Pulses in Integrated Crop

Systems and Agricultural

Landscapes

Robin Buruchara

Director, Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance

(PABRA), CIAT.

IYP 2016

Global Dialogue

FAO, Rome, Italy

22 -23 November 2016

Contribution of Pulses in Productivity Cropping Systems

• Availability of nitrogen and other nutrients

• Break disease, pest and weed cycle

• Enhance nutrient and water use efficiency

• Reduce the impact of weather extremes

• Augment system diversity

• Diverse legumes have diverse uses (human livestock etc.)

Why is integration of pulses into farming systems limited?

• Uncertainty in small scale system:

Price signals

Pulse marketability

Labor requirements

Benefits are unclear

Need for holistic research to:

• Optimize production methods – by developing appropriate agronomical management options that full exploit genetic potential.

• Quantify impacts of pulses in farming systems – incentives for farmers

• Facilitate farmers to adopt pulses

Optimizing production methods

Improving pulse integration within e.g. cereal systems:

Staking options-Innovative and environmentally friendly staking options

With a focus on developing appropriate agronomical management to fully exploit genetic traits

INTEGRATED PEST AND DISEASE WEED MANAGEMENT (IPDWM)

PEST AND DISEASE KNOWLEDGE

Key pests and diseasesLifecycles

Geographical areasMapping

SURVEILLANCE & MONITORINGCrop monitoringPest and disease

prediction

PREVENTIONSite selection

VarietyTime of planting and

rotationsWater & nutrient

managementFarm hygiene

Pest host management

INTERVENTIONMechanicalBiologicalChemicalCultural

Integrated pest, disease and weed management

Integrated soil fertility and water management

Solar bubble driers (GrainPro)

Hermetic grain storage bags Metallic silos

Innovative post harvest grain handling & storage approaches

Post h

arvest losse

s

30%

<10%

Quantifying impacts of pulses in farming

systems

• Pre-crop and intercrop effects (e.g. improved yields and protein content of cereals)

• Disruption of weed, pest, and disease cycles

• Water use efficiency

• Multiple services in farming systems

• Greenhouse gas footprints

• Agrobiodiversity and ecosystem services

Facilitating pulse adoption by farmers

• Develop understanding on:

– Factors underlying yield gaps

– Farmer decision making

– Farmer variety selection and demand for technologies

Innovative tools and approaches for pulse

market

Food ProcessorsHumanitarian Agencies Animal Feed Manufacturers &

Bulk Handlers

P

1

P

4

P

3

P5

P2

P

6

Credit

Insurance

MIS

Extension apps

Research and Extension

Input Supply

Platform Lead

firm/aggregator

P1

P2

P6

ICT INTERFACED VALUE CHAINS

Transport and logistics Apps

Quality-Traceability Apps

Production hubs (P)

Markets/Consumption hubs

Distribution hubs

Payment (apps)

Payment (apps)

Evaluating & developing multi-actors approaches for

enhanced seed production and access

Multi-stakeholders seed platforms

Basic seed (NARS & Public and Private seed enterprises)

Certified seed (large and

small packs)

Certified/Quality Declared Seed

Breeder seed (NARS & Public and Private seed enterprises -licensed)

Mechanization tools/labor saving technologies

Farmers Traders Farmers

Facilitating better policy

• To facilitate development of policy options, appropriate to various scales, addressing

– Minimal (and declining) investment in agricultural

research and development

– Poor research – extension linkages

– Functioning input-output markets

– Incentives to support integration of pulses in farming

systems

– Effective information delivery and sharing

• Between research and extension

• Value chain actors

• Within farmer to farmer networks

Thanks