The scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute have developed a new variety of arhar (pigeon-pea) variety that matures in 120 days and gives the same yields of normal plants and is amenable to mechanical combine harvesting. <br/><br/>Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today made a field visit to the institute where the new variety PUSA-16 Arhar has been developed. <br/><br/>Later addressing a function, Mr Jaitley commended the efforts of the scientists and expressed hope that the new variety can make India self dependent in pulses. He said, Government is giving MSP and bonus for Dal and the new variety will be able to benefit consumers and country as a whole. <br/><br/>Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said, high-yielding variety of the new arhar seeds will be made available to farmers from next Kharif season so that these are brought into the production chain at the earliest.<br/><br/>Being a dwarf semi-erect plant it makes pesticide spraying easier and synchronous maturity and podding happening only at the top. Its production is 20 quintals per hectare and has 20 to 23 percent protein content in it. It is being considered quite important as it can help in reducing India's import bills of pulses in the long run.