1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

In India, 29 percent of the area cropped with rice remains fallow during the dry "rabi" season. This offers the opportunity to improve farm income and soil health by introducing legumes especially lentils. Diversifying the cropping system in such a way results in higher farm income due to additional crop produce and reduced carbon and water footprints.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In India, monsoon-season “kharif” rice is usually grown between June and November, while in the dry winter “rabi” season (from November to February), farmers keep these lands fallow due to lack of irrigation. Another constraint is a suitable crop with available seed for such a short window. Given the World Health Organization’s recommended pulse (legume grain) consumption of 50 g per capita per day, Odisha state needs to produce more. Here, legumes are grown on approximately 2.1 million hectares and total pulse production is 1.06 million tonnes. This results in an annual deficit of 0.22 million tonnes of pulses and a per capita per day consumption of only 11-23 grams. Odisha is exploring the vast potential for fallow cultivation of legumes.
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) recognised this challenge and tested the introduction of lentils during the fallow rabi period. This resulted in a diversified cropping system as demonstrated in the following case study from the interior of Odisha, which is hilly with a cool winter season. Rice is the most commonly cultivated crop. The climate (1000-1500 mm of annual rainfall) and loamy-silty soil is suitable for lentils (Lens culinaris) - especially short duration varieties that can grow residual moisture of the rice.
During the 2018-2021 seasons, the lentil-rice cropping system was demonstrated on 165 ha of farmers’ fields involving 1920 farmers. The average yield of lentils was 790 kg/ha which generates traditional net-farm income of around 200 USD/hectare. Lentils have proved to have good potential: rice yields are not reduced and hence, from a cost-benefits perspective, it is a very viable option. Therefore, the state government is now promoting lentils as a fallow crop in rice-based systems in hilly areas with a cool winter season.
Lentil cultivation is as follows. Firstly, lentils are seeded (40 kg/ha) in the second week of November at a spacing of 30 x 5 cm. 3.5 kilogram of biocides (fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides) per ha are required and 50 kilogram of NPK fertilizer per ha is applied. Manual weeding takes around 20 person-days per ha. The lentils are harvested in February, requiring around 15 person-days per ha. Family labour provides for just over half of the field operations and a quarter of the harvest.
To conclude, growing lentils in the fallow period of rice-based cropping systems offers an opportunity to formulate a more climate resilient cropping system that improves soil health and farm income. This also has positive impact on health due to the inclusion of more pulses in the diet.
Data presented is from the bilateral project on pulses development funded by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Empowerment, Government of Odisha with financial support from RKVY during 2018-2021 and implemented in collaboration with ICARDA. The work acknowledges the contribution of all scientists and team members in the ICARDA India programme: in the field and at headquarters.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

India

Region/ State/ Province:

Odisha

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• 1-10 km2

Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2018

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research
• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - rice (wetland)
• legumes and pulses - lentils

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Is intercropping practiced?

No

Is crop rotation practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify:

Rice: July- November;
Lentil: Nov-February

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - rice (wetland)

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• improved plant varieties/ animal breeds

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
• A5: Seed management, improved varieties
• A6: Residue management

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

• Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)

biological degradation

• Bc: reduction of vegetation cover
• Bq: quantity/ biomass decline

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Lentil:
The plant to plant distance within a row (A) = 10 centimeters
The row to row distance (B) = 30 centimeters

Author:

Reena Mehra

Date:

2022

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Rice:
The plant to plant distance within a row (A) = 15 centimeters
The row to row distance (B) = 15 centimeters

Author:

Reena Mehra

Date:

2022

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Indian rupee

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

80.0

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Nigamananda Swain, Ashutosh Sarker. (1/8/2021). Variety, Technology and Seed System Development for Pulses in Odisha Project Completion Report. Beirut, Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/67880