Odisha should become a “Seed Hub” under atmanirbhar in pulses: Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo

Bhubaneswar- 23/10/2025:  A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Deputy CM Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on an intensive agriculture program, including revival & sustainable intensification of forgotten foods.

The meeting focused on the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to become self-reliant on pulses. To drive this vision a step forward to become self-reliant in pulses, Odisha decided to promote the cultivation of Pigeonpea, Black gram & lentils in the state through a cluster approach.

ICRISAT has developed a variety of pigeonpea named ICPV25444, which can be grown in all seasons and can tolerate intense heat up to 45° Celsius, and can be produced in 120 days. This variety can become a game-changer in the context of self-reliance in pulses.

Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister has advised to cultivate the above-mentioned pegionpea variety along with the traditional varieties such as Dangararani and Kandula, which are now coming in a category of forgotten varieties by the Odisha State Seeds Corporation Ltd. Odisha should become a “seed hub” under Atmanirbhar Bharat in pulses, Deputy CM added.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Director Agriculture, S.H. Shubham Saxena, Director Horticulture, re Sh Kalunge Gorakh Waman, senior officers from Agriculture Department, Directorate of Horticulture, Directorate of Agriculture & Food Production, ICRISAT, ICARDA.