1. Promoting Pulses and Oilseeds in Rice Fallows
Presentation by Group-I
Dr. P. Bhattacharyya
Director of Agriculture, West Bengal

2. 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

3. Present Status of Rice Fallows in different States
Rice Fallow Area (L Ha)
Area under Pulses /Oilseeds (L Ha)
Potential for Future Expansion (L ha)
Assam
10.40
3.80
3.00
Bihar
7.81
0,20
2.75
Chhattisgarh
8.80
2.00
4.00
Jharkhand
10.00
1.00
Odisha
17.36
16.73
0.63
U.P
2.53
2.13
W.B
8.00
0.80
States like Assam, Odisha, U,P & W,B initiated for organizing Demo under NFSM/NMOOP in Rice fallows

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. SOME EXPERIENCES
Poira cropping with Lentil:

8. SOME EXPERIENCES
Poira cropping with Lathyrus/ Grass Pea:

9. SOME EXPERIENCES
Poira cropping with Bengal gram/Chick Pea:

10. SOME EXPERIENCES
Poira cropping with Pea:

11. Intercropping of Green gram with Jute
SOME EXPERIENCES
Intercropping of Green gram with Jute
Poira cropping with Toria

12. Thank you for your kind attention