Transcript Transforming the postrainy sorghum production

Transforming the postrainy sorghum production
systems for enhanced productivity
Include Partner Logos, if
any
ABSTRACT:
Postrainy sorghum is a major food and fodder crop in south central India particularly in the dry lands but the productivity of the crop was very low (~600 kg/ha). Terminal drought, non-adoption of
improved cultivars and management practices, poor market access were the main reasons behind low-productivity. Therefore we developed interventions to address these issues and implemented
them successfully in six clusters of major postrainy sorghum growing regions in Maharashtra state of India and achieved ~40% higher yields sustainably by working with >40000 farmers directly.
INTRODUCTION
Postrainy sorghum is a major food and fodder crop in the Deccan
Plateau of India particularly in the dry lands of Maharashtra,
Karnataka and other states. The crop is grown purely on residual
moisture on black soils and land races are cultivar options as
farmers prefer the superior grain and stover quality of postrainy
sorghum. However the productivity of the crop is low (~600
kg/ha). There is no value addition to grain and market access is
limited. To change this situation, in a partnership effort led by
ICRISAT, large-scale dissemination on in-situ moisture
conservation and adoption of improved crop cultivars and
cultivation practices was carried out to increase the awareness
among farmers. Seed chain was strengthened in ensure
continuous availability of improved varieties seed.
RESULTS
Photoperiod-sensitive, cold tolerant genotypes are highly suited for postrainy season (Fig
2). Large scale dissemination involving a range of partners resulted in significant benefits.
In seven years, partnership efforts reached 300,000 farmers in Maharashtra through direct
and indirect interventions. These efforts led to significant increase in PR sorghum grain
productivity by 39% and stover productivity by 30% (Fig 3). The early adoption studies
results indicated that our interventions enhanced technology adoption rates, reduced the
yield gaps (by 30-65%), increased the productivity and gave higher returns to farmers (3544%) for postrainy sorghum farmers. Women participation was given high priority in all
project interventions particularly in seed production, crop management and value addition
to grain and stover and marketing. With this the adoption rates in project areas are >70%
and productivity in Maharashtra increased to >800 kg/ha. Improved hybrids (>30 % yield
gain) were developed and being tested in multilocation trails for commercialization. The
seed technology was perfected for producing the hybrids in off-season.
Fig 3 Proud farmers displaying their produce
DISCUSSIONS
Adoption of improved cultivars, management practices and value addition have
profound effect on PR sorghum productivity and profitability
Sustainability of seed system key for thriving the productivity gains
Hybrids have good prospect for enhancing PR sorghum productivity and fertility
restoration and high seed set % under low temperature is the key
Development of plant types amenable for mechanical harvesting is critical
Increasing adoption rates and value addition will transform the PR sorghum
production systems
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Six clusters in Maharashtra Sanpuri (District: Parbhani), Limbaganesh
(Dist. Beed) and Wakulni (Dist. Jalna) in Marathwada area and Hivare
Bazar (Dist. Ahmednagar), Borkarwadi (Dist. Pune) and Aurad (Dist.
Solapur) under Western Maharashtra region were selected for
technology dissemination considering the large area under postrainy
season sorghum in these clusters (Fig 1). To improve the crop
productivity, large-scale dissemination on in-situ moisture conservation
and adoption of improved crop cultivars and cultivation practices was
carried out to increase the awareness among farmers. Seed of improved
varieties adapted to target regions Parbhani Moti, Parbhani Jyoti, Phule
Vasudha, Phule Chitra and Akola Kranti was distributed for cultivation in
~10,000 farmers’ fields in the target areas every year for five years and
trained them in seed production, cleaning and grading the seed for
increasing their value. Farmers were encouraged to sell the graded
produce to organized markets to get higher price.
Fig 2 Genotypic responses to photoperiod
and temperature
Acknowledgements - We thank the funding support by Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation (BMGF) for carrying out this work
REFERENCES
Fig 1. Targeted postrainy sorghum areas in
Maharashtra state of India
Krishnamurthy Lakshmanan, Elango Dinakaran, Are Ashok Kumar and Belum Venkata Subba Reddy. 2014. Field Technique and
Traits to Assess Reproductive Stage Cold Tolerance in Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Plant Prod. Sci. 17(3): 218-227.
Nagaraj N, Bantilan MCS, Ashok Kumar A, Sharma Rajan and Anusha R. 2013. Technological and Institutional Interventions in
enhancing Productivity of dry land cereals: Some empirical evidences from the ICRISAT-HOPE Project in SAT India. Indian Journal
of Agricultural Economics. Ind. Jn.of Agri.Econ. Vol 68, No 3, July-Sept. 2013. Pp 313-325.
Reddy BVS, Ashok Kumar A, Sharma HC, Sharma R and Patil JV. 2012. Postrainy season sorghum: Constraints and breeding
approaches. Journal of SAT Agricultural Research 10.
A Ashok Kumar1*, Belum VS Reddy1, Sharad R. Gadakh2, Uttam Chavan2
and HV Kalpande3, Ambika More3, RL Aundhekar3 and ST Borikar1
1. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad 502
324, Telangana, India
2. Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri, 413 705, Maharashtra, India
3. Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, 431 402, Maharashtra, India
(* Corresponding Author, E-mail: [email protected])
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