CAZRI moth bean varieties survive 35-day dry spell in El Niño kharif
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The ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, reported on 13 September 2026 that its four new moth bean varieties, CAZRI Moth-4, 5, 6 and 7, withstood a dry spell of about 35 days in the El Niño kharif season of 2026. They stayed green and set pods. Moth bean covers nearly 10 lakh hectares in western Rajasthan.
- Released
- 13 Sep 2026, ICAR (DARE)
- Institute
- ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur
- Varieties
- CAZRI Moth-4, Moth-5, Moth-6, Moth-7 (released in the last three years)
- Dry spell
- about 35 days, 3 Aug to 7 Sep 2026
- Area under moth bean
- nearly 10 lakh hectares, western Rajasthan
- Average yield
- around 350 kg per hectare
CAZRI’s drought-tolerant moth bean varieties: what happened?
Moth bean is a pulse of the Thar Desert, grown with 150 to 250 mm of rain. Long dry spells cut yields. In 2026, an El Niño year, rain stopped after early August, a real test for new varieties.
- ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur, reports its moth bean varieties withstood a 35-day dry spell during kharif 2026 [PIB].
- Moth bean covers ~10 lakh ha in arid western Rajasthan with low yields (~350 kg/ha) [PIB].
Why did these varieties do well?
- Developmental plasticity: they flower at about 30 days and adjust growth and maturity to soil moisture.
- Subsurface moisture (10 to 40 cm) fell only from about 23 to 16 per cent and kept feeding the crop.
- Good practices: timely sowing, 45 × 10 cm spacing, interculture at 20 days, weed control.
- At about 55 days after sowing, plants were green with heavy pod setting.
- Seed: one quintal of breeder seed can give 1,000 to 1,400 quintals of certified seed.
What can Prelims ask on CAZRI’s drought-tolerant moth bean varieties?
- CAZRI is at Jodhpur (ICAR).
- Moth bean varieties: CAZRI Moth-4 to Moth-7.
- Moth bean: nearly 10 lakh ha in western Rajasthan; yield around 350 kg/ha.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-09-13): ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur, reports its moth bean varieties withstood a 35-day dry spell during kharif 2026.
- Climate-resilient varieties are central to dryland farming and pulse self-sufficiency.
Quotable data pointMoth bean covers ~10 lakh ha in arid western Rajasthan with low yields (~350 kg/ha).
PIB: Agriculture: CAZRI moth bean varieties, 13 Sep 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: crops of arid zones; El Niño–monsoon link.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
The Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) is located at
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB, 13 Sep 2026: ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur.
Questions students ask about this
What is special about the new CAZRI moth bean varieties?
They kept growing and setting pods through a dry spell of about 35 days in kharif 2026.
Where is moth bean mainly grown?
In the hot arid regions of western Rajasthan, on nearly 10 lakh hectares.
What is developmental plasticity?
The ability of a plant to adjust its growth and maturity to the moisture available.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: Agriculture: CAZRI moth bean varieties, 13 Sep 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending