Malawi Marks Agricultural First with Early-Maturing Vegetable Pigeonpea to Boost Food & Nutrition Security
A World Pulses Day Milestone
Marking a breakthrough in the fight against food insecurity and low rural incomes in Malawi, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), together with the Government of Malawi and national research institutions, has supported the release of the country’s first early-maturing vegetable pigeonpea variety, enabling farmers to earn sooner while improving household nutrition.
Officially named Chitedze Pigeonpea 3 (ICPV 182026), the variety is well suited to shorter rainy seasons and delivers high yields, helping farmers adapt to climate pressures while expanding market opportunities for both grain and vegetable pigeonpea.
The variety was approved by the Malawi Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS) following three seasons of multi-location trials in key agricultural zones across the country, including Chitedze, Chitala, Makoka, Baka, Bvumbwe, and Ngabu.
The research was carried out jointly by DARS, ICRISAT, and the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement, with strong farmer participation in on-farm testing and variety selection.
Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, welcomed the release and emphasized its significance for dryland farming systems.
“On World Pulses Day, the release of Chitedze Pigeonpea 3 reflects partnerships delivering practical, science-driven solutions at a time of growing complexity for agriculture.
"As climate pressures intensify, crop innovations such as Chitedze Pigeonpea 3 are essential to strengthening food and nutrition security across Africa’s drylands and beyond.
"Early-maturing, high-performing varieties will continue to help farmers manage risk, reach markets faster, and secure more reliable harvests.
"This achievement builds on ICRISAT’s longstanding work in advancing improved legume varieties—an effort recognized with the Africa Food Prize—and reflects our continued focus on translating frontier research into tangible benefits for farmers, their families, and future generations,” said Dr. Pathak.
Pigeonpea remains one of Malawi’s most valuable legumes, contributing to cash income, food security, soil health, livestock feed, and export earnings.
However, reliance on medium- and long-duration varieties has constrained production as rainfall seasons become shorter and less predictable.
Chitedze Pigeonpea 3 responds to these challenges with early maturity of 100–120 days, high and stable yields of up to 1.6–1.9 tons per hectare under favorable conditions, suitability for double cropping, and strong adaptation to hot lowland environments.
Farmer participatory trials involving more than 120 farmers confirmed strong acceptance of the variety, which ranked among the most preferred for its vigor, pod set, and grain quality.
Dr. Grace Kaudzu, Director of DARS, underscored the national importance of the release.
“Our partnership with ICRISAT and other research partners reflects Malawi’s commitment to science-based agricultural transformation.
"Chitedze Pigeonpea 3 is the result of coordinated research, farmer, participation, and sustained investment in national breeding programs.
"Such collaboration ensures that innovations respond directly to farmers’ needs and reaches them faster,” said Dr. Kaudzu.
A Milestone for Malawi’s Legume Sector
Pigeonpea is a cornerstone of Malawi’s legume economy, engaging an estimated 300,000–400,000 smallholder households and contributing more than 20 percent of national legume production.
The crop generates millions of US dollars in foreign-exchange earnings through strong regional and Asian demand while serving as a vital source of protein and naturally improving soil fertility through nitrogen fixation.
Recognizing this strategic importance, the Ministry of Agriculture is now calling on seed companies, development partners, and private-sector actors to invest in rapid seed multiplication, distribution, and market development to expand the crop’s benefits nationwide.
Innovation Through Partnership
The collaborative research efforts among different institutions have resulted in the development and commercialization of this improved pigeonpea variety, highlighting the critical role of strategic partnerships in leveraging economies of scale for agricultural innovation.
Multiple donors, including the Gates Foundation, FAO, and Irish Aid, provided essential funding for initial testing and fast-tracked regulatory releases, underscoring their commitment to sustainable agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa.
"These strategic partnerships with the Government of Malawi and donors are a testimony to what cohesion in research can deliver," said Dr. Sam Njoroge, ICRISAT Country Representative in Malawi.
"The support by our valued donors in initial testing to fast-track releases underpins their commitment towards enhancing food security in Malawi," added Dr. James Mwololo, Legume Breeder at ICRISAT Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA).
Such collaborative models hold strong potential for replication across the region to amplify impact.
The development of ICPV 182026 was also made possible through a partnership led by DARS and ICRISAT, with support from CIMMYT, Cornell University’s Crop Improvement Innovation Lab, extension services, station managers, and participating farmers.
The VACS–Pigeonpea project provided critical financial and technical support that strengthened breeding pipelines, enabled multi-location testing, and expanded farmer participatory evaluations, helping accelerate the delivery of this improved variety to farming communities.
Lead Scientists:
Dr Esnart Yohane, Pigeonpea Breeder, DARS Malawi
Dr James Mwolo, Legume Breeder and Country Representative, Mozambique
Dr Prakash I Gangashetty, Global Pigeonpea Breeding Lead, ICRISAT
This work aligns with SDGs 1,2, 8,9 & 12.
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