Small change, big gain for pigeonpea farmers

A simple tweak in how you plant pigeonpea (redgram or tur) can boost yields by upto 20 per cent, raising productivity from about 2.5 tonnes to 3 tonnes a hectare and helping farmers increase their incomes. By transplanting nursery-raised seedlings instead of direct sowing, farmers reduce climate risks and shorten crop duration.

The practice also helps build stronger plants, conserve soil moisture, and protect harvests from erratic rainfall, according to findings from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat).

Field trials at Icrisat showed a clear productivity advantage for transplanted crops, which consistently outperformed direct-seeded crops across varying climatic conditions.

Transplanting involves raising young pigeonpea plants in a small nursery before moving them to the main field at the right time.

“This enables farmers to establish stronger plants earlier in the season, make better use of available soil moisture, and protect crops from early-season drought and uneven rains,” an Icrisat executive said.

Shortern duration

Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General – Research & Innovation, Icrisat, said transplanting also shortens crop duration by around 12-18 days, enabling earlier maturity and reducing exposure to low soil moisture during the post-rainy season.

Icrisat’s Director General Himanshu Pathak pointed out that transplanting is an age-old practice that has transformed irrigated crops such as rice.

The yield gains are largely attributed to stronger and better-developed root systems, which improve nutrient and water uptake and enhance resilience to climate variability.

“The approach is both viable and immediately scalable, allowing farmers to adapt to climate variability with minimal additional inputs or infrastructure. Sometimes, the best solution isn’t a new innovation; it’s a return to basic science,” Blade said.

To support large-scale adoption, Icrisat convened a multi-stakeholder consultation to standardise transplanting protocols and promote climate-resilient technologies for sustainable pigeonpea production in Odisha.

Published on January 23, 2026