Tuesday, 10 June 2025
In a major leap for Indian agriculture, scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have developed ICPV 25444, the world’s first pigeonpea variety that is both extremely heat-tolerant and photo- and thermo-insensitive. Developed using a pioneering speed-breeding protocol, this variety matures in just 125 days and thrives even in extreme summer temperatures reaching 45°C.
Tested successfully across Karnataka, Odisha, and Telangana, ICPV 25444 has shown consistent yields of 2 tons per hectare. Its ability to grow beyond the traditional kharif season marks a transformation in pigeonpea farming—potentially making it an all-season pulse crop for the first time.
“This breakthrough provides a scalable solution to India’s pulse deficit and climate-driven crop risks,” said Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT.
The variety is a result of the first-ever speed breeding protocol for pigeonpea, introduced in 2024 by ICRISAT under the leadership of Dr Prakash Gangashetty. This protocol accelerated breeding cycles from 15 to just 5 years, enabling rapid trait development. By cultivating 18,000 plants per season in compact environments using 4-inch pots and seed-chipping genomic tools, ICRISAT has reshaped pigeonpea improvement timelines.
India currently produces 3.5 million tons of pigeonpea—1.5 million tons short of domestic needs—leading to $800 million in annual imports. ICPV 25444 supports both vertical intensification in kharif and horizontal expansion into rabi and summer fallows, especially in 2–3 million hectares of irrigated tail-end command areas dominated by low-yielding rice systems.
Economic models suggest a profit boost of Rs 20,000/ha ($234), with scalability potential to 1 million hectares through remote sensing, improved seed systems, and agronomy. Early trials by farmers in Bagalkot, Karnataka, show promising summer crop performance with no major pest or disease issues.
“We are happy with the yield and plan to expand production next summer,” said local farmer Gururaj Kulkarni.
ICRISAT is now applying this platform to develop a global pigeonpea trait diversity panel from its 13,000-accession genebank, reinforcing collaborations across Asia, Africa, Australia, Brazil, and Ecuador.
