Scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have developed a first-of-its-kind pigeonpea variety, ICPV 25444, that can withstand extreme heat and matures in just 125 days. This breakthrough cultivar has the potential to transform pigeonpea from a seasonal crop into one that can be grown year-round, even during the scorching summer months when temperatures soar up to 45°C.
Tested successfully in Karnataka, Odisha, and Telangana, ICPV 25444 has delivered yields of up to 2 tons per hectare. Unlike traditional varieties, it is heat-tolerant, photo-insensitive, and thermo-insensitive, making it more resilient to changing climatic conditions. Experts see this as a critical step toward improving productivity and reducing India’s reliance on pulse imports, which currently amount to around USD 800 million annually.
“This breakthrough in developing a summer-adapted pigeonpea cultivar is a shining example of what science can achieve when driven by urgency and purpose,” said Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT. “By transforming pigeonpea 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.”
ICRISAT attributes this achievement to the world’s first pigeonpea speed-breeding protocol, developed in 2024. This innovation has drastically reduced the development time for new cultivars—from the conventional 15 years to just five. “This was made possible by the speed-breeding protocol, which enabled us to grow up to four generations per year,” said Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General–Research and Innovation at ICRISAT.
Developed under the leadership of Dr Prakash Gangashetty and his team, the protocol allowed for growing 18,000 plants per season in a compact 2,250 sq ft area using 4-inch pots, along with advanced genomic technologies like seed-chipping to speed up seed generation.
India currently produces about 3.5 million tons of pigeonpea, falling short of the 5 million tons required to meet domestic demand. The new variety supports a dual expansion strategy: increasing productivity on the existing 5 million hectares during the kharif season, and extending cultivation into rice fallows and unused summer lands during rabi, made possible by ICPV 25444’s short duration and heat resilience. With a yield potential of 1.5–2 tons per hectare, farmers stand to gain up to Rs 20,000 per hectare.
Farmers in Bagalkot, Karnataka, have already begun field trials. “ICPV 25444 is a boon to farmers who wish to grow pigeonpea in summer. It matures in four months. No disease and pests were observed in the field. We are happy and will produce more next summer,” said farmer Gururaj Kulkarni.
Dr Vijendra S Sangam of the Karnataka State Seeds Corporation added, “The crop has shown promising growth under high-density planting. The farmers are optimistic about achieving good yields.”
Beyond India, ICRISAT is aiming for global impact by developing a trait diversity panel from its pigeonpea genebank of 13,000 accessions. “This positions the institute to support breeding programs globally, with active partnerships in Asia, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Africa,” said Dr Sean Mayes, Global Research Program Director, Accelerated Crop Improvement at ICRISAT.
