Farmers were using traditional varieties of pulses, were not using plant protection measures; more over farmers were not using improved production packages. To boost up production of three important pulses, lentil, mungbean and blackgram Bangladesh started a pilot project entitled Lentil, Blackgram and Mungbean Development Pilot Project (LBMDPP), meeting the operational cost from internal resources.

Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute was the executing agency while the following organizations were the partner in implementing the project:  

The project brought together research and development organizations including NGO`s. It launched a systematic production program integrating the research and development partners. It also organized the participating and enthusiastic farmers through creating awareness of the available technologies to be used for boosting production. Provision was made in the project for awarding the extra-ordinary farmers. The project followed some basic principles in technology dissemination, which seems to facilitate technology adoption by the farmers. The technologies spread rapidly through demonstration, farmers visit and farmers to farmers' seed exchange mediated by the project. The improved varieties in major lentil growing areas of the country replaced an estimated 40 to 70% traditional ones. The farmers adopted improved production practices.

Among the improved varieties the Barimasur-4 (lentil) was most popular due to its resistance to major diseases and late sowing potential. The project achieved an estimated production increase of 28,000, 43,000 and 13,000 metric tons of lentils, mungbean and blackgram respectively per year with a total corresponding area increase of 26,000, 45,000 and 15,000 ha. The project activities also encouraged farmers in adopting mixed- and inter-cropping of lentil with other crops like sugarcane, banana etc.

The participating farmers in promotional activities signed an agreement that he or she will return the project the same quantity of seed after harvesting the crop. Accordingly they return the seed, which is then distributed among a new group of farmers. These steps coupled with the seed exchange program from the participating to non-participated farmers prompted to create a good level of awareness on the new improved varieties and technologies of lentil, blackgram and mungbean.

A provision of award for the farmers showing outstanding success in implementing technology demonstration and for the supervisors of the blocks was made. The award is given ceremonially. Altogether 50 farmers and 21 front line extension workers (Block Supervisor) have been awarded from the LBMDPP.

Legumes particularly, mungbean cultivation in Bangladesh has come forward through some qualitative, quantitative and cultural changes. Mungbean was being cultivated as a long duration minor legume crop during the end of May to the end of October. But with the development of short duration photo insensitive, mungbean varieties, it is being cultivated at different period of the year. Due to the advantage of its being short duration, it can now be fitted in a variety of cropping patterns (Table 1).

Lentil is grown mainly as a mono-crop in Bangladesh, but mixed cropping and intercropping with wheat, mustard, linseed, sugarcane, and other crops is being practiced in some areas. In eastern Bangladesh, relay cropping in rice fields is practiced.