Impact of seed hub on quality pulse seed production and productivity in Solapur district of Maharashtra

To ensure the availability of location specific high yielding varieties and quality seed, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare, Government of India implemented the project entitled ‘Creation of seed hubs for increasing indigenous production of pulses in India’ during 2016-17 and provided funds for seed multiplication and infrastructure facilities across the country. Under this project pulses seed hub has been sanctioned to Krishi Vigyan Kendra Mohol, Solapur. The objective of this programme was to increase indigenous production of pulses and to make available quality seed of improved high yielding and climate resilient varieties to farmers to achieve self-sufficiency in respect of seeds at village level. Farmers of selected village for seed hub are working under the technical support and guidance of KVK scientists. They were trained technically and made more sound by adopting good agronomic practices to fulfil the objective. Each year, a target of 200 q for kharif and 800 q for rabi season was given to KVK, Mohol. With respect to the target received, KVK Mohol produced 355.34, 567.59, 784.88, 528.50, 752.00 q seed during the year 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22, respectively. Pigeonpea varieties BDN - 711 and Phule Rajeshwari perform well and gave higher seed yield as compared to local and old varieties. Due to wide acceptance by farmer there is huge horizontal expansion of chickpea variety Phule Vikram in the district. All procured seed of pigeonpea and chickpea were sold to the farmers.Chickpe