A simple change in how you sow pigeon pea (arhar or arhar) can increase yields by up to 20 percent, increase productivity from about 2.5 tonnes to 3 tonnes per hectare and help farmers increase their income. By transplanting nursery-grown plants instead of direct sowing, farmers reduce climate risks and shorten harvest periods.
According to findings from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the practice also helps build stronger plants, conserve soil moisture and protect the crop from irregular rainfall.
ICRISAT field trials showed clear productivity gains for transplanted crops, which consistently outperformed direct-seeded crops across a variety of climate conditions.
Transplanting involves growing the young pigeon pea plants in a small nursery before moving them to the main field at the right time.
“This helps farmers establish stronger plants early in the season, make better use of available soil moisture and protect crops from early-season drought and uneven rainfall,” said an Icrisat executive.
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Stanford Blades, Deputy Director General – Research and Innovation, ICRISAT, said transplanting also reduces the harvest period by about 12-18 days, resulting in early harvest and reducing soil moisture in the post-rainy season.
ICRISAT Director General Himanshu Pathak said that transplantation is an age-old practice that has replaced irrigated crops like rice.
The increase in yield is primarily attributed to stronger and better developed root systems, which improve nutrient and water absorption and increase resilience to climate variability.
Blades said, “This approach is both feasible and immediately scalable, allowing farmers to adapt to climate variability with minimal additional inputs or infrastructure. Sometimes, the best solution is not a new innovation; it is a return to basic science.”
To support large-scale adoption, ICRISAT convened a multi-stakeholder consultation to standardize transplantation protocols and promote climate-resilient technologies for sustainable pigeon pea production in Odisha.
Published on January 23, 2026
