This is one of 280 summaries describing key outputs from the projects run by DFID’s 10-year Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) programmes.
Summary for Project titles: R6395: The Development and Testing of Seed-Priming to Improve Stand Establishment, Early Growth and yield in Semi-Arid Zimbabwe and India and R7438: Participatory promotion of “on farm” seed priming.
On-farm seed priming is a simple, proven technology that has been developed, tested, and refined
in laboratories, in experimental plots, and by farmers themselves in their fields. It’s easy to use with
a wide range of crops in many different farming conditions. Farmers in India, Nepal, Pakistan,
Botswana and Zimbabwe now prime wheat, barley, sorghum, pearl and finger millet seed before
sowing. This simple method is now spreading to other countries, such as to Saudi Arabia. Although
priming with water alone makes a huge difference, the method is being explored further in Pakistan.
Here, the effects of adding tiny amounts of phosphorus, boron and zinc to the priming water are
now being explored.
The CD has the following information for this output: Description, Validation, Current Situation, Current Promotion, Impacts On Poverty, Environmental
Impact, Annex. Attached PDF (12 pp.) taken from the CD.