Transgenic pigeonpea,chickpea research at advanced stage:Govt

The government today said development of transgenic pigeonpea and chickpea which would be resistant to polyphagous insects is at advanced stage at Kanpur-based Indian Institute of Pulses Research.
If the research work is successful, it will help increase in the output of pulses, said the government, which is under pressure to increase output of pulses in view of rising prices.
Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR) along with ICRISAT near Hyderabad are developing transgenic pigeonpea and chickpea.
"Development of transgenics in pigeonpea and chickpea for resistance against gram pod borer is at quite advanced stage," Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.

IIPR has exclusive focus on development of hybrids in pigeonpea, transgenics against pod borer in chickpea and pigeonpea, high yielding varieties with tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, it said.
It is also working on bio-intensification of pulse-based cropping systems and resource conservation, mechanisation and minimising post harvest yield loss.

Climate risk management and efficient extension models for dissemination of pulse-based technologies for farmers to make pulse cultivation in the country productive and remunerative are other areas on which the IIPR is working on.
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh is scheduled to visit the institute tomorrow to monitor the research work.

Stating that the country still imports about 30-40 lakh tonnes pulses which exert a heavy burden on national exchequer, the ministry said, "The situation calls for dedicated efforts for increasing the pulse production in the country."
The advancement in the technologies coupled with initiatives for popularising pulses in non-traditional areas provide a new hope for promoting pulses. The avenue of expansion in the rice fallows have strengthened the prospects for area expansion under pulse crops in the country, it added.
IIPR's most significant achievements include reduction in crop duration of moong bean from 75 to 55 days, lentil from 140 to 120 days and chickpea from 135 to 100 days.

It has also developed wilt-resistant varieties in chickpea, development of early maturing varieties in pigeonpea suitable for multiple cropping and green seeded variety of field pea for diversified food uses.
The Institute is striving to intensify the breeding programme through both conventional and genomics- enabled crop improvement.
With pulses prices still ruling high at Rs 160-170 per kg in retail markets due to shortages, the government is increasingly focusing on raising pulses output through various schemes.