In-house NewsletterHappenings 31 January 2014

No. 1608

ICRISAT

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(Left photo) ICRISAT DG Dr William Dar with Dr Bocary Téréta, Minister of Rural Development in Mali. (Right photo) Dr Wilson Songa, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development, Kenya, with ICRISAT’s incoming Board Chair, Prof Chandra Madramootoo (left) and Dr William Dar (right).

Mapping out a research agenda for a market-oriented and resilient agriculture in AfricaA sustainable and market-oriented agriculture is the way forward in making smallholder farming in Africa more profitable and resilient, and in feeding its growing population using the limited resources available now and in the future.

Enabling farmers to adapt to changing environment and new opportunities, and making

markets work for them were some of the key concerns raised at ICRISAT’s regional planning meetings for West and Central Africa on 22-24 January in Bamako, Mali, and for Eastern and Southern Africa on 27-29 January in Nairobi, Kenya.

West and Central Africa (WCA)Tackling the question of how agricultural research can make smallholder farming more profitable and sustainable, scientists from the regional and country offices in WCA and from the headquarters in India, convened to map out its research agenda.

On the challenge of improving the livelihoods of the poorest in the context of climate change, Dr William

Dar, ICRISAT Director General, stressed that “Working with our partners, we can deliver on our mission to lift the people out of poverty and ensure food security for the present and future generations without compromising environmental integrity.”

“Inclusiveness means that the very purpose of our research work is to help smallholder farmers out of poverty to self-sufficiency and prosperity. Smallholder farmers must be given access to scientific innovations designed for the poor, to help them connect to markets, but in a way that builds their own resilience rather than creating dependency,” added Dr Dar.

“Partnerships and collaboration are crucial in a holistic approach to research for development that covers all aspects of crop improvement, economics, socio-

Photo: A Diama, ICRISAT Photo: ICRISAT

2 ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 31 JANUARY 2014 1608

Mapping out a research agenda....from page 1

economics, strategic soil research, policy development and harmonization,” noted Dr CCL Gowda, Deputy Director General for Research, ICRISAT.

The planning meeting consisted of a review of the research activities being conducted by ICRISAT scientists based in WCA in the context of contributing to the CGIAR Research Programs, primarily on Dryland Cereals (millet and sorghum) and Grain Legumes (groundnuts). Progress reports were presented by Research Program Directors, all putting emphasis on climate change adaptation and mitigation, and on the need for an Inclusive, Market-Oriented Development (IMOD) approach.

Some successful cases of IMOD presented by WCA-based scientists include: the cluster-based approach used in Niger and in Mali to empower women; and formation of farmers’ and women’s groups in Niger to produce good quality seed, and training them on small-scale business skills and marketing.

While in Mali for the regional planning meeting, Dr Dar accompanied by Dr Farid Waliyar, Director of ICRISAT West and Central Africa, met with Dr Bocary Téréta, Malian Minister of Rural Development, where he expressed appreciation of “ICRISAT’s commitment to strengthen its research partnership with national institutes in critical areas of research such as resilience, up-scaling of improved technologies, processing and soil health.”

“We believe that all stakeholders need to come together and work towards a positive transformation in the agriculture sector. Public-Private Partnerships are a vital component of IMOD, especially in up-scaling technology interventions and science-based solutions for millions of smallholder farmers in the region,” Dr Dar emphasized.

“I am delighted that ICRISAT interventions in Mali focus on the improvement of millet and sorghum

which are staple crops and form the base of the country’s national food security stock of 35,000 tons per year. Increasing millet and sorghum production and yield would mean reaching food security and raising the national cereals stock to prevent food issues. Therefore, we have great interest in whatever technologies are available for resilient farming,” said Minister Téréta.

The Minister also thanked ICRISAT for the ongoing research on climate change adaptation for millet and sorghum. “As we improve technologies for smallholder farmers to cope with climate change, we should take into account a value-chain approach, providing capacity building where needed for processing and access to markets to enable farmers to increase their revenues and improve their livelihoods,” the Minister added.

As a result of the meeting, an up-scaling strategy will be drawn together by Mali’s Institut d’Economie Rurale (IER) and ICRISAT, an initiative that could be extended to partners in Niger and Nigeria.

Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)In Nairobi, Kenya, the ESA planning meeting was attended by ICRISAT scientists and senior staff from Kenya, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, as well as from WCA and the ICRISAT headquarters in India.

“Inclusive market-oriented agriculture is the key to making farming more profitable for the poor and emerging farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa,” stressed Dr Dar. “Partnerships and collaboration are

Dr C Madramootoo (left) and Dr WD Dar, (right) meeting with Dr Ephraim A Mukisira, Director of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) (2nd from right) and Dr Joseph Mureithi, Deputy Director of KARI (2nd from left).

ICRISAT management and senior staff at the WCA regional planning meeting.

Photo: A Diama, ICRISAT

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Photo: ICRISAT

3ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 31 JANUARY 2014 1608

critical to developing tailor-made solutions that suit the context of the region and providing farmers with access to science-based innovations that will build their resilience,” he added.

The regional planning meeting consisted of a review of on-going research activities in ESA as well as brainstorming and interactive sessions to help identify new areas of research and opportunities for scaling out improved technologies and tools.

Incoming Board Chair, Prof Chandra Madramootoo, reiterated that science alone was not enough; it must be translated into impacts that make a difference to the lives of smallholder farmers in the drylands. He emphasized that efficient management of the natural resource base was critical to continued productivity in the smallholder cropping system and must be addressed, preferably at the watershed level.

“This planning exercise helps us to ensure that ICRISAT’s research is aligned with the CGIAR Research Programs on Dryland Cereals and Grain Legumes that we are leading. But more importantly, it serves as a check for us to make sure that we are still focused on the right questions, that we are relevant to the smallholder farmers we work for and that we have strategies and tools in place for maximum impact,” said Dr CLL Gowda.

While in Nairobi for the regional planning meeting, Dr Dar accompanied by Prof Madramootoo and the Director of ICRISAT Eastern and Southern Africa, Dr Moses Siambi, paid a courtesy visit to Kenya’s Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development,

technology ICRISAT could provide would likely be adopted in other countries in the region if it proved to be successful in getting farmers and the youth out of poverty. It was agreed that a team of scientists from ICRISAT and a team from the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) and the Ministry would meet soon to discuss the way forward in developing a strategic plan for the implementation of identified technologies.

Dr Dar, Prof Madramootoo, and Dr Siambi also paid a courtesy visit to the Director of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Dr Ephraim A Mukisira and its Deputy Director, Dr Joseph Mureithi. During the visit, Dr Mukisira appreciated KARI’s long-term relation with ICRISAT, and proposed a partnership on a new major project in coastal Kenya where the Institute’s mandate crops are very important.

In response, Dr Dar committed to provide technical contribution to the soil mapping and land suitability analyses for the new scheme, to draw from ICRISAT’s experience on sustainable natural resource management in the state of Karnataka in south India.

Prof Madramootoo also shared with the KARI Director ICRISAT’s IMOD approach in making technologies profitable for smallholder farmers, and called for a stronger and more dynamic partnership as the way forward in creating a market-oriented agriculture.

As a result of the visit, a team will be identified to work out a timeline for a joint planning meeting between KARI and ICRISAT. g

Dr Wilson Songa. Dr Dar shared with him ICRISAT’s experience in value-addition of its mandate crops and the successful development of the Business Incubator concept.

Dr Songa stated that it was important for ICRISAT to collaborate with the Ministry to contribute to the development of small and medium enterprises throughout Kenya. He indicated that whatever ICRISAT management and senior staff at the ESA regional planning meeting.

Photo: ICRISAT

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Reviving hopes of farmers with hybrid pigeonpea technology

Over 70 smallholder farmers and seed

producers from six states in India collectively endorsed and recognized the contribution of hybrid pigeonpea in achieving food and nutrition security, resilience and improved livelihood. The hybrids in the crop (first in world in any legume) are the results of the

“We have experienced a significant increase in production and now we hope to harness the full potential of ICPH 2740 using resourceful management practices,” Dr C Sudhakar, Senior Scientist, ARS-Tandur said at the gathering. Dr MV Nagesh Kumar, Principal Scientist, Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Palem briefed the participants on the strategies for large scale seed production of hybrid pigeonpea.

Many farmers at the meeting took inspiration from Mr Gurubhagawan Reddy, a farmer from remote Vasantapuram village in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, who managed to sell his pigeonpea hybrid seed at Rs 12,000 (Approximately US $190) per 100 kg. This case study is the perfect example of the IMOD strategy of ICRISAT which emphasizes on progress from subsistence agriculture to profit-oriented agriculture.

“I am extremely happy with the results. To increase the chances of cross-pollination, I have been cultivating sunflowers around my farm as suggested by ICRISAT scientists. It boosted my production and income as well,” he informed the participants.

“Pigeonpea has the potential to secure the future of global food production and hybrid technology will be the catalyst in this process,” Dr KB Saxena, Principal Scientist - Pigeonpea Breeding, ICRISAT said.

Dr A Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Associate Director of Research, RARS, Palem, appreciated the efforts of ICRISAT scientists and promised specialized training sessions for smallholder farmers on pigeonpea cultivation, in the coming months.

Dr Ravinder Raju, Manager (production), Andhra Pradesh State Seed Development Corporation (APSSDC), Government of Andhra Pradesh, appreciated the cooperation of ICRISAT scientists in large-scale seed production of pigeonpea hybrid in the state.

The activity was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes. g

crop improvement efforts by ICRISAT.

Despite facing challenges such as resource scarcity, climate change and degradation of soil fertility, the farmers cultivating the ICRISAT hybrids reported significant increase in pigeonpea yields. A medium-duration ICRISAT hybrid, ICPH 2740, demonstrated 38% higher yields than other local varieties. The states involved were Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The Review Meeting on Hybrid Pigeonpea Seed Production, held at the ICRISAT headquarters on 24 January, brought together, farmers, seed producers, entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations and scientists to formulate a road map on expansion of pigeonpea production in India.

Answering the challenge of producing more food to meet the demands of a growing population, ICRISAT raised its target to achieve a pigeonpea yield of 5 ton/ha (by developing the high yielding hybrids), which is expected to help smallholder farmers maximize the returns while securing their food and nutritional needs.

“It is prosperity that we want for farmers. Our aim is to enable smallholder farmers to create wealth for themselves and their communities and fuel the engines of economic growth of nations. Hybrid pigeonpea technology has great potential to lift millions of farmers in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa out of the hunger trap. We are equipped with the means, science and technology and most importantly a strong will to achieve our targets and efficiently serve the interests of the agricultural community,” ICRISAT Director General Dr William Dar said.

Bringing new hope to farmers, the scientists at Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University’s (ANGRAU) Agricultural Research Station (ARS) in Tandur of Ranga Reddy district in Andhra Pradesh, reported a pigeonpea yield of nearly 3 ton/ha in their on-station fields using the ICPH 2740 hybrid.

Participants of the review meeting at a pigeonpea farm on the ICRISAT campus.Photo: ICRISAT

5ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 31 JANUARY 2014 1608

ICRISAT facilitates establishment of first agribusiness incubator in West Africa

The Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) Program under ICRISAT’s Agribusiness and Innovation Platform

(AIP) has facilitated the establishment of the first ever full-fledged agribusiness incubator in West Africa. The West African Agri-Business Resource Incubator (WAARI) was officially inaugurated on 23 January in the Selingue province of Mali.

WAARI is one of the six agribusiness incubators being established under the Universities, Business and Research in Agricultural Innovation (UniBRAIN) project of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), in which ABI is the handholding and mentoring partner. The incubator was inaugurated by Professor Moustapha Dick Monsieur, Minister of Science and Technology, Government of Mali, in the presence of Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT.

Dr Dar congratulated the FARA-UniBRAIN project team, ABI and the team of WAARI for establishing this agribusiness incubator and emphasized on the importance of agribusiness incubation in promoting entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Public-Private Partnerships hold the key for activating the IMOD strategy in order to replicate and scale-up the benefits of technology interventions and science-based solutions for millions of smallholder farmers. One of the best ways of achieving this is to promote entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector. Agribusiness incubation creates agro-enterprises and jobs which ultimately benefit the smallholder farmers,” Dr Dar said.

Dr Dar also interacted with several entrepreneurs and urged them to efficiently utilize the services and facilities of WAARI. Products from women cooperative groups of WAARI were on display at the event.

Dr Kiran Sharma, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AIP-ICRISAT congratulated Dr Ibrahim Togola, CEO, WAARI and his team for their contributions in establishing the incubator. He assured the team and UniBRAIN that AIP and its component programs were committed towards providing full support and services in facilitating the establishment and successfully operating all incubators in the project.

ICRISAT’s ABI Program also organized a one-day training program on Seed Business Incubation (SBI) on 21 January for seed entrepreneurs in the Selingue province with support from ICRISAT scientists from West and Central Africa.

The scientists provided technical inputs in seed production to the seed entrepreneurs. The objective of this training program was to promote and enhance the capacity of farmers, farmer intermediaries and seed entrepreneurs on seed production business. A unique methodology involving technical awareness, scientific inputs and sessions was adopted for this workshop.

During the training program Mr SM Karuppanchetty, Chief Operating Officer, ABI and Mr R Bhubesh Kumar, Deputy Manager, ABI emphasized on the importance of the SBI Program in bridging the demand and supply gap in the seed industry. They also explained how the program could create a system which will replicate itself in supplying seeds to more number of farmers, thereby creating an impact and making it a business venture for the rural entrepreneurs, thus, promoting entrepreneurship in the areas of agribusiness. g

Dr Dar examining agribusiness products at the stalls set up by women cooperative groups.

Participants of the training program.

Photo: R Bhubesh, ICRISAT

Photo: SM Karuppanchetty, ICRISAT

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Advancing research on heat tolerance in pearl millet

To chart the future course of heat tolerance research in pearl millet, plant breeders and crop

modelers from ICRISAT and scientists from five member seed companies of the Pearl Millet Hybrid Parents Research Consortium (PMHPRC) met at the ICRISAT headquarters in Patancheru on 24 January.

Dr SK Gupta, Senior Scientist (Pearl Millet Breeding), Research Program on Dryland Cereals, presented the results of pearl millet heat tolerance research trials planted in 2013, and informed the group that the crop is rapidly expanding during summer in northwestern India. He also shared information on the breeding lines identified as heat tolerant, based on multi-year and multi-location evaluation in the targeted ecology.

Other topics discussed at the meeting included crop modeling opportunities to track heat tolerance in

pearl millet by Drs DK Murthy and Piara Singh, and molecular approaches which can be integrated in the research by Dr Rakesh Srivastava. The group also reviewed the 2013 trials and planned the activities for 2014. The activity was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Cereals. g

ICRISAT scientists receive best research paper awardA research paper by ICRISAT scientists on “Assessment of different methods of the rice (Oryza sativa L) cultivation affecting growth parameters, soil chemical, biological, and microbiological properties, water saving and grain yield in rice-rice system” has been judged the best research paper at the Annual Awards 2013 of the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR) – Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The paper was authored by Dr S Gopalakrishnan, Senior Scientist – Bioproducts, ICRISAT, and co-authored by others from ICRISAT, DRR and World Wildlife Fund including Drs R Mahendra Kumar, Pagidi B Ratna Kumari, R Vijayabharathi, Amit Singh, K Surekha, Ch Padmavathi, N Somashekar, P Raghuveer Rao, P C Latha, L V Subbarao, V R Babu, B C Viraktamath, V Vinod Goud, N Loganandhan, Biksham Gujja, Om Rupela, Mr Humayun, and Mr V Srinivas. g

WelcomeDr Spurthi N Nayak, an Indian national, joined ICRISAT, Patancheru as Special Project Scientist (Genomics and Molecular Breeding). Dr Nayak has a PhD in Genetics from the Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. Prior to joining ICRISAT, she worked as Post-Doctoral Research Associate at Wang Lab University of Florida, USA, from September 2011 to June 2013. She played a key role in establishing the laboratory, training the staff and managing the project as well as constructing core collection of sugarcane from 1167 accessions from world collection using SSR markers.

Dr Manish Kumar Vishwakarma an Indian national joined ICRISAT as Visiting Scientist. He has a PhD in Genetics & Plant Breeding from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was a Senior Research Fellow at the University before joining ICRISAT.

We welcome Spurthi and Manish to Team ICRISAT and wish them success.

Sad newsTeam ICRISAT is deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Dr Duncan McDonald, former Program Leader for Legumes (Groundnut Pathologist) at ICRISAT. His colleagues’ recollection of him is that he was an outstanding scientist and above all a great human being and a philanthropist.

It is also with great sadness that we report the passing away of Ms Rathi Manohar on the evening of 27 January. Ms Rathi had worked at the International School of Hyderabad for 4 years and was a well-respected and loved secondary school English teacher. She will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Duncan and Rathi.

Delegates of the consortium with ICRISAT staff.

Photo: ICRISAT

7ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 31 JANUARY 2014 1608

FarewellDr KB Saxena, Principal Scientist (Pigenonpea Breeding), Research Program – Grain Legumes, retires on 31 January, after over 39 years of fruitful service. He joined ICRISAT on 22 April 1974, as a Research Associate.

Dr Saxena is recognized for his pioneering work in developing the CGMS-based hybrid pigeonpea technology – the first ever in any grain legume in the world. He has contributed in the release of more than 40 varieties of pigeonpea, which made significant impacts on the livelihood of the smallholder farmers in the drylands. He has also trained and mentored several scientists and students from developing countries.

He had his PhD in Plant Breeding and Horticulture from the GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. On 1 January 1977 he was appointed as Plant Breeder (Pigeonpea Breeding). He was on an assignment as Research Assistant (Pigeonpea Research), University of Queensland from April 1979 to September 1981.

During January 1994 - March 1997, he was appointed as Resident Scientist (Pigeonpea Breeding) to work in Sri Lanka on Sri Lanka-ADB-ICRISAT collaborative project on pigeonpea. He was designated as Principal Scientist (Breeding) in August 2002. He was appointed as Special Project Scientist (Breeding) from December 2004 to June 2011. His significant contributions to pigeonpea research would always be remembered and cherished by ICRISAT. g

Ms Lydia Anne Flynn, Senior Manager, Scientific Editing and Publishing, Strategic Marketing and Communication, retires on 31 January after over 38 years of valuable and dedicated service. She has been a great source of inspiration, especially to the SMC team, guiding and mentoring several staff members during her career.

Lydia is recognized for her leading role and pioneering efforts in spearheading different publication works, making a difference in the Institute’s commitment to share scientific and technological information, particularly with diverse partners in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

She joined ICRISAT on 22 September 1975 and held various positions in the institute. She was designated Technical Writer (Software) effective 24 June 1993 and promoted to Senior Technical Writer (Software)

in January 1994. She worked as Senior Visitors Services Officer in October 2001, and was appointed as Editor-in-Chief, from 1 January 2004. She has been very active in organizing Farmers’ Days, Annual Days, Cultural Programs, Sports and Games events, and International Workshops.

Expressed during a simple gathering in Lydia’s honor, colleagues at SMC consider her to be very kind, caring and helpful with an open ear for problems and issues of others. Her excellent interpersonal skills, fine work ethics, and integrity have made her one of the most valuable members of Team ICRISAT. g

Photo: PS Rao, ICRISAT

Photo: S Raju, ICRISAT

SMC team with Lydia.

Lydia receives a certificate of appreciation at a lunch hosted in her honor.

Photo: L Vidyasagar, ICRISAT

ICRISAT-Liaison OfficeCG Centers BlockNASC ComplexDev Prakash Shastri MargNew Delhi 110 012, IndiaTel +91 11 32472306 to 08

ICRISAT-Nairobi(Regional hub ESA)PO Box 39063, Nairobi, KenyaTel +254 20 7224550

ICRISAT-Bamako(Regional hub WCA)BP 320Bamako, MaliTel +223 20 709200

ICRISAT-NiameyBP 12404Niamey, Niger (Via Paris)Tel +227 20722529

ICRISAT-LilongweChitedze Agricultural Research StationPO Box 1096Lilongwe, MalawiTel +265 1 707297,

071, 067, 057

ICRISAT-Maputoc/o IIAM, Av. das FPLM No 2698Caixa Postal 1906Maputo, MozambiqueTel +258 21 461657

ICRISAT-Patancheru(Headquarters)Patancheru 502 324Andhra Pradesh, IndiaTel +91 40 30713071

ICRISAT-BulawayoMatopos Research StationPO Box 776Bulawayo, ZimbabweTel +263 383 311 to 15

ICRISAT- KanoPMB 3491, Sabo Bakin Zuwo RoadTarauni, Kano, NigeriaTel: +234 7034889836

Science with a human face

ICRISAT-Addis AbabaC/o ILRI Campus, PO Box 5689 Addis Ababa, EthiopiaTel: +251-11 617 2541

ICRISAT’s scientific information: http://EXPLOREit.icrisat.orgICRISAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium

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Farewell

Visitors’ log27- 31 January: Dr Donita K Simongo from the Benguet State University and Ms Joan D Bacbac from the Department of Agriculture, Philippines.

27 January: Mr Olu Menjay, Vice President and Chair on the Human Rights Advocacy Commission of the Baptist World alliance from Liberia.

28 January: Thirty-five farmers from Sholapur, Maharashtra; 25 students from the University of Kashmir.

Mr B Venkateswara Rao, Manager, Field Research Operations (Chickpea Breeding), Research Program-Grain Legumes, retires on 31 January, after over 38 years of valuable service. He joined ICRISAT as Field Assistant (later

The following staff members are also retiring on 31 January:

Mr B Daniel, Senior Farm & Engineering Associate (FMO), FETS – Farm Services, after serving the Institute for over 38 years.

reclassified as Technical Assistant) in Pulses Improvement (Chickpea) Program, on 19 November 1975. He was promoted to the post of Senior Research Associate I (later reclassified as Scientific Officer) in Legumes Program – Chickpea Breeding in January 1990. He managed all field operations of chickpea breeding very effectively. He also helped in developing field layout plans of experiments, carried out seed production activities, tabulated and analyzed data as well as data management using Agropase in chickpea breeding.

Mr T Bheemaiah, Technical Officer (Farm Operations), FETS – Farm Services, after serving the Institute for over 36 years.

Mr V Mohan Reddy, Senior Executive Associate (Administration), ILRI, after serving the Institute for over 35 years.

Mr T Gopala Chary, Scientific Associate, Research Program – Resilient Dryland Systems, after serving the Institute for over 29 years.

Dr Arame Tall, Scientist – Climate Information Services, CCAFS, Research Program – Resilient Dryland Systems, Patancheru, India, concludes her assignment with ICRISAT on 31 January.

29 January: Prof Raj Khosla, from the College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, USA.

30 January: Thirty farmers from Yavatmal district, Maharashtra.

31 January: Dr Greg Harper, Director-External Engagement of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia; 25 delegates of a training program on “Information, communication, technology for rural development” through National Institute of Rural Development.