This document summarizes the outputs, outcomes, and lessons learned from a project in Nepal that aimed to develop lentil varieties with higher concentrations of iron and zinc. Key outputs included developing new lentil lines through breeding and disseminating micronutrient-rich varieties to farmers. Outcomes included the proposed release of a new variety called RL-4 and wider dissemination of iron- and zinc-rich varieties. Capacity building activities like farmer training were also conducted. Lessons learned included that participatory programs like variety selection trials were effective for creating demand and that involving more women helped rapid dissemination.

1. Y R Pandey, PhD
Project Title: Harvest plus Challenge Program of CGIAR “Development of lentil lines
with high concentration of zinc and iron”
Nepal – Successes, Lessons Learnt & Challenges Ahead
Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)

2. 2
Major Focus Areas of Project Activities
• Development of Micro-nutrient Rich Lentil Varieties (Specially higher
concentration of Iron and Zinc)
• Dissemination of Fe and Zn rich lentil varieties through
– Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS)
– Large plot demonstration
– Participatory seed multiplication
• Seed production through Village Based Seed Production Entrepreneurs
(VBSE) and seed storage bin support
• Capacity Building: farmers’ training, fairs, field days and exposure visits

3. 3
Project Outputs
• Varietal Development:
– 14 reciprocal crosses were made and harvested a total of 9
crossed pods (F1)
– 3 F2 Population Developed
– Intermediate product Development:
• 3 F3, 27 F4 and 4 F5 populations were advanced
• A total of 139 single plants progenies were selected from
17 crosses based on better agronomical trait
• Final Product Development: 38 new lines selected and
advanced in yield trials
• Extension: 15 Lines were disseminated through participatory
programs

4. 4
Project Outputs
 Germplasm exchange: received >2700 exotics
lines of lentil, chickpea, grassspea and fababean
from ICARDA in the forms international nurseries:
disease tolerance, early, micronutrient, grain
quality etc.
 More than 100 researchers have already been
trained by ICARDA in different areas like breeding
techniques, advanced biometrical techniques for
crop improvement research etc.

5. 5
Project Outcomes
 Released Varieties of lentils
SN Name Acc # Origin Source Year Domain
1 Sindur Lo-111-25 Nepal Nepal 1979 Terai, midhill
2 Sisir P43 India ICARDA 1979 ”
3 Simrik T36 India ICARDA 1979 ”
4 Sikhar ILL 4404 Pakistan ICARDA 1989 ”
5 Simal LG 7 India ICARDA 1989 ”
6 Khajura Masuro-1 LG 198 India ICARDA 1999 Western terai
7 Khajura Masuro-2 PL 639 India ICARDA 1999 ”
8 Shital ILL 2580 India ICARDA 2004 Terai, midhill
9 Sagun ILL 6829 ICARDA ICARDA 2009 Midhill, Valley
10 Maheswor Bharati ILL 7982 ICARDA ICARDA 2009 ”

6. 6
Project Outcomes
• RL-4 (ILL 6037 x ILL 8007) variety proposed for release
– Well adopted to terai to mid hill
– Has bolder seed size compared to existing varieties
– Good in Fe and selenium content
• Wider dissemination 15 micronutrient dense lentil cultivars viz. Simal,
Shikhar, Shital, Khajura Masuro-1, Khajura Masuro-2, Sisir and promising
cultivars ILL7723, ILL8006, RL-4, Black Masuro, ILL7715, ILL3490, LG-12,
ILL7164, HUL-57 in 17 districts
• PVS: Genotypes Black Masuro, RL-4, ILL-8006 & RL-12 were the best yielder
and farmers preferred cultivars

7. 7
Project Outcomes: Capacity Building
• 187 (80 female) farmers were trained in technical matters and seed
production: 4 events in 4 locations
• A flyer on “Development of micro-nutrient rich lentil in Nepal”
developed and disseminated in 500 copies
• A leaflets on Lentil production technology developed and disseminated
in 1000 copies

8. 8
Project Upscaling and Out-scaling
2014-15
• Varieties (Fe and Zn rich): Maheswor Bharati, Bari-4, ILL-7723, Sisir, Simal,
shital
• Total Districts Reached: 17 (specially 22 terai districts are popular for
lentil cultivation)
• Coverage area: 70 ha
• No of Farmers Reached: 1050
• Total Production: 11.23 mt
2015-16
Varieties (Fe and Zn rich): ILL-7723, Shital, Khajura Masuro-1, Black Masuro
Distributed to 900 farmers (15 districts, area coverage 37 ha).

9. 9
Lessons Learnt from the Project
• Dissemination through participatory programs: PVS, Large Plot
Demonstrations, fairs, exposure visits were effective in creating demand
for the varieties
• VBSE made availability of seeds at local levels
• Dissemination was rapid and wider when more women were
encouraged to participate the project activities
• Women were more attracted to the micronutrient rich varieties:
because they know importance of Fe and Zn in their diets

10. 10
Supportive Policy, Regulations & Market Forces
• High Government’s Priority because of export potentiality
• Agriculture Development Strategy: has identified lentil as one of the
prioritized commodity
• National Trade Integration Strategy
– Support in commercial scale production
– Seed supply chain strengthening
– Market diversification

11. 11
Policy, Regulations & Market Constraints
• Technical Constraints: biotic stresses, labor shortage, no-mechanization
and higher cost of production hence less competitive
• Lack of organized market for grain legumes
• Inadequate infrastructure/ mechanization/ processing/ value addition
• Lack of commercialization of legume cultivation
• Lack of adequate importance on the part of growers too
• Lack of awareness in farmers regarding grain legume technologies
• Low adoption of disease pest management technology
• Insufficiency in quality seeds

12. THANK YOU