In what could provide major relief to farmers reeling under drought, International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is set to launch field trials of genetically-modified short-term and high yielding groundnuts from next season and pigeon pea in 2006.

"The groundnut variety is ready for field trials from next seasons (2004) and we are in talks with partners including Indian Council of Agricultural Research in India," ICRISAT Director General William Dar told reporters here.

He said the field trials for the GM pigeon pea variety will start in 2006.

The two varieties are short-term of a duration of 90-100 days, and can raise the yield by 25-30 per cent, Dar said after signing of Memorandum of Association between ICRISAT and Asian Media Information and Communication of India.

He said the groundnut variety is resistant to Indian peanut clump virus while the Bt variety of pigeon pea is resistant to pod borer Helicoverpa.

Dar said that the organisation has also developed a variety of pearl millet, suitable for farmers in water scarce Rajasthan and gives an "outstanding" yield of 1.5 to two tonnes per hectare in 90 to 100 days against the common duration of 165 days.

"We have also developed a variety of sweet sorghum which is better than sugarcane in manufacturing ethanol, helping the country's energy needs and helping the environment," he said.

Advocating the use of GM seeds, he said they not only give better yields but also help the environmnet and farmers by reducing use of pesticides and other chemicals.