OAR@ICRISATTargeting of Grain Legumes for Income and Nutritional Security in South AsiaDKumara charyuluauthorDMoses ShyamauthorChickpea, Pigeonpea and Groundnut are the most important food legumes in South Asia. They are integral part of semi-arid tropics (SAT) cropping systems and farmers’ livelihoods. Besides enriching soil fertility, food legumes also provide substantial income to the farm households and also contribute significantly towards household nutritional security. Since 2007, ICRISAT along with partners from National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in India and Bangladesh have been implementing ‘Tropical Legumes-II’ project supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for increasing the production and availability of legumes particularly for small holder farmers’ and poor consumers in South Asia. Specifically, the major objectives of this initiative has been focusing on proper targeting and development of legume improved cultivars, promotion of their adoption, advocacy of proactive public sector policies and finally linking these small holders to markets and value chains. A number of research initiatives have been completed in five major states (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Odisha and Tamil Nadu) in India and Barind region of Bangladesh during last eight years (2007-2014) of project phase 1 and phase 2 implementation. These studies have examined and documented the existing situation of legumes cultivation, constraints faced by the farmers, market linkages, potential opportunities for their expansion etc. In close association with the crop improvement scientists, agricultural economists have also assessed the farmers preferred traits for chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut varieties expressed during the ‘Farmer Preferred Varietal Selection (FPVS)’ demonstrations. Subsequently, the farmer preferred varieties were identified, released formally, multiplied and supplied as seed samples to legume growers in the project intervention sites. Later, studies were also conducted for monitoring early adoption of newly introduced improved cultivars and their performance in the targeted locations. Based on those research findings, these studies have brought out location specific suggestions to accelerate the food legumes productivity and profitability in India and Bangladesh. The summary outcomes of these studies will immensely help the researcher, academicians and policy makers for future designing of legume interventions and developing location specific technologies.LivelihoodsChickpeaPigeonpeaGroundnutFood and NutritionAgricultural EconomicsLegume Crops2019LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing is a trademark of International Book Market Service Ltd. member of OmniScriptum Publishing GroupBook

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