ICRISAT holds over 119,000 crop accessions in its genebank from 144 countries. It shares these genetic resources with partners and facilitates the adoption of improved varieties and hybrids through better seed systems. Through partnerships in crop improvement research, 647 cultivars have been developed and released worldwide, benefiting farmers significantly. Key releases include Macia sorghum in Africa, Okashana pearl millet in Namibia, and various chickpea, groundnut, and pigeonpea varieties that have been widely adopted across Asia and Africa, increasing yields and incomes for smallholder farmers.

1. Approach
Share improved varieties and hybrids parents with partners (public and private sector)
and facilitate their adoption by farmers through improved seed systems.
Genetic resources
ICRISAT genebank holds more than 119,000 accessions of five mandate crops,and six
small millets collected from 144 countries.These are shared with partners.
Assembly and distribution of ICRISAT germplasm (as of 1 January 2009)
Crop Number of accessions in genebank
Number of samples distributed
India Other countries (143) ICRISAT
Sorghum 37943 (92) 128667 125241 (105) 231053
Pearl millet 21594 (50) 60442 32804 (79) 52901
Chickpea 20267 (60) 70565 56862 (86) 185039
Pigeonpea 13632 (74) 47481 21113 (110) 83460
Groundnut 15445 (92) 45970 51127 (93) 95549
Small millets 10193 (50) 39339 20077 (57) 6346
Total 119074 (144) 307224 (143) 654348
* Figures in parenthesis indicate the number of countries.
Crop cultivars released from ICRISAT-
supplied materials
Partnership-based approach in crop improvement research has led to the development
and release of 647 cultivars worldwide (77 countries).
Global Impact
Sorghum
● Macia released in five countries in
eastern and southern Africa and
adopted in 36% of the sorghum areas
● 70 sorghum hybrids cultivated on
3 million ha in India,(54 based on
ICRISAT-bred material).
Pearl millet
● SOSAT-C 88 and GB 8735 adopted in
six and four countries,respectively
in West and Central Africa
● Okashana 1 and 2 adopted on
more than 50% pearl millet area in
Namibia
● Over 80 pearl millet hybrids (60
based on ICRISAT-bred lines) on 5 m
ha in India.
Chickpea
● Yezin 3 (ICCV 2) and Yezin 4 (ICCV
88202) cover >75% chickpea area in
Myanmar
● Mariye,Shasho and Chefe in Ethiopia
increased production by 39%
● Short-duration varieties,
JG 11,KAK 2,ICCV 2,brought 7-fold
increase in Andhra Pradesh,India.
Groundnut
● ICGV 91114,on >50,000 ha replacing
the 60-year old ruling variety TMV 2
in Anantapur,India
● CG 7,Nsinjiro,Kakoma and Baka
varieties in Malawi cover 40%
groundnut area
● Varieties Serenut 1 to 4 in Uganda
cover >62% of the area planted to
the crop.
Pigeonpea
● Fusarium wilt resistant varieties
ICEAP 00040 and ICEAP 00053 raised
incomes by 80% in Tanzania.
● Varieties ICEAP 00554 and ICEAP
00557 increase yields by >25% in
Kenya.
● In India,Asha,Maruti and Laxmi
adopted on >0.5 million ha (25%
of the total area planted). ICPL
88039,fits in cereal-based systems,
occupies 50,000 ha.