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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 |