ICRISAT
IPM project 12: Promotion of farmers’ participatory management
of groundnut diseases for higher yield and nutritive value of crop residues
(haulm) for peri-urban dairy production on the Deccan Plateau in
Duration: 3 years (2003 –2006)
Purpose: Promotion of pro-poor strategies to reduce impact of key pests, improve
yield and quality of crops, and reduce pesticide hazards in peri-urban
systems.
Background/description: Baseline data have been generated through
technical and socio-economic surveys in the previous research phase of the
project (2003-2005). These include on-farm surveys of disease incidence;
on-station and on-farm trials on quantification of disease effects on biomass
production and nutritive value; on-station and on farm trials on management
options to control diseases; on-farm and fodder market surveys on the awareness
and perceptions of farmers and traders of disease effects and implications for
income generation; and effects of disease, infected crop residues on animal
performance. Also farmers’ participatory activity on the multiplication and
distribution of seeds of dual-purpose groundnut varieties along with disease
management practices were initiated in 2003. This activity was expanded to 150
farmers in 2004. Establishment of village level seed multiplication units and
farmers’ friendly disease management clubs will ensure the availability of
technology to fellow farmers in the neighboring villages in Andhra Pradesh and
Agroecozone(s) and location(s): Peri-urban areas
in Andhra Pradesh.
Expected outputs: (a) Village level seed systems for multiplication of
improved groundnut cultivars established, (b) Improved crop and foliar disease
management practices developed (c) Improved fodder resources through higher
yields of better quality groundnut haulms developed (d) Analysis of
opportunities and constraints for introducing new approaches of disease
management and improving fodder resources.
Potential impact and beneficiaries: The primary beneficiaries are small-scale
farmers, who will benefit from a production environment with minimum fungicide
use. Increased technical capacity within
farming communities will allow proper harnessing and integration of IPM
technologies. The project will result in
lower production costs and less harmful crop live stock production systems,
while maintaining high quality of produce (haulm for fodder and pods for food)
for consumers.
Partners: a) International Crops Research Institute
for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT); b) International Livestock Research
Institute (ILRI) ; c) Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU); and d) Non-government organizations (NGOs).
Development investor(s): Department for International
Development (DFID),
ICRISAT contact person(s)/principal investigator(s): Suresh Pande; s.pande@cgiar.org