Promotion of Efficient and Nutritious Agri-food Systems in South Asia

India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan

The Project aimed to increase productivity, profitability, resilience and marketability of micro-nutrient rich food legumes, including lentil, chickpea, faba and grass pea, through mainstreaming energy and labor-saving traits in four South Asian countries i.e. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nepal. Peoject Outcomes and Results: - ICARDA evaluated improved germplasm of lentil, chickpea, faba bean and grass pea for traits associated with machine harvestability, herbicide tolerance and fast cooking time besides nutritional value at two locations. - This has resulted in identification of high yielding improved elite germplasm for sharing with National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) partners. - Seeds of these lines have been multiplied and shared with NARS partners in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan in the form of international nurseries. - The results have shown 5-80% yield advantage of promising lines. The identified lines of lentil, chickpea, faba bean and grasspea will further be evaluated in on farm demonstration before their release for large-scale seed production and cultivation in farmer fields. - Adoption of these lines will help reduce the labour drudgery, save energy in cooking and improve the availability of nutrient rich foods in the region.