Enhancing field pea (Pisum sativum L) production for food security, nutrition and livelihood through technological interventions

Field pea (Pisum sativum L) is a popular winter season legume crop largely confined to cooler temperate zones and widely consumed in India. In rainfed production situation where crop often suffers with low and unstable productivity farmers’ resources are not adequate and thereby bring nutritional security at stake. Looking at the fact that the productivity of field pea is far below at farmers’ fields as compared to potential yield it was essential to demonstrate proven technologies especially for this crop in participatory mode under frontline demonstrations (FLDs) implemented by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. The demonstrations were carried out at 80 farmers’ fields in 10 villages for five consecutive years viz 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14 and 2014–15. The highest grain yield of 28.4 q/ha was recorded in the year 2010–11 followed by 23.9 q/ha in subsequent year 2011–12 over farmers’ practices (19.7 and 16.6 q/ha respectively). In both the years marked increase in yield was recorded to the tune of 44.2 and 44.0 per cent respectively over control and it was also found more profitable on economic parameters with higher benefit-cost ratio (BCR) including incremental benefits of Rs 20880 and 15390 per hectare respectively during both the years of technological intervention. An abrupt increase in BCR (4.36) during year 2010–11 was noticed due to increase in yield as well as sudden hike in prices of pulses in comparison to rest of the years. The variation in the per cent increase in yield was found due to variation in agro-climatic parameters, poor crop management, unseasonal rainfall etc under rainfed condition.