Baseline Scenario of Rainy Season Pearl Millet in Haryana - Working Paper Series No. 40

Abstract

Pearl millet has been cultivated in Haryana as a dual purpose crop where grain and fodder are most often valued equally, which supports poor smallholders and livestock in the harsh agro-climatic region. Currently, the productivity levels are low because of limited adoption of dryland technologies by the poor. The HOPE project aimed at increasing the productivity of pearl millet by 35-40 % over the base level by introducing on-shelf technology and improved management practices in the targeted clusters over a period of four years. In this regard, the baseline survey was carried out in the primary project intervention area (HOPE) where improved technologies have been introduced, and in matching control villages with comparable agro-ecological and market conditions in non-intervention areas (non-HOPE), where improved technologies have not been made. The objective of this baseline survey was to appraise the existing situation of the targeted cluster villages with respect to adoption of technologies, productivity, income, yield gaps and other socioeconomic issues. Pearl millet is the major crop in the rainy season followed by mustard and gram in the rabi (postrainy) season. The average productivity of pearl millet ranges from 1.54 – 1.79 t/ha as against the potential yield of 2.5 – 2.9 t/ha, leaving a yield gap of 58-101%. In the HOPE clusters, adoption rate of hybrids is at the peak, covering around 48% (out of 124.5 ha) under public bred hybrids (HHB 67, HHB 67 Improved), and 50 % under proprietary hybrids. While the same in non-HOPE area was 35% (out of 54.8 ha) under public bred hybrids, and rest of the area is under proprietary hybrids. The yield gap of improved hybrids of pearl millet was estimated as 58-101%, as compared to the potential yield, which shows further scope for improvement in productivity levels. On an average, farmers were reaping a net benefit of is Rs.2108 per ha in HOPE areas, while it was Rs.6238 per ha in non-HOPE area, after accounting the total costs. Farmers most preferred traits in public hybrids of pearl millet inter alia include more palatable grain and fodder quality and disease-pest-moisture stress. Key critical constraints expressed by the farmers are shortage of labour especially during harves