High-Yield Pigeon Pea Trials Show Promise for Bolangir Farmers
Bolangir district is being positioned as a primary hub for high-yield pigeon pea (Harada) seed production through a major agricultural initiative. This sustainable program is a joint effort between the Odisha Government's Agriculture Department and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). The project focuses on reviving valuable local crops and aims to achieve state self-sufficiency in pigeon pea seeds. A core goal is to significantly enhance farmer incomes.
Top officials recently inspected the project's progress, which now spans 1000 hectares. Dr. Shiv Kumar Agrawal, ICARDA's Regional Coordinator for South Asia, and Dr. Kishor Kumar Behera, the Odisha representative, toured key sites. They visited a crucial experimental field in Paruabhadi village, where 10 distinct high-yield varieties are currently under trial cultivation. The delegation also inspected the production fields of progressive farmers in the Deogaon and Patnagarh blocks.
Following the tour, the officials held discussions with these leading farmers to plan the program's future expansion. The initiative has already shown proven success. Over the last three years, district farmers have produced and supplied 1000 quintals of high-yield seeds directly to the Odisha State Seeds Corporation. The next phase aims to build on this success, solidifying Bolangir's role as a leading center for seed production in the state.
