New initiative to popularise hybrid pigeonpea

Shobhana K. Pattanayak of the Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DoAC&FW), has called on all value chain actors, including farmers, seed companies, private sector, and research organisations, to find a joint solution to resolve all hurdles and issues that are preventing Indian farmers from meeting their demand for hybrid pigeonpea seeds and

other pulses. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) recently hosted a high-level planning meeting chaired by Mr. Pattanayak. Over forty participants, including farmer representatives, government officials from five States – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Odisha, and State agricultural universities, came together and started a new initiative to explore ways of making India self-sufficient in the production of pulses, in particular hybrid pigeonpea. “We want to hear from all the sectors on what is stopping the popularisation of hybrid pigeonpea and what can be done about it. We need to popularise pigeonpea hybrids in major pigeonpea producing States. The solution needs to have all the parties playing a part,” said Mr. Pattanayak. “In order to meet its ever-growing demand for pulses, India needs to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses,” said Dr. David Bergvinson, director general, ICRISAT.