Latest news with #HimanshuPathak
Hans India
an hour ago
- Science
- Hans India
ICRISAT develops world's first extreme heat-tolerant pigeon pea through speed breeding
Hyderabad: In a significant advancement for Indian agriculture, scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have developed ICPV 25444, a first-of-its-kind pigeon pea cultivar that can withstand high summer temperatures and mature in just 125 days. Interacting with the media on Monday, Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, stated, 'This breakthrough in developing a summer-adapted pigeon pea cultivar is a shining example of what science can achieve when driven by urgency and purpose. By transforming pigeon pea into an all-season crop, our scientists have delivered a timely solution with the potential to address pulse shortages and the climate challenges facing farmers across India.' This heat-tolerant, photo- and thermo-insensitive cultivar has been successfully tested in the states of Karnataka, Odisha, and Telangana, demonstrating yields of 2 tons per hectare. Crucially, it represents a breakthrough in pigeon pea cultivation, allowing the crop to be grown not only during the traditional rainy (kharif) season but also in the extreme heat of summer, where temperatures can reach up to 45°C. Previously, pigeon pea was limited to specific growing seasons due to its sensitivity to photoperiod and temperature. ICPV 25444, currently undergoing field trials, marks a turning point by transforming pigeon pea into an all-season crop and opening new possibilities for Indian farmers. Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director of Research and Innovation at ICRISAT, explained, 'This breakthrough was made possible by the world's first pigeon pea speed-breeding protocol developed by ICRISAT in 2024. The protocol enabled researchers to grow up to four generations per year, reducing the time required to develop a new variety from 15 years to just five.' ICRISAT has unveiled this pioneering speed-breeding protocol for pigeon pea, an achievement led by Dr Prakash Gangashetty, Senior Scientist in Pigeon pea Breeding, and his team. Developed over a year, the protocol addressed the complex challenge of speeding up crop improvement processes and reduced the time for advanced cultivars to be submitted for registration trials to 3-4 years. By growing pigeon peas in controlled environments and utilizing space-optimized planting in 4-inch pots, scientists managed to grow 18,000 plants per season in a 2,250 sq ft area to maximize seed generation. This process was further enhanced using advanced genomic technologies with the seed-chipping method. The new cultivar is poised to address India's pulse deficit.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
ICRISAT scientists develop heat tolerant pigeon pea cultivar for year round cultivation
1 2 Hyderabad: In a significant advancement for Indian agriculture, scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on Monday announced the development of ICPV 25444—a first-of-its-kind pigeon pea cultivar that can withstand high summer temperatures and mature in just 125 days. The heat-tolerant, photo- and thermo-insensitive cultivar has been successfully tested in Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha in India, demonstrating yields of 2 tons per hectare. The new pigeon pea cultivation will enable the crop to be grown not only during the traditional rainy (kharif) season but also in the extreme heat of summer, where temperatures reach up to 45°C. According to ICRISAT, until now, pigeon pea in the country was limited to specific seasons due to its sensitivity to photoperiod and temperature. However, the new cultivar, which is currently under field trials, marks a turning point as it allows pigeon pea to be an all-season crop, opening new possibilities for Indian farmers. While India currently produces 3.5 million tons of pigeon pea annually, it falls short of the 1.5 million tons needed to meet domestic demand, said ICRISAT, adding that this results in $800 million worth of imports each year. Developed over a year, the breakthrough was achieved by the team led by Dr Prakash Gangashetty, senior scientist-Pigeonpea breeding. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Good News: You May Be Richer Than You Think Undo "This breakthrough in developing a summer-adapted pigeon pea cultivar is a shining example of what science can achieve when driven by urgency and purpose. By transforming pigeon pea into an all-season crop, our scientists have delivered a timely solution with the potential to address pulse shortages and climate challenges facing farmers across India," said Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT. MSID:: 121732176 413 |
United News of India
5 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
ICRISAT partners with IFFCO and BBSL to establish state-of-the-art Seed Research Hub in Gujarat
New Delhi, June 4 (UNI) The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), and Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) formally entered into a Tripartite Service Agreement to establish the Beej Anusandhan Kendra, a state-of-the-art research center in Gujarat, focused on advancing seed innovation and sustainable agriculture. Under this agreement, ICRISAT has been appointed as the Knowledge Partner responsible for developing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the center, the Hyderabad-based research Institute said in a release on Wednesday. This collaboration harnesses ICRISAT's global research expertise, IFFCO's cooperative leadership, and BBSSL's commitment to seed quality and sustainability, creating a strong foundation for impactful agricultural advancement. reinforcing the shared vision of all parties to drive agricultural innovation and seed research. The Beej Anusandhan Kendra (BAK), proposed to be built by IFFCO and operated by BBSSL, aims to foster sustainable agricultural growth through the integration of world-class seed research and development infrastructure. In its role as Knowledge Partner, ICRISAT will provide the scientific and technical expertise to define the center's specifications, core functions, and design framework. "The Beej Anusandhan Kendra represents a convergence of science, cooperation, and grassroots action. As a knowledge partner, ICRISAT is committed to delivering a world-class blueprint that will enable this center to become a hub for seed innovation and farmer empowerment," said Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT. This agreement marks a significant milestone in India's cooperative-driven agricultural research ecosystem. BBSSL and IFFCO bring deep grassroots reach and cooperative strength, while ICRISAT contributes its international scientific expertise to create a center poised to benefit millions of farmers. "We are proud to witness this partnership with ICRISAT and BBSSL in laying the groundwork for a research facility that will serve India's farmers through scientific rigor and innovation. "IFFCO remains committed to strengthening the agricultural ecosystem through sustainable and collaborative efforts," shared Yogendra Kumar, Chairman BBSSL and Director – Marketing, IFFCO. "BBSSL envisions the Beej Anusandhan Kendra as a landmark step in supporting Indian agriculture with high-quality seeds and research infrastructure. "With IFFCO's leadership and ICRISAT's technical expertise, we are confident this facility will benefit millions of farmers across the country," said Chetan Joshi, Managing Director, BBSSL. UNI KNR RN
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- General
- Business Standard
ICRISAT, others partner to launch agri cooperation centre for Global South
ICRISAT, India's Ministry of Agriculture and global partners launch centre to strengthen collaboration on agricultural and climate challenges in dryland regions Agencies New Delhi The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a premier global institute dedicated to research in dryland agriculture, has partnered with think-tank Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), India's Ministry of Agriculture, and others to launch a new centre of excellence aimed at strengthening agricultural cooperation among Global South countries. The ICRISAT Centre for Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA) will facilitate partnerships between countries facing similar agricultural and climate challenges. It will act as a strategic hub for technology transfer, capacity building and innovation exchange in dryland and climate-vulnerable regions. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are among the partner organisations involved in the centre. ICRISAT has already identified more than 100 technological solutions spanning crop improvement, natural resource management, horticulture, digital agriculture and mechanisation, which will be made available through the platform. 'We are collecting all those solutions which are tested in some places and those will be opened for others to use,' ICRISAT Director General Himanshu Pathak said, adding that solutions will be mapped for specific countries, locations and farm households. The launch coincided with a memorandum of understanding between ICRISAT and DAKSHIN, a Government of India initiative for capacity-building partnerships in South-South cooperation.
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Business Standard
29-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India a developed nation only when farming becomes profitable, prestigious
Four focus areas that will be pivotal in achieving our goal of becoming a developed nation Himanshu Pathak P K Joshi Listen to This Article At the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reemphasised the need to make India a developed nation by 2047, coinciding with the centenary of Independence. The agriculture sector holds vast potential to emerge as a driving force in achieving this goal through innovation, economic strength, and environmental sustainability. In the past, Indian agriculture witnessed a remarkable transformation from a food-insecure to a food-surplus nation, becoming a global success story. There has been a giant leap in food grain production — from a very low level of 50.82 million tonnes in 1950-51 to an all-time high
