The Triumph of Partnership

Lentil, usually served as dhal with rice, is considered "poor man's meat" in Bangladesh due to its high protein content. Lentil, rich in micronutrients such as betacarotene and zinc, are essential for health. Lentil straw is valued as animal feed. Lentil planted in rotation with rice adds nitrogen to the soil and helps break pest and disease cycles. But production is not keeping up with demand. Bangladesh imports over 75,000 tons of lentil at a cost of about US$34 million annually, and farmers cultivate local landraces that are low yielding and susceptible to disease.

Since the 1980s, ICARDA has been collaborating with Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) to help increase lentil production by developing improved, disease-resistant lentil varieties that have a broader genetic base.

Bangladeshi farmers discuss merits of a new lentil variety with ICARDA researchers.

Overcoming an ancient bottleneck
Due to differences in flowering times of local and exotic lentil
cultivars, it was not possible to cross the two to incorporate exotic genes. This ancient bottleneck was broken through a hybridization program, using parental material from ICARDA. In consultation with national breeders, crosses were made at ICARDA under extended photoperiod (18+ hours) to improve synchrony in flowering and facilitate crossing with Bangladeshi landraces.

Targeted segregating populations developed at ICARDA were then sent to partners of national programs in Bangladesh and other south Asian countries. Through this approach-breeding for synchrony followed by wide crosses-introgression of desirable genes including those of disease resistance was achieved, and the genetic base was broadened. This success represents a major breakthrough in genetic improvement of lentil symbolizing a triumph of partnership between national partners and the CGIAR.

Following this strategy, targeted segregating populations, incorporating resistance to blight and rust diseases, were provided to Bangladesh and selections were made under local conditions. This resulted in the development of a rust-resistant cultivar 'Barimasur-2,' followed two years later by 'Barimasur-4.' Additional research in Bangladesh has focused on varietal development, generation of seed priming technology, improvements in intercropping (relay and mixed) and disease management.

Farmer motivation and technology adoption
The BARI-ICARDA partnership gave researchers, extension agents, and progressive farmers formal training on the new lentil technology package. Nineteen researchers from Bangladesh participated in short- and long-term training courses. A communication campaign provided farmers with information in the form of leaflets, booklets, and posters in the local language. Farmers' field demonstrations and field days were organized. Seeds of improved varieties were distributed directly to farmers to accelerate adoption rates. Farmer-to-farmer seed dissemination has helped improve disseminated improved lentil. To date, about 60,000 ha have been planted to improved varieties, mostly Barimasur-4 (except in Rajbari and Faridpur districts, where farmers prefer Barimasur-3). Lentil farmers have also adopted improved production practices, including relay cropping and mixed intercropping, all of which have helped to increase farmer incomes.

Thanks to the partnership, cultivation of improved varieties and adoption of appropriate production technologies Bangladeshi farmers are producing an additional 28,000 tons of lentil annually, approximately worth $13 million.