Dr KB Saxena is a pigeonpea expert with ICRISAT. He earned his PhD in plant breeding and genetics from GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. He has been with ICRISAT since 1974. He has played an instrumental role in the recent development of the first commercial hybrid legume — a hybrid pigeonpea — which produces 30 per cent higher yields. In addition, he is actively promoting the use of pigeonpea for soil conservation in China and India and has already begun pilot projects on the same. He has over 200 publications to his credit .