BLACK GRAM and CHICKPEA:THE SCENARIO in MYSURU

Pulses are essentially dry land crops ridden with risks of uncertain rainfall, unavailability of seeds and other challenges. The looming climate change and volatile market fluctuations are further affecting the cause of enhancing productivity and production of pulses. While the scenario for the mandated crops under the Seed Hub project, viz., Black gram and Chickpea, is not much different, seed itself is one of the critical missing elements in addressing the challenge of enhancing pulses production. It is known that seed alone can contribute to over 15% yield improvement, provided it is of good quality seed, available when the farmers need them, at a place and price that the farmers can afford. The project, therefore, shall address the ‘seed’ element of the pulses supply chain and complements it with promotion of good agricultural practices in order to increase productivity and enhance production of Black gram and Chickpea in Mysuru district. Mysuru happens to be one of the major pulses producing districts in Karnataka with an area of 1.05 lakh ha producing about 30,633 tons of various pulses at a meagre productivity of 293kg/ha. Interestingly, the pulse crops chosen for seed production in Mysuru, Black gram and Chickpea, are rather minor crops in terms of area and production, compared to other pulsessuch as Horse gram (about 43,000ha), Cowpea (about 30,000ha) and Dolichos (about 21,500ha). The area under Black gram and Chickpea is 8,090 and 759ha, respectively. The production and productivity are 3,500tons (394kg/ha) and 891 tons (769kg/ha), respectively. The project will be implemented by the ICAR JSS KVK under the guidance and support of Project Advisory Committee has been constituted.

Project Advisory Committee

CHIEF PATRON

President,JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru

PATRON

Executive Secretary, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru

CHAIRMAN

Director, Rural Development, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru

MEMBERS

1.Director, ICAR-ATARI, Bengaluru

2.Director, General Development, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru

3.Director, Horticulture, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru

4.Director of Research, UAS, Bengaluru

5.Special Officer - Seed, NSP, UAS, Bengaluru

6.Joint Director of Agriculture (JDA), Mysuru

7.Breeder (Pulses), VC Farm, UASB, Mandya

8.Asst. Director, KSSOCA, Mysuru

9.Seed Officer, KSSC, Mysuru

10.Area Manager, NSC, Mysuru

11.Senior Manager, Lead Bank (SBM), Mysuru

12.AGM, NABARD, Mysuru

13.Manager, State Bank of Mysuru, Suttur

14.Seed Grower Farmers (2 farmer representatives)

CONVENOR/ MEMBER SECRETARY

15.Senior Scientist and Head, ICAR JSS KVK, Suttur

Project implementation team

16.Subject Matter Specialist, Seed Technology, ICAR JSS KVK, Suttur

17.Subject Matter Specialist, Agronomy,ICAR JSS KVK, Suttur

Activities in Seedhub