Overview
This project aimed to enhance the production and profitability of pulses (chickpea, lentil, and groundnut) in Pakistan's existing cropping systems through development-led inquiry and farmer-led participatory approaches.
Pulses are important crops for food security, nutrition, and soil health in Pakistan, but their production has declined due to various biotic, abiotic, and socio-economic constraints. The project involved six sites across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan provinces, where different pulses were grown in rotation with wheat, rice, and maize. Working with groups of collaborative research (GCRs) comprising 90 pulse farming families, local research institutes, universities, NGOs, and private sector partners, it conducted on-farm trials and demonstrations of improved varieties, agronomic practices, post-harvest technologies, value addition, and village-based seed production systems. Other project activities included disseminating the learnings and practices to other farmers and stakeholders through farmer field days, workshops, seminars, media, and publications.
Outcomes
- Identified and promoted improved varieties of chickpea, lentils, and groundnuts that were high-yielding, disease-resistant, and market-preferred.
- Increased the productivity and profitability of pulses by introducing innovations such as rhizobium inoculation, fungicide seed treatment, chemical weed management, foliar disease management, insect management, and mechanised harvesting.
- Facilitated the production and availability of quality seed of improved varieties by establishing two village seed banks and engaging four private seed companies.
- Increased the opportunities for farmers to undertake post-harvest value addition by demonstrating food processing technologies such as peanut oil extraction, peanut butter production, and organic chickpea certification.
- Linked the farmers with the pulse value chain actors such as input suppliers, service providers, processors, and industry representatives.
- Enhanced the capacity and collaboration of farmers, researchers, extension agents, NGOs, and private sector partners through development-led inquiry and farmer-led participatory approaches.
- Generated new knowledge and evidence on the agronomic, economic, and social impacts of pulses in cereal-based cropping systems in Pakistan.
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