CSISA is conducting LCAS (Landscape Crop Assessment Survey) training sessions in collaboration with ICAR-KVKs and state agricultural universities. The current focus is on gathering data on cultivation practices for pulses. So far, 52 districts across 13 states in India have been selected for the survey in consultation with ICAR/ATARI, and training for 36 of these districts has been completed.

In each district, the survey covers 40 villages, with 10 households surveyed per village—5 current-season pulse crop growers and 5 farmers who have either discontinued or never adopted pulse cultivation—resulting in a total of 400 farmers surveyed per district. To date, data from 26 districts, amounting to 10,400 forms, have been successfully uploaded to the ICAR server. The remaining 10 districts, including areas in Odisha (Ganjam, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Cuttack, and Jajpur) and West Bengal (Malda, Birbhum, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, and Nadia), are set to commence their surveys soon.

Recently, CSISA organized a two-day LCAS training program at the Nadia KVK on June 18-19, 2024, in collaboration with ATARI Kolkata and Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (BCKV). The training involved 10 KVKs, with five from West Bengal (Birbhum, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, and North 24 Parganas) and five from Odisha (Balangir, Cuttack, Ganjam, Jajpur, and Kalahandi).
The first day of the program featured classroom training sessions, while the second day offered hands-on field training. The event was graced by several distinguished attendees, including Dr. G. Saha, Vice Chancellor of BCKV; Dr. Brahmachari (Director of Extension Education, BCKV); Dr. P. Dey (Director, ATARI); and Dr. R.K. Malik (Senior Scientist, CIMMYT-CSISA). Trainers Dr. Iftikar, Dr. Samaddar, and Dr. Madhulika from CSISA provided practical training to the participants, focusing on capturing crop production practices in pulse cultivation and generating grassroots-level evidence to support and inform policymakers.