A Season Redefined — Farmers and Scientists Unite to Pioneer Summer Pigeonpea Cultivation
Known as ICPV 25444, the cultivar represents a departure from tradition—and perhaps, a shift in the trajectory of pulse production in India.
Feature Story
In Bhantnur village, nestled in Karnataka’s Bagalkot district, a modest plot of land became the setting for a milestone in agricultural innovation. In collaboration with the Karnataka State Seed Corporation and Department of Agriculture, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) hosted a Field Day that brought together farmers, scientists, and government representatives to witness a global first: the world's first heat-tolerant pigeonpea, purpose-bred for summer cultivation.
Known as ICPV 25444, the cultivar represents a departure from tradition—and perhaps, a shift in the trajectory of pulse production in India.
For decades, pigeonpea has been synonymous with the monsoon season. The idea of growing it during the hottest months of the year was, until recently, considered impractical. But with this breakthrough from ICRISAT’s breeding program, and the spread of irrigation, science is now challenging seasonality, offering farmers the means to better manage risk, diversify income, and make fuller use of fallow lands.
Investing in the Future of Farming: The Role of Early Adopters
At the center of this milestone event is Mr Hanamanth Mirji, a first-time pigeonpea farmer who agreed to trial ICPV 25444 on his 1.5-acre farm. Though the variety is yet to be formally released, Mr Mirji offered his land, labor, and capital to host the on-ground demonstration, placing his trust in research and, in doing so, demonstrating the vital role that early adopters play in agricultural transformation.
“This variety enables machine harvesting,” said Mr Hanamanth Mirji, “The stems are thinner, and the crop matures evenly, both of which make it easier to cut mechanically. Normally, harvesting pigeonpea takes a lot of labor and time, but now I’ll be able to bring in the crop faster and at a lower cost. That means more time to focus on other work and less dependence on hired help. I’m hopeful this could really change the way pigeonpea is grown, making it more efficient and profitable for farmers.”
The Field Day drew nearly 40 farmers from surrounding villages. The turnout was notable not only for its size but for its timing: the event coincided with a culturally significant day on which farmers typically refrain from field activities. Their decision to attend, despite tradition, underscored the level of curiosity and hope that this new variety has inspired.
"What sets the ICPV 25444 apart is its resilience to high temperatures (up to 45°C), its short growth cycle of 120–125 days, and its photo- and thermo-insensitivity traits that together enable it to flourish outside the conventional growing window. For farmers navigating climate uncertainty, these attributes have become essential," shared Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT.
Interview with Farmer Mr Hanamanth Mirji
Driving Change through Leadership and Local Engagement
The event demonstrated the power of institutional partnerships. Dr Vijendra Sangam, Director (R&D) of the Karnataka State Seed Corporation (KSSC), played a key role by selecting Mr Mirji for the trial and mobilizing other participants. Mr Lakshman Kallannavar, Joint Director of Agriculture, Bagalkot, attended the event and encouraged farmers.
Senior leaders from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (UASD), including Dr PL Patil, Vice Chancellor, and Dr BD Biradar, Director of Research, actively engaged with stakeholders. Dr Patil advocated for ICPV 25444’s adoption in diverse cropping systems, while Dr Biradar highlighted its resilience to pests, uniform maturity, and machine harvestability, which are key advantages in pigeonpea farming.
Motivated by the speed breeding approach, UASD has formally requested access to ICRISAT’s research facilities for future collaborative work.
Meeting National Needs with Global Science
ICRISAT’s Director General, Dr Himanshu Pathak, framed the innovation within a broader national and global context.
“India continues to face a shortfall in pigeonpea production, despite sustained efforts. The target of 5 million tonnes annually remains unmet. Climate change has made conventional solutions inadequate,” Dr Pathak remarked. “What we have here is a variety that is designed to thrive in a warming planet.”
Dr Pathak outlined the multiple benefits of ICPV 25444: its shorter duration, heat and stress tolerance, and soil-enriching properties as a legume. He emphasized its utility for smallholder farmers, particularly in rainfed and resource-constrained environments, where it can make productive use of limited irrigation and improve land-use efficiency.
“This is not just an advancement in plant breeding,” he said. “It is a step forward in building climate-smart, resilient agriculture that serves both people and the planet.”
From Trial to Transformation
In the late afternoon sun of Bantanur, the promise of ICPV 25444 became tangible—not just in the rows of healthy plants, but in the conversations among scientists, farmers, academia, and policymakers, the shared aspirations, and the growing sense that agriculture, when powered by science and grounded in community, can adapt and thrive in the face of change.
Dr Prakash Gangashetty, Senior Scientist-Pigeonpea Breeding at ICRISAT, welcomed the field-level insights and committed to advancing the formal release of ICPV 25444. He also offered a forward look into ICRISAT’s breeding pipeline, which includes a hybrid pigeonpea and several climate-resilient varieties in development.
For the farmers who came, for the institutions that support them, and for the broader goal of ensuring food and nutritional security in a changing climate, this was more than a demonstration. It was the beginning of a new season.
This work aligns with SDGs 1, 2 ,3 & 17.
Roseleen Aind
Tahira Carter
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