Promoting Pulses and Oilseeds in Rice

Fallows

Presentation by Group-IDr. P. Bhattacharyya

Director of Agriculture, West Bengal

BACKGROUND• Rice fallows basically indicate to those lowland kharif

sown rice areas which remain un cropped during rabi (winter) due to various reasons

• Mainly spread in the states of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, WB and U.P, M.P,A,P and southern coastal region

• In our country, there is large shortage of pulses as well as edible oil. The shortage is gradually increasing with increase in population & per capita income

• During 2014, India imported about 41 lakh tonnes pulses & 120 lakh tonnes of edible oil

• Rice fallows offer huge potential for area expansion with short duration pulses and oilseed

Present Status of Rice Fallows in different States

State Rice Fallow Area (L Ha)

Area under Pulses

/Oilseeds (L Ha)

Potential for Future

Expansion (L ha)

Assam 10.40 3.80 3.00Bihar 7.81 0,20 2.75

Chhattisgarh 8.80 2.00 4.00Jharkhand 10.00 0 1.00

Odisha 17.36 16.73 0.63U.P 2.53 2.13 2.13W.B 8.00 0.80 4.00

States like Assam, Odisha, U,P & W,B initiated for organizing Demo under NFSM/NMOOP in Rice fallows

Challenges• Poor Germination resulting poor crop stand • Mostly local varieties of pulses/ oilseeds are grown• Water stress during critical periods of crop growth• No fertilizer application done in the crop• Lack of a-biotic stress tolerant varieties • More susceptibility to biotic stresses• High weed infestation suppressing growth of crop• Lack of POP for rice fallows under different

situations• Non availability of quality seed• Grazing by Stray Cattle – a social problem

Strategies• Potential areas under rice fallow to be utilized• Poira/ relay cropping of Lentil/ Lathyrus/ Pea/ in Kharif

Paddy fields may be done• Poira/ relay cropping of short duration Mustard/ Linseed

Kharif Paddy fields• Cultivation of Sesame/ Ground nut in Potato fallows• Short duration Green gram during pre- kharif• Intercropping of Black gram with Maize/ Green gram with

Jute• Use of zero tillage machines for sowing of pulses &

oilseeds in rice fallows where ever feasible• Necessary low cost Protection from stray cattle• Better market linkage to fetch good price

Technological Intervention for Improving the Productivity

• Use of high yielding varieties• Overnight soaking of seeds & seed treatment• Use of Rhizobium culture in pulses /

groundnut • Maintaining optimum plant population• Provision of at least one life saving irrigation

during flowering to reap better yield• Foliar nutrition at pre bloom stage• Weed management• Plant protection

SOME EXPERIENCES

• Poira cropping with Lentil:

SOME EXPERIENCES• Poira cropping with Lathyrus/ Grass Pea:

SOME EXPERIENCES

• Poira cropping with Bengal gram/Chick Pea:

SOME EXPERIENCES• Poira cropping with Pea:

SOME EXPERIENCES

Poira cropping with Toria Intercropping of Green gram with Jute

Thank you for your kind attention