Increasing the productivity and profitability of pulse crops (chickpea, lentil and groundnut) in the country through development-led inquiry and a farmer-led participatory approach.

This project aimed to provide policy-makers with evidence-based economic analysis and advice so they can reduce constraints to pulses production and trade, and increase productivity in Pakistan. Pulses are dried seeds of the legume family (including chickpeas, mung beans, lentils and mash beans) and are an important source of vegetable protein in Pakistan. International and domestic demand for pulses is expected to grow, but production has stagnated in recent years. Production and prices are volatile, and post-harvest losses are significant.

This project researched cropping options to make rice-rice and rice-pulse cropping systems in Myanmar's Ayeyarwady delta (Ayeyarwady Region and Bago Region) more productive. Rice is the most important agricultural commodity in Myanmar. Producing more rice and pulses in lower Myanmar through improved practices and reduced postharvest losses could alleviate poverty and malnutrition, and improve the livelihoods of the rural poor.

Since the last edition of Mung Central, the teams have been busy harvesting trials and evaluating data on the pest and disease tolerance characteristics of the mungbean mini-core collection. Heavy incidence of Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Disease (MYMD) at a number of locations enabled the teams to collect good data on tolerance and resistance to the disease. In addition, data were collected on the incidence of dry root rot, powdery mildew, anthracnose, thrips and aphids.