NewsletterHappenings05 October 2018, No. 1769In-house version

Feature stories

Photos: PS Rao, ICRISAT

87th ICRISAT Governing Board Meeting

Governing Board members with Management Group.

Dr Mamta Sharma (L) and Dr Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur (R) receiving the Doreen Margaret Mashler Award from Dr Kerby and Dr Mohapatra, respectively.

Taking science to the next level – ICRISAT Board meeting focuses on strategy

New science and research pathways were the focus of ICRISAT’s Governing Board (GB) meeting in September

2018. A modernized crop improvement program and an updated genebank strategy, including the world’s first ‘green’ genebank, are to be implemented. The meeting also saw formal presentations of ICRISAT’s highest scientific recognition, the Doreen Margaret Mashler Award. The first step and inputs into ICRISAT’s new strategic plan was an important session along with the farewells to Governing Board Chair Dr Nigel Kerby, MBE, and Board members Dr SK Pattanayak and Dr Paul Anderson.

Awards and presentationsICRISAT scientists Dr Mamta Sharma, Theme Leader - Integrated Crop Management, Asia Program and Dr Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur, Theme Leader – Cell, Molecular Biology & Genetic Engineering, Genetic Gains Program, who were announced as recipients of the Doreen Margaret Mashler Award at the previous Board meeting, formally received the award from the outgoing Governing Board Chair Dr Nigel Kerby and the Vice Chair Dr Trilochan Mohapatra at this meeting. In their presentations, Dr Sharma and Dr Bhatnagar-Mathur highlighted their research in plant pathology and plant biotechnology that has made a significant contribution to food security in the semi-arid tropics.

New genebank strategy The Governing Board also approved the new genebank strategy with two Regional Genebanks in Niamey and Bulawayo and the Nairobi Distribution Center as official ICRISAT genebank structures supported by the Genebank Platform. Also, ICRISAT has moved on to become the first green genebank in the world with savings of over 70% in electricity. The introduction of the unique identifier – the doi – as well as barcoding for the accessions was also highlighted by Dr Vania Azevedo, Head – Genebank, Genetic Gains Program. Started in 1979, over 111,000 accessions have been deposited at Svalbard till date. (For more)

The ICRISAT Strategic Plan, Crop Improvement and the Genebank strategies on the agenda

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CRP GLDC updateDr Peter Carberry, Director General (Acting), ICRISAT, who is also Director CRP Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC), presented the progress of CRP GLDC. The 42% representation of women on the Independent Advisory Committee, the launch of the Innovation Fund, the strengthening of the monitoring, evaluation and learning platform, communications initiatives and creating an identity for GLDC were some of the highlights presented. The strengthening of further partnerships including those with the private sector besides the gender internship program were also shared as updates.

Research initiativesThe Board heard on new initiatives being proposed across the CGIAR and involving ICRISAT. The CGIAR ‘Biofortification Strategy 2019-2023’ provided new strategic direction and targets scale-up in 30 priority countries. The new ‘DryArc’ Initiative, a joint proposal by International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, International Food Policy Research Institute, International Water Management Institute and ICRISAT aims to strengthen resilience of rural communities and agri-food systems across the drylands of Middle East, North Africa, Central and West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

A new climate change proposal, the ‘2-degree initiative’ makes use of over 50 years of CGIAR work to tailor information for policy processes, bring digital agriculture to scale and strengthen partnerships with the private sector, financial institutions and other actors.

Research updatesDr Jan Debaene, Global Head – Breeding, ICRISAT, presented the update on the ongoing modernization of the breeding program at ICRISAT, driven by Product Profiles with input from multiple stakeholders. The plan aims to optimize generation interval (time) by applying advanced processes, acquiring updated modern equipment and implementing better tools.

The Monitoring and Evaluation platform as well as data management within ICRISAT through the MEASURE project were shared by Mr Ram Dhulipala, Head – Digital Agriculture & Youth Innovation Systems for the Drylands, and Mr Satish Nagaraji, Senior Manager – Digital Agriculture (M&E & Tools). This proposes real-time data collection that can be geo-tagged, comprehensively analysed and provide data-driven insights for tracking and action related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

ICRISAT strategic plan 2020 and beyondThe process for developing ICRISAT’S next strategic plan for 2020-2024 was presented – the current strategy runs 2011-2020. The first major step involved the Board providing strategic input and guidance for the process. The background included the CGIAR draft Business Plan 2019-2030 and the 10 key initiatives that the CGIAR will focus on, as well as ICRISAT’s role. The Board stressed the need to align with the CGIAR Business Plan and the SDGs, and to be careful to focus on our strengths and

comparative advantage. Setting ambitious but realistic targets, ensuring the plan is evidence-based, highlighting our science and impacts, and communicating our case were key directions given by Board members. It is planned to have the Strategic Plan ready for approval at the September 2019 Board meeting, seeking staff and stakeholder input over the coming 12 months.

Changes in the BoardThis was the last Board meeting for the outgoing Chair, Dr Kerby. Speaking of the innovation, impact and inspiration that the institution held for him, Dr Kerby offered his continued support to ICRISAT. Dr Paco Sereme, Chair of the Program Committee and incoming Board Chair, felicitated Dr Kerby for his contributions. Other changes include Dr SK Pattanayak and Dr Paul Anderson who are leaving the Board and were thanked for their contributions. Dr Kerby recalled how Paul’s presence provided significant inputs to the institution. The Board members expressed their gratitude to Dr Anderson for his commitment and scientific contributions.

Photo: PS Rao, ICRISAT

Farewell to Dr PattanayakDr SK Pattanayak, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India and ICRISAT Governing Board member since 2016, was given a fond farewell at this meeting. Dr Pattanayak, who retired at the end of September, was recognized and applauded for his contributions, especially in being a key player on designating 2018 as the National Year of Millets. Dr Kerby, spoke of his great calm in providing counsel whenever called on to do so. Dr Peter Carberry expressed the hope that he would continue to be involved in contributing to ICRISAT, calling him an ‘incredible supporter’ and a great friend of ICRISAT.

Expressing his strong passion for agriculture, Pattanayak said, “I am overwhelmed and moved by the kind words. My association with ICRISAT has been very strong. We have come a long way since India was reliant on others to bring in food security. ICRISAT’s contribution to food security,

Dr Paco Sereme presenting a plaque to Dr Nigel Kerby.

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Photo: PS Rao, ICRISAT

Photo: PS Rao, ICRISAT

especially to pulses self-sufficiency in India has been immense. Thanks to the farmers and scientists in this country that we are looking at the third year of self-sufficiency. It has been made possible with scientific support.”

Speaking of moving ahead, Dr Pattanayak added, “Agriculture is an area where we can do wonders and an area that the poor can benefit. We need to enhance and augment the income of farmers. I am so happy I could achieve this at the end of my career. I will miss the enlightenment and wisdom of our Board members. I will continue to contribute when I can. You will all remain in my heart.”

Dr Peter Carberry felicitated and honored Dr Pattanayak on behalf of the institution.

Key resources for genomics and crop improvement practitioners – series of books released A series of four books that focus on the subject of crop improvement and genomics that make a significant contribution to this area of work has been authored by ICRISAT scientists. The ICRISAT Governing Board released the four books, The Chickpea Genome (Eds: Rajeev Varshney, Mahendar Thudi and Fred Muehlbauer); The Pigeonpea Genome (Eds: Rajeev Varshney, Rachit Saxena and Scott Jackson); The Peanut Genome (Eds: Rajeev Varshney, Manish Pandey and Naveen Puppala), and Genomic Selection for Crop Improvement (Eds: Rajeev Varshney, Manish Roorkiwal and Mark Sorrells). These books were published by Springer Nature. Dr Kerby and Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Vice Chair, ICRISAT Governing Board and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, congratulated the editors.

After decoding the genomes of three legume crops, it was important to document the efforts in the area of sequencing and analysis of the legume genomes. The three genome books talk of the importance of the crops, cytogenetics and genetic maps, history and coordination of genome sequencing initiatives, genome sequence and their analysis, trait mapping, transcriptomics and

functional genomics, molecular breeding and future prospects of genome sequences. The books present concepts and mythologies of genomic selection, statistical analyses and current status of application of genomic selection in major group of plant species – namely cereals, legumes, vegetatively propagated clonal crops, tree species and also application of genomic selection in hybrid crops.

These books by a team of global scientists from ICRISAT and partner universities from USA will serve as quality resources for plant geneticist, breeders and for research scholars working in this domain.

Speaking on the release of the books, Dr Rajeev Varshney, Research Program Director – Genetic Gains and Director Center of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology and key editor of these books said, “It is always a pleasure to return to the society. Gifting knowledge and wisdom in the form of these books is a great way to give back.” The editors thanked the ICRISAT Governing Board and the Senior Leadership for their continued support and expressed their gratitude to all dignitaries, partners, collaborators and friends for their wishes and also thanked the publisher Springer Nature and Dr Chittaranjan Kole, series editor for their effort in contributing to education and training around the world.

Book series on genomics and crop improvement released at the Board meeting.

Farewell to Dr Pattanayak.

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Wild cousins of finger millet show promise of parasite resistance

Finger millet can be grown at altitudes ranging from sea

level to over 2000 metres above sea level, can withstand drought, and has high levels of essential amino acids and micronutrients

Dr Chrispus Oduori kneels amidst a sea of colorful plastic buckets in a screenhouse in Western Kenya and shifts some leaves of young finger millet plants till he finds what he’s looking for.

“Here it is. Striga!” Oduori points to a shoot emerging at the base of one of the millet plants “It’s a weed that’s a parasite on the crop, and it can cause total loss at harvest time.”

“But there’s hope.” Oduori, a Kenyan finger millet breeder, points to plants in the neighbouring pots which have been inoculated with Striga. “These are wild relatives of finger millet and some of them are showing resistance to Striga.”

The return of finger milletOduori, the director of the Kisii Centre of KALRO Food Crops Research Institute (FCRI), is working to help East African farmers increase finger millet yields by introducing beneficial traits from wild relatives into cultivated varieties.

Farmer Pascilisa Wanyonyi of Busia County, Kenya produces finger millet smart foods like these ‘crackies’.

Finger millet can be grown at altitudes ranging from sea level to over 2000 metres above sea level, can withstand drought, and has high levels of essential amino acids and micronutrients.

Farmers have been cultivating finger millet for thousands of years. It is still an important subsistence crop in small-scale farming systems, particularly in parts of eastern and southern Africa as well as in India. In Kenya, it is used for making foods like ugali, a thin stiff porridge, and busaa, a local brew. Oduori hopes that soon the crop will stage a comeback in Kenya after being largely replaced by maize and sorghum. Interest in finger millet is in fact growing worldwide, even outside its centre of origin.

“Finger millet is extremely nutritious and grows well in a wide range of locations, including marginal environments,” Oduori says. “Many farmers are recognizing finger millet as a smart food and are now planting it again.”

Fighting blast and StrigaOduori is well placed to tout not only the nutritional but the agronomic benefits of finger millet. He has spent the past 30 years working with the crop and became the first plant breeder to release improved varieties of finger millet in Africa.

Today, Oduori’s improved finger millet varieties are planted by farmers throughout Western Kenya. Unfortunately, the improved varieties are still susceptible to blast disease and the Striga parasite.

Wild finger millet is native to the Ethiopian and Ugandan highlands. It can withstand cultivation at altitudes over 2000 m above sea level, has high drought tolerance, and high levels of micronutrients. Pictured are panicles of Maridadi, one of the finger millet varieties released by Dr Chrispus Oduori.

Supplied: Michael Major/Crop Trust

Supplied: Michael Major/Crop Trust

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“With climate change we will see even greater outbreaks of pests and diseases due to weather extremes. We’ll see more Striga, for example, if climate change leads to drier conditions,” Oduori says.

Striga, or witchweed, is a particularly nasty parasite. The sap-sucking weed can lead to complete loss of crops and once it’s in a farmer’s field, it is nearly impossible to eradicate.

Oduori hopes that losses due to Striga can be minimised by finding wild relatives of finger millet that have resistance to this as well as pests and diseases.

Utilizing crop wild relatives“Our initial evaluations under controlled conditions showed that some of these wild relatives performed very well and showed resistance to blast and Striga,” Oduori said.

This effort is funded by the Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) initiative, a global, 10-year project, supported by the Government of Norway. The initiative is managed by the Crop Trust, an international non-profit organization charged with conserving and making available crop diversity in genebanks.

“Finger millet is one of 19 crops we are supporting via our pre-breeding projects,” says Dr. Benjamin Kilian, a scientist with the Crop Trust. “Our aim is to introduce beneficial traits from their wild cousins into cultivated crops so they are more resilient to climate change.”

Finding the beneficial traitsDr Damaris Odeny, a scientist with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), is sequencing the genome of the crop wild relatives and identifying molecular markers, or specific snippets of genome, to help breeders. “An earlier project collected wild relatives of finger millet in the countries where the crop originated: Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. We now know them down to their DNA,” says Odeny.

But these wild relatives lack many of the traits which Oduori bred into his lines, like really high yield, a grain color that’s acceptable to consumers, erect stems, shatter resistance, and early maturation.

“So we need to introduce the desirable traits from the crop wild relatives into the farmer-preferred varieties,” Odeny says. “This will take a lot of crosses and backcrosses, and a lot of time, but these wild relatives do offer us hope that we will be able to breed a really successful Striga-resistant finger millet.”

That is music to Chrispus Oduori’s ears as he reflects back on a time when finger millet fed the people of Eastern Africa. He has spent his career trying to get finger millet back in farmers’ fields and consumers’ plates. Thanks to some unlikely looking plants he may well achieve his goals soon.

Michael Major is a science communicator at Crop Trust and works to disseminate information regarding the Genebank Platform, Crop Wild Relatives and Genesys. Michael has 35 years experience as an agricultural communicator and has worked in five continents.

The Crop Trust’s Dr Benjamin Kilian (right) with the Crop Wild Relatives' finger millet pre-breeding partner, Dr Chrispus Oduori, and Margaret Kubende, a farmer, in her finger millet field in Kakamega County in Western Kenya. Margaret is a diabetic and planted finger millet since it is gluten free and helps keep blood sugar levels low.

ICRISAT’s Dr Damaris Odeny is the principal investigator of a three-year finger millet pre-breeding project and focuses on genotyping finger millet samples.

Supplied: Michael Major/Crop Trust

Supplied: Michael Major/Crop Trust

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Photo: S Banda, ICRISAT

This work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals

Interacting with groundnut farmers in Kondampally village.

Water conservation structures brighten farmers’ hopes in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh For Indian farmers reeling under deficit

rainfall in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharging structures bring all the relief they can get. The dryland district registered 212.6 mm rainfall this year, a huge deficit of 38.6%. Despite the deficit, smallholder farmers, using integrated water resource management techniques, are reversing the decline in the groundwater table.

The rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharging structures constructed by a local NGO - Samatha Society for Rural Education and Development, with support from the Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (RECL) and ICRISAT, have created a net storage capacity of 35,600 m3 resulting in total conservation of about 70,000 m3 of surface runoff water in 2-3 fillings.

“The rainwater harvested is helping us during the extended dry spell. Groundwater levels are increasing as well, providing us enough for irrigation and cattle rearing,” farmers of Kondampally village told Dr Marco Ferroni, Chair, System Management Board, CGIAR.

Dr Ferroni on his recent visit to India, toured the farmer-centric integrated watershed in Anantapur. The project is being implemented through a convergence between ICRISAT and Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, their line departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Samatha Society for Rural Education and Development, BAIF-BIRDS (K) Hyderabad and community-based organizations.

The Penukonda watershed (Anantapur district) is home to 1,480 families with groundnut, maize, paddy, finger millet, and sunflower as major crops.

The watershed is the outcome of a consortium approach to undertake science-led interventions in soil and water conservation, soil health mapping and use of micronutrients. Various income-generating activities such as sheep rearing, improving the local goat breeds through crossbreeding with Sirohi goats, vermicomposting, nursery and home gardening were also taken up under the project. This science-led holistic approach also paved the way to organize several capacity building programs on community formation, participatory soil sampling, action plan preparation, use and application of improved crop productivity initiatives, and integrated pest management.

“Building capacity of the farmers through knowledge-sharing and dissemination is vital to enhancing rural livelihoods,” said Dr Ferroni, after his interactions with women and men farmers.

Improved cultivars such as ICGV 91114/350/351 in groundnut and ICPH 2740 and ICPL 87119 in pigeonpea

coupled with in-situ moisture conservation practices in the region have resulted in productivity improvement by 25% in groundnut, and 27% in pigeonpea.

Dr Ferroni, accompanied by Dr Nigel Kerby, Outgoing Chair, Governing Board, ICRISAT, Dr Peter Carberry, Director General (Acting), ICRISAT, and Dr Kiran Sharma, the acting Deputy Director General – (Research) of ICRISAT interacted at length with women and men farmers from Kondampally and Settipally villages.

The team gathered feedback from farmers on the water conservation structures including check dams and farm ponds, and Dr Sreenath Dixit, Theme Leader, ICRISAT Development Center (IDC) led the demos on productivity enhancement, balanced fertilizers, high-yielding varieties, and decentralized on-farm seed production.

With support from RECL, The ICRISAT-led consortium also developed a similar “Model Site of Learning” in Wanaparthy district in Telangana state to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and improve the livelihoods of the rural poor in vulnerable rain-fed areas. A participatory integrated watershed management approach has been adopted for upgrading rain-fed agriculture for sustainable intensification. See video

Project: Farmer-centric Integrated Watershed Management a for Improving Rural LivelihoodsFunder: Rural Electrification Corporation LimitedPartners: BAIF Institute for Rural Development - Watershed Committee – Wanaparthy; SAMATHA So-ciety for Rural Education and Development - Kondampalli Model Watershed Committee; Government of Andhra Pradesh; Government of Telangana; and ICRISATCRP: Water, Land and Ecosystems

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This work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals

Synergies between USAID and TL III leading to the registration and release of three groundnut varieties in Nigeria in 2018.

Two to tango: How groundnut production in Nigeria is thriving on synergy

Photo: VB Michael

Groundnut farmers in Nigeria have benefited immensely through collaboration between two major

projects. This has helped promote improved groundnut varieties and strengthen seed value chains in the region. The two projects, USAID’s Groundnut Upscaling Project and BMGF’s TL III project have helped fast-track several activities including release of three improved groundnut varieties (Samnut 27, Samnut 28 and Samnut 29), capacity building of all value chain actors and facilitation of seed production (24 tons of breeder seeds, 80 tons of foundation seeds and 1,749 tons of certified seeds produced).

Led by a plant breeder under the TL III project, and an agro-economist/technology uptake specialist with the Groundnut Upscaling Project, both projects have benefited from the diverse expertise. It has resulted in increased groundnut production as well as adoption in Nigeria. Significantly, compared to the 2015 cropping season when seed production was done on 31 ha, the area under seed production has increased over 8 times, to 264 ha in 2018.Since the main cropping season of 2016, the visible action points include:

1. 974 varietal demonstration plots for awareness established;

2. Over 20 multi-location trials and 9 technology validation trials conducted;

3. Comprehensive variety release technical proposal prepared;

4. Two pre-season planning meetings and three training workshops conducted to close skill gaps.

Both projects benefit from services of Focal Persons of the State Agricultural and Rural Development Authorities, who coordinate the efforts of farmer-contact agents in each Local Government Area of the States.

Mr Sanusi Dankawu of the Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) says, “The combined efforts of the two projects have made it possible for farmers and extension agents appreciate the performance of all the improved groundnut varieties – I am talking about Samnut 24, Samnut 25 and Samnut 26.”

This convergence of skills, expertise and resources of two projects has resulted in a much bigger scale of impact ultimately benefiting the groundnut farmers of Nigeria.

Project: Increasing Groundnut Productivity of Smallholder farmers in Ghana, Mali and Nigeria (2015-2019); Tropical Legumes (TL III)Partners: Institute for Agricultural Research/Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Centre for Dryland Agriculture/Bayero University of Kano; National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC); Federal University of Agriculture, Markudi; Green Sahel Agricultural and Rural Development Initiative; Catholic Relief Service; Women Farmers Advancement Network; Agricultural Development Authorities/Projects of Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto States; and ICRISAT.Funders: United States Agency for International Development; and the Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationCRP: Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals

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This work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals

Future forward

Drones fly in to change the way we work in research fields

Data collection in agriculture research fields is all set to become cheaper, rapid and more precise with the foray

of drones. Worldwide, agri-researchers are increasingly opting for modern tools to speed up efforts to feed a growing planet and meet the Global Goal of ‘No hunger’ by 2030.

The future of drones in agriculture is a subject undergoing intense study. In line with it a working group formed by the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture gathered in Zanzibar, Tanzania, for a brainstorming session cum hands-on workshop on how to use drones for breeding and other crop data collection applications.

The working group discussed use cases to help real-time monitoring of crop health and farming operations, spraying or dusting pesticide, fertilizer application, crop monitoring, recording of morphological traits such as plant height and flowering, etc. Ideas discussed included crop surveys ranging from weekly/daily to hourly based on research needs and how the information can be used to prepare a time-series animation i.e. imagery that can show changes in the crop, revealing trouble spots or opportunities for better crop management.

The hands-on exercises were on two different kinds of drones, namely fixed wings (senseFly - eBee) and quadcopter (DJI- Phantom). eBee has the ability to cover a long flight path and give an overall view of the field in a very short time, whereas DJI-Phantom can fly low and give greater crop details.

The CGIAR Big Data Platform and Excellence in Breeding Platforms are continuously working to bring direct application and use case of drones to agricultural research fields and ICRISAT is actively engaged and coordinating with these platforms. At the meet, Dr Abhishek Rathore,

Theme Leader – Statistics, Bio-Informatics & Data Management, ICRISAT, emphasized the need for a smart data ecosystem for drones, which can store, clean, analyze and feed data to the breeding data management system through application program interfaces. Most institutions agreed and are also planning to bring such systems and platforms into routine use.

The event held in September was assisted by WeRobotics and Tanzania Flying Lab. Several experts and participants from various CGIAR institutes, agriculture research institutes and universities attended.

Timely access to quality seeds by smallholder farmers is a major

enabler for agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Farmers with the appropriate variety of seeds and related packages can reap substantial rewards in terms of improving food security and reducing poverty. Seed roadmaps play a crucial role in enabling national governments, small seed producers, and the private sector in planning, producing, tracking and delivering quality seeds to smallholder farmers.

Read more

Training on digital seed roadmap use enables delivery of quality seeds to smallholder farmers

Dr Abhishek Rathore tries his hand at flying a drone at the workshop in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Photo: ICRISAT

Photo: ICRISAT

ICRISAT Happenings | 05 October 2018 | 1769 | 9

Plant-based meat – the future of proteinHow many of you have heard about plant-based meat? Does it sound strange, maybe yummy 😊 or not sure what? As panel expert for a first-of-its-kind summit on “The future of protein: The new food revolution” co-hosted by The Good Food Institute, Humane Society International, India and CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, I had a chance to speak on this. Read more

Author: Dr Rajeev K VarshneyResearch Program Director – Genetic gains

Awards

Recognizing the contributions of its alumni, the Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, India, felicitated Dr Pooran Gaur, Research Program Director – Asia, with the Jawahar Ratna award at its 55th Foundation Day on 1 October. Picture shows Dr Mangla Rai, former Vice Chair of ICRISAT Governing Board and the former Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, who was the chief guest, presenting the award.

Lt Gen Krishna Mohan Seth (L), former governor of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura, presented the Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Excellence Award for outstanding individual achievements and distinguished services to the nation to ICRISAT alumni, Dr Mannava Sivakumar, at New Delhi on 29 September.

New projectTitle: Enhanced awareness and knowledge of approaches to Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe State, Nigeria

Funder: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Period: 5 September - 30 November 2018

Principle Investigator: Dr Robert Zougmore, ICRISAT-Mali

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In the media

Kano partners with BUK to boost large-scale agricultureThe Acting Governor of Kano state, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna on Tuesday, said that moving agriculture from subsistence to large-scale commercial enterprise should be taken seriously at this point of the nation’s history. Read more

BUK, ICRISAT, IITA hold conference to address conflicts in dryland areas

The Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), Bayero University, Kano in collaboration with other key partners such as the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture has concluded plans to hold the 3rd biennial conference to brainstorm on possible ways to addressing the effects of climate change and emerging conflicts in west African dryland areas. Read more

“Small grains are drought resistant and require minimal inputs in terms of fertiliser, chemicals and land preparation. The efforts at national level to grow small grains are in tandem with the initiatives by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) such as sorghum and pearl millet.” – Zimbabwe Acting President Kembo Mohadi. Read more

1.8m households to get farming inputs assistance

Entrepreneurial agribusiness model to help 6,000 smallholder farmers

More than 1,000 women and men farmers of Maruru village in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, a dryland region, will create a self-sustaining agribusiness model aimed at doubling farm incomes.

Coverage of Walmart's $2 million grant to ICRISAT

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New publicationsHigh-density genetic map using whole-genome re-sequencing for fine mapping and candidate gene discovery for disease resistance in peanutAuthors: Agarwal G, Clevenger J, Pandey MK, Wang H, Shasidhar Y, Chu Y, Fountain JC, Choudhary D, Culbreath AK, Liu X, Huang G, Wang X, Deshmukh R, Holbrook CC, Bertioli DJ, Ozias-Akins P, Jackson S A, Varshney RK and Guo BPublished: 2018, Plant Biotechnology Journal. pp. 1-14. ISSN 1467-7644http://oar.icrisat.org/10624/

Can genomics deliver climate-change ready crops?Authors: Varshney RK, Singh VK, Kumar A, Powell W and Sorrells MEPublished: 2018, Current Opinion in Plant Biology (TSI). ISSN 1369-5266http://oar.icrisat.org/10625/

Impact of ICRISAT Pearl Millet Hybrid Parents Research Consortium (PMHPRC) on the Livelihoods of Farmers in India, Research Report No 75Authors: Venkata Rao N, Rao KPC, Gupta SK, Mazvimavi K, Kumara Charyulu D, Nagaraj N, Singh RN, Singh SS and Singh SPPublished: 2018, Technical Report. ICRISAThttp://oar.icrisat.org/10626/

Who are those people we call farmers? Rural Kenyan aspirations and realitiesAuthors: Verkaart S, Mausch K and Harris DPublished: 2018, Development in Practice, 28 (4). pp. 468-479. ISSN 0961-4524http://oar.icrisat.org/10627/

Genomics, genetics and breeding of tropical legumes for better livelihoods of smallholder farmersAuthors: Ojiewo CO, Monyo E, Desmae H, Boukar O, Mukankusi-Mugisha C, Thudi M, Pandey MK, Saxena RK, Gaur PM, Chaturvedi SK, Fikre A, Ganga Rao NVPR, Sameer Kumar CV, Okori P, Janila P, Rubyogo JC, Godfree C, Akpo E, Omoigui L, Nkalubo S, Fenta B, Binagwa P, Kilango M, Williams M, Mponda O, Okello D, Chichaybelu M, Miningou A, Bationo J, Sako D, Diallo S, Echekwu C, Umar ML, Oteng-Frimpong R, Mohammed H, Varshney RK and Ordon FPublished: 2018, Plant Breeding, pp. 1-137. ISSN 01799541http://oar.icrisat.org/10632/

Innovative Partnership Approach to Chickpea seed production and Technology Dissemination: Lessons from EthiopiaAuthors: Chichaybelu M, Geleta T, Girma N, Fikre A, Eshete M and Ojiewo CO

Published: 2018, Ethiopian Journal of Crop Science, 6 (2). pp. 1-18. ISSN 2072-8506http://oar.icrisat.org/10633/

Assessing the Competitiveness of Smallholders Chickpea Production in the Central Highlands of EthiopiaAuthors: Ferede S, Fikre A and Ahmed SPublished: 2018, Ethiopian Journal of Crop Science, 6 (2). pp. 51-65. ISSN 2072-8506http://oar.icrisat.org/10635/

Agronomic and Economic Evaluation of Wheat-Chickpea Double Cropping on the Vertisol of Takusa, North Western EthiopiaAuthors: Jemberu T, Fikre A, Abeje Y, Tebabal B, Worku Y and Jorgi TPublished: 2018, Ethiopian Journal of Crop Science, 6 (2). pp. 67-78. ISSN 2072-8506http://oar.icrisat.org/10636/

Genetic Variability and Heritability in Ethiopian Grasspea (lathyrus sativus l.) AccessionsAuthors: Abate A, Mekbib F, Fikre A and Ahmed SPublished: 2018, Ethiopian Journal of Crop Science, 6 (2). pp. 79-94. ISSN 2072-8506http://oar.icrisat.org/10637/

Heat Tolerance Responses of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes in the Thermal Zone of Ethiopia, a Case of Werer StationAuthors: Mola T, Alemayehu S, Fikre A, Ojiewo CO, Alemu K and Degefu TPublished: 2018, Ethiopian Journal of Crop Science, 6 (2). pp. 95-118. ISSN 2072-8506http://oar.icrisat.org/10638/

Phenotypic Characteristics and Preliminary Symbiotic Effectiveness of Rhizobia Associated with Haricot Bean Growing in Diverse Locations of Southern EthiopiaAuthors: Wolde-meskel E, Degefu T, Gebo B, Fikre A, Amede T and Ojiewo COPublished: 2018, Ethiopian Journal of Crop Science, 6 (2). pp. 119-139. ISSN 2072-8506http://oar.icrisat.org/10639/

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) growing in Ethiopia are nodulated by diverse rhizobiaAuthors: Degefu T, Wolde-meskel E, Ataro Z, Fikre A, Amede T and Ojiewo COPublished: 2018, African Journal of Microbiology Research, 12 (9). pp. 200-217. ISSN 1996-0808http://oar.icrisat.org/10641/

12 | ICRISAT Happenings | 05 October 2018 | 1769

Connect with us: ICRISAT is a member of the CGIAR System OrganizationAbout ICRISAT: www.icrisat.orgICRISAT’s scientific information: EXPLOREit.icrisat.org

Editorial: Jayashree B, Jemima M and Rajani K; Design: Meeravali SK; Web: Fareeduddin M; Circulation: Prasad SV and Vinay R

New joineesParkavi KumarSenior Communication OfficerProgram: Strategic Marketing & CommunicationDate of Joining: 03 September 2018

A Sai KarthikAssociate – Purchase & StoresProgram: Financial Services & OperationsDate of Joining: 10 September 2018

Sivasakthi KaliamoorthyAssociate ScientistProgram: Innovation systems for the Drylands ProgramDate of Joining: 06 September 2018

Sourav Sen GuptaScientist – Systems BiologyProgram: Genetic Gains ProgramDate of Joining: 17 September 2018

Vijoy Kumar PandeyTechnical OfficerProgram: AVRDCDate of Joining: 26 September 2018

Sreeram BandaMedia ManagerProgram: Strategic Marketing & CommunicationDate of Joining: 06 September 2018

Musuku Vamshi KrishnaAssociate – Purchase & StoresProgram: Financial Services & OperationsDate of Joining: 11 September 2018

K Rajendra PrasadField Assistant Program: Asia Program Date of Joining: 10 September 2018

Pratap KaduruOfficer – Learning Systems Unit Program: Human Resources Date of Joining: 20 September 2018