Pigeon pea is a perennial legume that is native to India.
It is highly adapted to dry environments, has very deep
roots, and can produce a high amount of biomass. The
plant produces a highly nutritious grain and can
produce yield even through the dry season. In addition,
the nitrogen fixation capacity of pigeon pea is estimated
to be 235kg N/ha. The leaves and immature stems can
be cut and used as a green manure that will enrich both
soil nitrogen and organic matter. It can be grown as a
monocrop, an intercrop with maize or other grains, or
even as a perennial hedgerow. While pigeon pea is
widely grown in the drier areas of eastern Kenya, it is
not very well known in the west. Despite this, the
multiple uses of pigeon pea hold high potential for
enhancing the food security, agricultural productivity, and livelihood of One Acre Fund smallholder