Sustainable Agricultural Development through Value Addition and Linking of Farmers to Markets in Telangana State of India

Sustainable agricultural development can be ensured by empowering smallholder farmers with inclusive business models that enhance their livelihoods. This paper outlines the interventions by International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in collaboration with Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Telangana, to enhance livelihoods of tribal smallholders in Adilabad district of Telangana State, India, by providing value addition opportunities and market linkages. Tiryani, Wankidi and Karameri mandals of Adilabad district of Telangana were selected for the interventions, being some of the most backward regions inhabited by tribals. Data analysis was done using MS Excel software. The interventions focused on providing access to seed, establishing pilot processing units for value addition to pigeon pea, training and capacity building on crop production and handling of processing units and providing market linkages. Efficiency of the processing units and the effect of pre- treatments on milling efficiency was also studied and processing parameters optimized. The interventions helped increase income of farmers by 86 per cent, established two pigeon pea processing units and streamlined the pigeon pea value chain in the region.