Pigeonpea in Eastern and Southern Africa
Legumes are highly susceptible to pests and diseases, increasing the risk for smallholder farmers and constraining the adoption of improved cultivars. Breeding for resistance, grain quality and nutritional traits, drought tolerance and avoidance and helping farmers find reliable market outlets and incentives to invest in productivity-enhancing technologies can make a great difference to their livelihoods.
Impacts
- Farmer incomes in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda rise by 80%.
- 25-40% higher local producer prices following producer-wholesaler linkages.
- Access to superior seeds leads to 40% productivity gains.
- Children (<5 years old) and women experience nutritional benefits due to higher utilization.
Interventions
- Farmers get improved varieties of pigeonpea.
- Producer-wholesaler linkages established; Indian market for pigeonpea magnified.
- Fifteen large-scale dal-processing plants set up in Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique to meet the high demand.
- Green pea markets expanded in urban/semi-urban areas.
- Over 4000 tons of high-quality seed produced and distributed to farmers.
Stories
https://www.icrisat.org/pigeonpea-a-life-changer-for-malawis-drought-stricken-farmers/
https://www.icrisat.org/breeding-new-and-improved-crop-varieties-and-facilitating-seed-industries-to-distribute-the-new-varieties-pigeonpea/
https://www.icrisat.org/pigeonpea-breeding-challenges-in-east-and-south-africa-genomics-the-way-out/
https://www.icrisat.org/integrating-pigeonpea-to-supplement-nutrition-needs-in-children/
https://www.icrisat.org/incoming-board-chair-briefed-on-extensive-work-in-pigeonpea-improvement-and-promotion-of-new-varieties-of-millets-in-esa/
https://icrisat.org/women-empowerment-is-key-to-food-and-economic-security-in-malawi/
http://www.slideshare.net/icrisatsmco/sowing-seeds-of-prosperity-a-success-story-from-malawi
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