OAR@ICRISATCountry-wide extension of integrated crop management of chickpea in NepalP CStevensonauthorSPandeauthorBPoundauthorThis paper discusses lessons that have been learned both from discussions at the present meeting and those distilled from experiences of project partners during the collaborative activities of NARC, ICRISAT and NRI under the Crop Protection Programme's (DFID) project to rehabilitate chickpea in Nepal (DFID R7885). Chickpea is a crop that can compete with alternatives; it is highly profitable when grown with appropriate technology and improves livelihoods for poor farmers. Markets per se are not a limiting step for the nationwide expansion of improved chickpea production in Nepal (most chickpea consumed in Nepal is still imported), but aspects of marketing are, and need addressing to ensure trouble free expansion of chickpea production. Aspects of infrastructure also need addressing, especially the connectivity between research and extension organizations in Nepal, to enable joined-up extension services and technology support. Seed storage has too low a priority for both farmers and extension services and needs greater focus. Pesticide quality and insecticide resistance need monitoring and infrastructure and policy/legislation to support biological alternatives such as NPV needs attention. Farmers' past experiences with particular management tools (eg, familiarity with insecticides from vegetable p r o d u c t i o n ) often coincided with success, and finally skills of diagnosis and timing for applications of technology needs particular attention across all farmers. Because chickpea is self-fertilizing, farmers can produce and maintain their own seed stock negating the long-term role of seed production enterprises in up-scaling. The project also encouraged low cost inputs, which are less financially rewarding for Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs). There is, however, always a need for technology inputs and seed provision for new farmers so there is still a role for the private sector. Self-help groups increasingly need to take on the role of seed producers. Agriculture holds a position of low priority in popular media such as newspapers and television, so alternatives need to be exploited to ensure widespread knowledge dissemination.Chickpea2005Conference or Workshop Item

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