Seed priming boosts legume crops in South Asia. Validated RNRRS Output.
Abstract
This is one of 280 summaries describing key outputs from the projects run by DFID's 10-year Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) programmes.
Summary for Project titles: R6395: The Development and Testing of Seed-Priming to Improve Stand Establishment, Early Growth and yield in Semi-Arid Zimbabwe and India and R7438: Participatory promotion of \"on farm\" seed priming.
Poor farmers in Bangladesh, India and Nepal have seen for themselves how easy it is to get better crops of legumes by simply priming the seed before sowing. Because legume seeds are large and hard to store properly, and are sown in the poorest soils, no-one has paid much attention to improving the way they are grown. But legumes provide valuable protein for the poor. Farmers in Bangladesh, eastern India and Nepal, now prime chickpea seed so they can grow it as an extra crop following rice. Lentil seed is being primed in Nepal, and mungbean in Nepal and Pakistan. As priming is so simple and farmers quickly reap the benefits, the potential for widespread use is huge.
The CD has the following information for this output: Description, Validation, Current Situation, Current Promotion, Impacts On Poverty, Environmental Impact, Annex. Attached PDF (12 pp.) taken from the CD.
Citation
PSP26, New technologies, new processes, new policies: tried-and-tested and ready-to-use results from DFID-funded research, Research Into Use Programme, Aylesford, Kent, UK, ISBN 978-0-9552595-6-2, p 22.