The demand for legumes is growing at a rate of 2.8% annually due to the country’s growing population, rising incomes and the fact that pulses are the main source of protein in the Indian diet (Chauhan et al., 2016). By 2026, 28 million tonnes of pulses are expected to be needed and by 2050, 39 million tonnes. The choice of pulses are secondary, mostly used in rainfed agriculture (Singh, et al., 2021). Over 80.00 per cent of all pulses are grown in rainfed areas for 43.00 per cent of vegetarians (urban: 48%, rural: 41%), pulses, a historically important component of farming and eating patterns are the only rich source of protein (20-25%). With more than 12 major and minor pulses grown over 29-30 million, India is the world’s largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of global consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses (FAOSTAT, 2022). Madhya Pradesh (24%), Uttar Pradesh (16%), Maharashtra (14%), Rajasthan (6%) andhra Pradesh (10%) and Karnataka (7%) are the country’s top producers of pulses, accounting for roughly 77% of total production. Due to their high protein content (20-25%), capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen (around 30-150 kg/ha) and reliability as a source of income and employment for small and marginal farmers, pulses have a leading place in global agriculture (Ali and Gupta, 2012). From 19.09 million hectares (1950-51) to 27.51 million hectares (2023-24) and 8.41 million tonnes (1950-51) to 24.25 million tonnes (2023-24), the area and production have grown significantly.                       

The productivity increased from 377 kg/ha in 1966-1967 to 903 kg/ha in 2024-2025. Chickpeas account for 40% of total pulse output, followed by redgram (18-20%), greengram (11%), blackgram (10-12%), lentil (8-9%) and other pulses (20%). By 2030, 32 million tonnes of pulses would be required to feed the world’s population, which is predicted to reach almost 1.68 billion by 2030 at a growth rate of 4.2% (NITI Aayog, 2025).The Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh accounts for approximately 53% (1.21 M hectares) of the total state pulse area and contributed about 57% (1.35MT) of Uttar Pradesh’s total pulse production. Additionally the region accounts 5.84% of the nation’s total pulse production in 2019-20 (Sah et al., 2021). Only 45% of the 348259 hectares of gross cultivated land in Banda district, which is in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, are irrigated. The largest area covered by chickpeas (100.698 thousand ha), followed by lentils (43.49 thousand ha), pigeonpeas (24.79 thousand ha), fieldpeas (4.24 thousand ha) and blackgram (3.97 thousand ha). Despite having a sizable area devoted to these legumes crops, the district’s productivity levels are still low due to a large number of factors. Approximately 25 to 30 lakh quintals of quality seed are needed annually to achieve a 30% seed replacement rate for improving the production and productivity of pulse crops, (IIPR Vision, 2030). However, a significant barrier to the region becoming self-sufficient in pulse production is the lack of high-quality seed, particularly for pulses (Chauhan, et al., 2024).
       
The access to quality seed at the village level through seed companies, government institutions and farmers can significantly enhance seed availability in the region (Kumar et al., 2020). The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAC and FW) of the Government of India (GOI) approved a project called “Creation of Seed Hubs for Increasing Indigenous Production of Pulses in India” in 2016-17 with the dual goals of increasing rainfed farmers’ income and achieving food and nutritional security. With a budget of INR 225.31 crores, it collaborates with 98 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), 47 centres of All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) and eight Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes. The aim of this project was to achieve the self-sufficiency in respect of quality seed of improved, high yielding and climate resilient at village level. Given this context, this study attempts to assess the impact of seed hub intervention on quality seed availability, nitrogen fixation, protein availability, water saving, technological and socio-economic impact on farming community of Banda district. 

The study was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Banda under Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda Uttar Pradesh during 2017-18 to 2024-25. After sanctioning of Pulse seed hub project by Government of India in the year of 2016-17 a one-time grant of INR 50 lakhs was given to the BUAT, Banda for project to build storage facilities and a plant for processing seeds. A revolving fund of INR 1.0 crore was also set aside to cover the costs of legume seed production, procurement and processing. Major six legume crops i.e. Pigeon peas, black and green gram in Kharif, chickpeas, field peas and lentils in Rabi season were the main subjects of the project. Two methods were used to produce seeds: The farmer’s participatory seed production program and seed production at KVK farm. Farmers with well-equipped fields and sufficient irrigation infrastructure were chosen for the farmer’s participatory seed production initiative. A descriptive research design was used in the present study. A total of 49 farmers were selected and their responses were analyzed. Data on seed production were also collected and analyzed from seed hub project. The legume yield data and per cent increase over the farmer’s practice were calculated in the respective scheme. The economics of seed sale was calculated based on prevailing rates in Mandi, Minimum Support Price (MSP) and rate decided by university. The extension gap and technology gap were calculated by following the formulae as given below;
 

Technology gap (q/ha) = Potential yield - Demonstration yield
 
Extension gap (q/ha) = Demonstration yield - Farmers yield (Check Yield)

Since the inception of seed hub project the quality seed of improved and high-yielding varieties of major six legume was produced. In Chickpea varieties like JG-14, JG-12, JG-36, IPC-2006-77 and RVG-204 were produced. For Fieldpea, varieties such as IPFD-12-2, IPFD-10-12, IPFD-6-3 and 4-9 have been selected. Likewise, for Lentil (IPL-316, IPL-315, IPL-321 and KL-320), Green gram (IPM 2-3), Black gram (IPU 2-4 3) and Pigeon pea (IPA-203) varieties were introduced in the region. The main features, duration, potential yield, releasing year and developing Institute of various varieties are mentioned below in Table 1.


       
KVK Banda produced a total of 2553.41 q seed during the years 2017-18 to 2024-25 which includes 986.60 q Foundation Seed Category-I, 1369.60 q Foundation Seed Category-II and 197.20 q certified Seed. The yearly seed produced was 256.32 q, 344.13 q, 436 q, 276.2 q, 312.07 q, 479.22 q, 227.69 q and 221.78q seed during the years 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively (Table 2).The seed produced under seed hub programme was demonstrated at farmer’s field under different scheme/project and performance yield data were reported and analyzed by comparing with the yield of variety grown by the selected farmers (Table 3). The JG-14 and JG-36 varieties of Chickpea were demonstrated under CFLD programme and performed well, gave higher yield as compared to local prevailing varieties. The wide acceptance of these varieties by farmers resulted in large horizontal expansion in the district. All produced seed was sold to the farmers. KVK promoted the high-yielding, short-duration varieties of field pea, viz, IPFD 10-12, IPFD12-2 and IPFD 4-9 through its seed hub seed production programme. Among these varieties, IPFD12-2 was favored by farmers due to its short duration and higher yield and its widespread adoption has led to significant horizontal expansion in the district. Additionally, due to high market demand, farmers have shown a strong preference for IPFD10-12, a bold green-colored pea variety that can be used both as green pods for vegetables and as dry seeds for namkeen and vegetables as well. With an increase in irrigation facilities, fewer incidences of disease and pest in field pea gave the opportunity of assured production, which resulted in high demand as well as an increase in area and production of Field pea in the study area.

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Lentil is an important legume crop of the district as it is considered as best dry land pulse. The IPL-315 and IPL-321 varieties of lentil were identified for seed production because of it short duration and bold size. However, in the case of Pigeon pea (IPA-203), Green gram (IPM 2-3) and Urdbean (IPU 2-43) varieties were preferred one. This strategic approach was aimed to ensure a reliable supply of high-quality seeds to meet out the regional demand. There is strong convergence between the seed hub programme and the CFLD and FLD programme of KVK. Seed produced through the seed hub was made available to farmers for conducting demonstrations by the KVK under different programmes like CFLDs, FLDs under NICRA, SCSP and Model Pulse village programme and sold to other KVK for the same purpose. The variety-wise yield data were collected and per cent increase over the check in different schemes was analyzed (Table 3). The yield increment was reported from 13.04% (IPF-4-9) to 37.00% (IPM 2-3), however, the average per cent yield increase over farmer’s practice was reported to be 26.45% 17.43 %, 22.8%, 25.80%, 37.00% and 29.96% in Chickpea, Field pea, Lentil, Pigeon Pea, Green gram and Black gram respectively. The maximum technology gap was reported for Blackgram (9.88 q/ha) and Green gram (10.25 q/ha); this wide gap was mainly due to intense/erratic rainfall during the year. In general, the Kharif pulses like Green gram and Blackgram are affected badly in the region; as a result, the yield as well as the area of these crops is variable/decreasing year after year. The results are in line with Abraham et al., (2024), where he found high technology and extension gap in Blackgram production in Gariyaband district.
       
The KVK farm is small and mostly unsuitable for legumes; therefore, the farmers’ participatory approach became the main model of seed production. Out of 2,553.41 q, 2,096.46 q (82.10%) of seed is produced under the farmers’ participatory seed production programme and the remaining 456.95 q. (17.90%) is produced at KVK, farm during the study period.                     

The details of monetary benefits to farmers as well as to KVK by the farmers participatory seed production programme are presented in Table 4. Over the course of eight years, the pulse seed production program generated a total gross income of INR 2,10,36,574, including INR 1,81,23,978 by farmers participatory seed production programme. The net profit realized by KVK amounted to INR 1,01,58,539 including Rs.72,45,943 from farmer’s participatory seed production. Furthermore, the farmers received INR 1,01,19,423 for their produced seed and an additional sum of INR 20,23,885was allocated to farmers as remuneration for their participation in the seed production initiative. Farmers have expressed satisfaction with KVK’s buy-back policy, as they received additional 20% remuneration for participation. This supplementary income from seed production enabled farmers to start alternative entrepreneurial ventures. Moreover, the profits generated from seed sales have been invested by Seed-Hub to improve the facilities needed for enhancing the quality of seed production processes.

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It is evident from Table 5 that in the seed hub a total of 2553.41 qt seed of major six legume crops was produced during study period. This seed was sold to govt. agencies, direct selling to the farmers and also made available to farmers for demonstration under various schemes run by KVK like CFLD-pulses, NICRA, SCSP and Model Pulse village programme. However, 4707.68 ha area of 5369 farmers was estimated to be covered by quality seed produced under seed hub and replaces the old varieties used by farmers ultimately increase the yield of Pulse crop (17.43% to 37.00%).In addition to seed production and extensive coverage under the seed hub program, pulse production in the region has contributed to nitrogen supplementation and protein availability. The incorporation of legumes into agricultural systems offers economically viable and environmentally friendly methods to decrease external inputs and improve soil nutrient content (Kebede, 2020). As per the pulses nitrogen fixation capacity references, pulses grown on 4707.68 hectares of land could have fixed a total of 284.65tonne of nitrogen. This fixed atmospheric nitrogen was made available for subsequent crops, assisting farmers in reducing their chemical fertilizer application. The burden of Chemical fertilizer (urea) has been reduced by 618.81 tons. Pulses contain approximately 21-25% protein (Tiwari and Singh, 2012) and serve as an affordable protein source for a significant portion of the rural population globally. With a total production of 2553.41 quintals of seed in the region, it is estimated that 16245.91 qt of protein has been made available for the population from the produce of seed sown. It is well established fact that the cereals need more irrigation water as compared to pulses and Global water consumption by cereals is reported to be about 60% as against 4% in grain legumes. The estimation of water saving was calculated w.r.t. Wheat which require 30-45 cm water as compared with Rabi pulsed which required only 10-21 cm water in Rabi season.    

          

Whereas in Kharif the estimation of water saving was calculated w.r.t. Paddy which required 100-220 cm water as compared with Kharif pulses which required only 6-23 cm of water (Kumar  et al., 2018). The easy availability of quality seed encouraged farmers to adopt pulse cultivation, resulting in average water saving of 77.63% compared to the conventional paddy-wheat cropping system.
       
Considering the challenges faced in a rainfed region, including the prevalence/use of long-duration varieties that are more subjected to exposed dry spell and susceptible to diseases and insect infestations, KVK has concentrated its efforts on promoting high-yielding, short-duration and disease-resistant legume crop varieties which has empowered farmers to achieve enhanced yields while simultaneously reducing their cultivation costs (Nain et al., 2015).

KVK Banda has successfully produced high-quality legume seeds, yielding 2553.41quintals over eight years (2018-2025). Popular crop varieties like IPFD10-12, IPFD12-2 of field peas, IPL315 and IPL-321 of lentils and JG-14 and JG-36 of chickpeas were widely adopted by farmers with scientific cultivation techniques. The buy-back policy has been found quite satisfactory in the study area. Seed hub projects demonstrated a positive impact on enhancing quality seed production and increasing the availability of high-yielding, location-specific seeds. The increased quality seed availability through Seed Hub and the scientific support of KVK contributed to improved input use efficiency, leading to higher yields and sustainable agricultural practices. The seed hub not only ensures the quality legume seed production but also increases the protein availability to the population, nitrogen fixation and water use efficiency of the cropping system. Additionally, it can also create employment opportunities and improve the socio-economic status of farmers through seed production. 

The authors acknowledge Vice-Chancellor BUAT, Banda and Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kanpur and Director, ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur, for financial and breeder seed support for the Pulses seed hub programme.
 
Disclaimers
 
The views and conclusions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of their affiliated institutions. The authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information provided, but do not accept any liability for any direct or indirect losses resulting from the use of this content.
 
Informed consent
 
Informed consent was obtained from BUAT, Banda and farmers before collection of data and conducting the interviews.