The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has released a new pigeon pea (tur/arhar) variety developed to perform better under rainfed conditions. The variety combines higher yield potential with improved tolerance to moisture stress and resistance to major diseases, helping farmers manage production risks caused by erratic rainfall.
Pigeon pea is one of India’s most important pulse crops and is widely grown in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana. Scientists say improved varieties are essential for increasing pulse production while making farming more resilient to climate change.
Nearly two-thirds of India’s pigeon pea area depends on rainfall rather than irrigation.
The new variety has been bred to withstand short dry spells during critical crop stages. Researchers say improved drought tolerance allows the crop to maintain better growth and pod formation even when rainfall becomes irregular.
The variety has also shown stable performance during multi-location field trials carried out in different agro-climatic regions.
Better Resistance to Diseases
Wilt and sterility mosaic disease are among the biggest challenges in pigeon pea cultivation.
According to ICAR scientists, the newly released variety has improved resistance to these diseases, reducing crop losses and lowering the need for repeated plant protection measures.
Disease-resistant varieties also help farmers reduce cultivation costs while improving yield stability.
Researchers say the variety produces more pods and better grain filling than many older cultivars under similar management conditions.
Farmers are advised to follow recommended sowing time, balanced fertiliser application and integrated pest management practices to achieve the best results.
Agricultural experts believe improved seed varieties remain one of the most effective ways to increase productivity without expanding cultivated land.
Supporting India’s Pulse Mission
India continues to focus on increasing domestic pulse production to strengthen food security and reduce imports.
Scientists say climate-resilient pulse varieties will play an important role in achieving this goal by helping farmers cope with changing weather conditions while maintaining stable yields.
The release of the new pigeon pea variety reflects ICAR’s continuing efforts to provide farmers with improved technologies that increase productivity, reduce production risks and strengthen sustainable pulse cultivation across the country.
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