Hybrid pigeonpea technology achieves record yield

HYDERABAD: Over 70 smallholder farmers and seed producers from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat collectively endorsed and recognized the contribution of hybrid pigeonpea in achieving food and nutrition security, resilience and improved livelihood. The hybrids in the crop (first in world in any legume) are the results of the crop improvements efforts by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) based in Hyderabad.

Despite facing challenges such as resource scarcity, climate change and degradation of soil fertility, farmers from the five states cultivating the ICRISAT hybrids reported significant increase in pigeonpea yields. A medium-duration ICRISAT hybrid, ICPH 2740, demonstrated 38% higher yields than other local varieties.