Promotion of Improved Chickpea Varieties In Rice-Based Cropping Systems of Smallholder Farmers in Odisha. 2014-2015 Annual Accomplishment Report (July 2014-June 2015) and 2015-16 Physical Targets (July 2015-June 2016)

Chickpea, pigeonpea, black gram and green gram are among the major pulses covering 1.3 m ha during Rabi in 30 districts of Odisha. However, the productivity is stagnant at 508 kg/ha which is well below the national average of 786 kg/ha. Chickpea is widely grown in Odisha but only 41,910 ha are sown during Rabi due to nonavailability of quality seeds. The average productivity is recorded at 780 kg/ha. The chickpea seed system in Odisha is not well established and this forces the smallholder farmers to save their own seeds year after year or to get it from other farmers as there is no proper access to good seeds. Approximately 80-90% of all planting material used is largely sourced from farmers’ saving seed from own harvest and using them for re-sowing, seed sharing, bartering and selling..