the long-term sustainability of rice production.Intended Outputs:
Enhanced knowledge of the extent and distribution of land left fallow after the harvest of rainfed rice in South Asia.Informed estimates of amount and distribution of fallow land suitable for growing short-duration legumes after rice in South Asia.
Prioritised recommendations, for action to promote legumes in rice-fallows in each of the four South Asian countries.
Progress and Impact:
GIS database of major rice fallow areas in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan of South Asia has been prepared.The rice fallow systems have been examined based on climate and physical factors (eg: temperature, rainfall, soil type, water holding capacity) and socio-economic factors (seed and input supply, markets, prices, labour issues). An estimate of rice fallows available in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, for growing a short-duration legume after rice, is made.
A report has been prepared covering all the four S. Asian countries with recommendations for follow-up action required to promote use of legumes on fallow lands. Likely costs and benefits for increased use of legumes are being worked out.
Project Conclusions:
Countries of South Asia, while trying to meet their demand for staple food grains (eg: rice and wheat), also realise the need for crop diversification, particularly with regard to other staple food crops like pulses and oilseeds. Various explicit crop diversification programmes have been initiated in each of the target countries. There is little scope for expansion of cropping into new areas and therefore an increase in cropping intensity, along with raising of yields, needs to take place on existing agricultural lands. Rice fallows present considerable scope for crop intensification and diversification provided the appropriate technology is applied.General Notes:
See also the TECA Records:Participatory varietal selection: Short duration legume crops for rainfed rabi in India and Nepal
Participatory varietal selection: Improved chickpea for Bangladesh (BARI chola 2, 4, 5 and 7, ICCV 88202 and ICCV 2)
Total Cost to DFID:
£57,164
MIS Number: 690656005