Present Status and Upcoming Research Strategies for Nepal's Winter Legume Crops

Abstract

Grain legume cultivation is the fundamental part of the Nepalese agriculture production systems, as these crops can be grown in a wide range of land from fertile to degraded or marginal soils, and also because of the Dal-Bhat-Tarkari eating habits of its populace. These crops occupied about 11% of the country’s total cultivated land, and fourth in the area and production after rice, maize, and wheat. Grain legume crops are also called ‘poor mans’ meat’, and these crops have a significant role in increasing cropping intensity, crop diversification, soil improvement, and food and nutritional security. Among the grain legume crops, lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.; Cicer kabulium.), kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.), fababean (Vicia faba L.), and field pea (Pisum sativum L.) are the main legume crops for the winter season in Nepal. The Grain Legume Research Program (GLRP), Khajura has released and registered fourteen varieties of lentil, seven varieties of chickpea, and one variety of kidney bean for the cultivation in different agro-ecological domains with their improved cultivation practices, i.e., agronomic and disease and pest managements.