In Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, over 14 million hectares of fertile land lie fallow in the rabi season following the monsoon. Where there is no irrigation, most fields are not cultivated once rice has been harvested. People in these areas are overwhelmingly poor and malnourished, and often up to half of them cannot read and write. This guide outlines some simple low-risk options that could help these people grow more food and make more money, by planting pulse crops on fallow lands.