Wild Peas: Rich protein & global demand

In the rainy season, most farmers grow pigeon peas. But have you heard of wild pigeon peas? This isn’t just any regular legume; wild pigeon peas are in high demand in places like Africa, Dubai, and London. These are rich in fibre and protein, making them easy to digest without causing gas. By cultivating these, farmers can earn millions of rupees.

Currently, the market price for wild pigeon peas is 12,000 rupees per quintal. Thus, farmers who grow soybeans, black grams, or pigeon peas alongside wild pigeon peas can earn an additional income of up to 125,000 rupees. This crop allows farmers to reduce their expenses and increase their income by 2 to 3 times.

4-Feet Plant and a Harvest in 4 Months

This rainy season, if you plant them along with soybeans, pigeon peas, and black grams, you can expect a significant profit in just four months. The monsoon has arrived across the country, and in the next couple of days, it will start raining heavily throughout the state. Farmers will begin sowing their fields. However, if farmers want to earn more with the same investment and effort, they should try wild pigeon peas, which can make them wealthy.

What is Wild Pigeon Peas?

These are grown using an intercropping or mixed cropping system. They can be sown along with soybeans, black grams, and pigeon peas. You need only 1 kg of seeds per acre, sown at a spacing of 5 x 6 feet. This crop yields twice a year and can produce up to 10 quintals in two harvests. Initially, it can be harvested as a crop, and later, its thick wood can be used as fuel at home or sold. The lentils from wild pigeon peas are high in protein and fiber, which is why they are in high demand abroad.

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Low Water Requirement

This variety of pigeon peas requires very little water. If planted in June or July, no irrigation is needed during the rainy season until September. However, in October and November, it needs watering 2 or 3 times at 20-day intervals. You can use open irrigation or a drip irrigation system, which is best for this variety.

Two Ways to Plant in the Field

There are two ways to plant this variety of pigeon peas. The first method is to prepare a nursery using a mix of 50 kg of soil, 50 kg of well-rotted manure or vermicompost, 1 kg of lime powder, and 1 kg of neem powder. Fill 2.5 x 6-inch poly bags with this mixture and sow the seeds 1 to 1.5 inches deep. This method requires 750 grams of seeds per acre. The second method is direct sowing in the field, where you should place two seeds together at a depth of 1 to 1.5 inches. This requires 1 kg of seeds per acre.

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