ICRISAT and Partners Advance Release of New Vegetable Pigeonpea Varieties in Kenya
ICRISAT, in collaboration with partners from CIMMYT, Egerton University, and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), convened a two-day technical meeting in Nairobi, on 16–17 June 2026 to introduce the new vegetable pigeonpea varieties to the National Variety Release Committee.
The meeting brought together breeders, seed system experts, researchers, and regulatory stakeholders to review performance data, harmonize technical documentation, and finalize preparations for submission to the National Variety Release Committee.
The discussions focused on ensuring that the candidate varieties meet the regulatory requirements for release and commercialization in Kenya.
The initiative marks a significant milestone for Kenya's pigeonpea sector. Notably, the last pigeonpea variety released in the country was more than two decades ago, underscoring the importance of introducing improved varieties that respond to current farmer and market needs.
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The new vegetable pigeonpea varieties are expected to offer improved productivity, enhanced nutritional value, better market opportunities, and increased resilience to climatic stresses.
The varietal release process is being implemented under the Vegetable and Climate Smart Crops for Improved Nutrition and Livelihoods (VACS) Project, which seeks to strengthen food and nutrition security while creating new economic opportunities for smallholder farmers.
Once approved, the new varieties will expand farmers' access to improved planting materials and contribute to the transformation of pigeonpea value chains in Kenya, particularly in the country's dryland regions where the crop plays a critical role in livelihoods, nutrition, and climate resilience.
This work aligns with SDG 1,2,3,12 and 17.
Martin Muluka