Our response

The project’s aim is to enhance the production and profitability of legumes in the existing cropping systems in Pakistan so that the decline in legume production can be reversed.

Research has sought to

• identify agronomic factors limiting the productivity and profitability of lentils, chickpeas and groundnut, and evaluate possible solutions, mostly through farmer led research and demonstrations of suitable innovations
• increase opportunities for farmers to undertake post-harvest value addition to chickpea, lentil and groundnut crops
• develop and evaluate, in partnership with farmers, site specific village-based seed production and dissemination systems to facilitate access to improved varieties
• disseminate the learning and practices from the project activities to other farmers and private-sector participants, such as input suppliers and potential service providers.

Summary of outcomes to date

2021–22

• The reporting year brought a lot of new learnings by reflecting and getting the right directions.
• Some trials were repeated consecutively for the second year. However, new trials at different project sites were also initiated.
• A new approach addressed the bottlenecks encountered during value addition activities.
• Engaging seed companies strengthened the sustainable pulses seed supply system.
• Project learnings were disseminated by demonstrating interventions during expansion activities, farmer field days, showcasing, and capacity-building events.
• Impact analysis encouraged the project team when they observed the improvement in learning of beneficiary farmers.