ICRISAT IPM project 04: Integrated crop management for increased production of grain legumes in Asia

Duration: 5 years (2001-2006)

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to develop, evaluate, implement and share simple and effective integrated crop management (ICM) technologies including host plant resistance, use of bio-rational insecticides, cultural practices and enhancement of natural enemies for increasing productivity of grain legumes in rainfed agriculture.

Background/description: Food security and farm incomes of Asia depend on sustainable production of grain legumes. Grain legumes have received little attention in the past despite their importance in balancing human and animal diets. In India, where a large proportion of population is vegetarian, grain legumes are a major source of protein for the rural poor. Legume crops (groundnut, pigeonpea and chickpea) are attacked by several species of insect pests of which Helicoverpa armigera, and Maruca vitrata are important in chickpea and pigeonpea while Spodoptera litura is important in groundnut. Current control relies on chemical pesticides, but misuse of pesticides by the farmers has lead to development of resistance in H. armigera. Recent crop surveys in farmers fields has indicated that inspite of extensive use of chemical insecticides, there are severe crop losses due to H. armigera. Annual worldwide losses due to H. armigera in pigeonpea alone are estimated to be more than US$ 310 million. Hence there is a clear need to develop alternatives to chemical control. The present IPM activities would exploit the use of natural resources and indigenous know-how available in the farm communities for popularizing the IPM options to control insect pests in groundnut, chickpea and pigeonpea. While addressing these objectives, the project will also strengthen the transfer of technology to the partners through farmer-participatory on-farm research.

Agroecozone(s) and location(s): Legume crops with emphasis on groundnut, pigeopea and chickpea in India, Nepal, China and Vietnam.

Expected outputs: This project aims to enhance NARS, NGOs and farmers technical capacity to adapt, refine and deploy IPM technologies, ii) refine biological and ecological methods suited to local needs, iii) integrate IPM options for Helicoverpa management on legumes, iv) smallholder farmers empowered in decision-making to adopt IPM options, and v) develop information systems to support IPM technology dissemination/adoption.

Potential impact and beneficiaries: IPM in grain legumes will create awareness on the role of natural enemies, use of natural resources and need based use of chemicals through training and participatory research. Farmers will directly benefit from this technology by having access to information on alternative methods for pest management. This project will also generate considerable interest and impetus in the NARS for developing and sharing IPM strategies among the partners. Consumers will also benefit through the availability of better quality produce at affordable prices.

Partners: a) ICRISAT, b) NARS, India; c) Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), d) National Grain Legumes Research Program (NGLRP), Nepal; e) Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), f) Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GAAS), China; g) National Institute of Plant Protection (NIPP), and h) Vietnam Agricultural Sciences Institute (VASI), Vietnam.

Development investor(s): World Bank and IFAD

ICRISAT contact person(s)/Principal investigator(s): G.V. Ranga Rao, G.Rangarao@cgiar.org, http://www.icrisat.org