http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/5592 2012-02-27T03:26:32Z info:eu-repo/semantics/descriptiveMetadata http://oar.icrisat.org/5592/ Food legumes in cropping systems and farmers participatory approaches Dar, W D Pande, S Keatinge, J D H Food Legumes Genetics and Genomics Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics Food legumes or pulses are an important component of cropping systems and provide an opportunity to increase food supplies, particularly in the developing world, in a sustainable way, through intensifying and diversifying agricultural systems. Food legumes are more positive crops, in terms of resource conservation, than cereals and a rotation of food legumes with cereals makes cereal production more economic and sustainable. In the developing world legumes is a major source of nutrition for the poor. However, in the past three decades the production of food legumes has-gradually fallen in comparison , with a rapid growth in cereals, and livestock products. Yields of the majority of the legumes have stagnated as they have been relegated to more marginal and unfavorable environments; and no major yield breakthroughs have been apparent . Concurrently, the first generation of Green Revolution Technologies used to increase food production are being reduced in effectiveness and have become unable economically to sustain the present, or desired increased levels in productivity. This is due, in part, to the increasing dominance of monocropping with cereals and the subsequent displacement of legumes. The role of food legumes as a key component of second-generation green revolution technologies is therefore crucial and timely. Large variations in yields are presently experienced which is compounded by intense biotic and abiotic stresses, and an inadequate supporting policy environment. We review the potential role of legumes in cropping systems in developing countries and make little effort to distinguish between cool and warm-season pulses as trends in supply and demand have been similar and most factors influence both types of pulses. Recent examples of diversification of cereal based cropping system emphasizing farmer participatory approaches are discussed. 2005 Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://oar.icrisat.org/5592/1/ProceedingsFIFLRC_763-786_2005.pdf Dar, W D and Pande, S and Keatinge, J D H (2005) Food legumes in cropping systems and farmers participatory approaches. In: Proceedings of the Fourth International Food Legumes Research Conference, 18-22 Oct 2005, New Delhi, India. info:eu-repo/semantics/objectFile info:eu-repo/semantics/humanStartPage