Potential for introducing improved production practices in food legumes with increased food security in Afghanistan

Srinivas Tavva,Javed Rizvi,Yashpal Singh Saharawat,Kateb Shams,Murari Singh,Nigamananda Swain

doi:10.1590/1678-992x-2017-0127

Srinivas Tavva, Javed Rizvi + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-992x-2017-0127

Copy DOI

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The restricted maximum likelihood method was used to assess performance following the introduction of improved varieties of chickpea and mungbean (an important source of plant protein in Afghanistan) as compared to local varieties using 242 farmer participatory demonstrations laid out in eight districts in Baghlan, Balkh and Uruzgan provinces in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2012. The impact of the varieties introduced on the enhancement of security of food and nutrition of farmers adopting such technologies was also assessed. Taking an average over the study period, chickpea improved varieties (Madad and Sehat) recorded 56 and 72 % more yield over the local ones, respectively, while in case of mungbean varieties, Mai 2008 and Maash 2008 recorded 22 and 30 % more yield over local ones respectively. Though there is a significant yield difference between the improved and the local varieties of both crops, the difference between the improved varieties of chickpea was not significant while it was significant in the case of mungbean. The study revealed a non-zero variance component for variety type [improved vs. local] × year within district interaction for the yield of chickpea while none of the interactions in mungbean had a positive variance component. Risk analysis showed that at a chosen probability level of 90 %, the improved varieties yielded more than local varieties in both crops (> 1.0 t ha−1). Thus, the study highlighted the scope for enhancing the security of both food and nutrition in Afghanistan through improved productivity of pulse crops.

Highlights

Per capita availability of pulses in Afghanistan was 2.4 kg during 2013 against the annual pulse dietary requirement of 18.25 kg per capita required to meet the recommended 50 gm per capita per day
Though chickpea and mungbean are the most important food legumes grown in Afghanistan, productivity is less than 1 t ha−1 (0.752 t ha−1) and current production (60,000 t) falls well short of the demand of the growing human population (FAO, 2016)
It was reported by the ICARDA (2014) that pulse growers need to enhance their knowledge and awareness of good agricultural practices (GAPs) which should be followed in the cultivation of different pulse crops

Summary

Introduction

Per capita availability of pulses in Afghanistan was 2.4 kg during 2013 against the annual pulse dietary requirement of 18.25 kg per capita required to meet the recommended 50 gm per capita per day. Though chickpea and mungbean are the most important food legumes grown in Afghanistan, productivity is less than 1 t ha−1 (0.752 t ha−1) and current production (60,000 t) falls well short of the demand of the growing human population (FAO, 2016) This huge supply-demand gap constrains access to food legumes resulting in insecurity of food and nutrition - a problem which requires immediate attention. Growing legumes could make a valuable contribution to cereal systems in terms of increased soil fertility, animal fodder, and increased income (Arif et al, 2015) In spite of these constraints, farmer participatory demonstrations could be an effective and easy way to convince the farmers of the potential advantages of adopting new technologies and provide faster dissemination

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion