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Archives
Aug 1-31, 2003
 ICRISAT
DG presents successes vis-à-vis vision
by Ma. Lizbeth J. Baroña
The Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has so far awarded four
King Baudouin Awards, the most prestigious international
award in agricultural research. The International Crops
Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
has won it three times.
ICRISAT Director General William D. Dar,
in his Investment in ICRISAT Benefits the Poor presentation
at the CERDAF Boardroom on 1 August 2003, explains why.
Dr. Dar first made a clear correlation
between agricultural research and poverty reduction.
He reported that globally, a 10% increase in crop yield
led to a 6-10% reduction in the proportion of the absolutely
poor. In Africa, a 10% increase in crop yield led to
a 9% reduction of the proportion of the absolutely poor
in the region. Moreover, the Green Revolution in India
increased real income by 90-125%.
This case of successes in poverty reduction
was the backdrop of Dar's report on the achievements
of ICRISAT.
 Tangible
successes
Dr. Dar named some of their successes in working with
farmers in Asia and Africa.
In the 70s and the 80s, when the pearl
millet hybrid was almost virtually wiped out by downy
mildew disease, ICRISAT, along with local agencies,
helped salvage the hybrid. They came up with the Disease
Resistant Pearl Millet, which won them their first King
Baudouin award.
ICRISAT left a clear trail of success
in Africa, through the rosette resistant groundnut and
the Macia variety of sorghum. The groundnut, sold to
feed their families, helped African women back on their
feet. The Macia, a variety of dwarf sorghum, is the
choice of South African farmers.
In Asia, ICRISAT's fusarium wilt resistant
pigeonpea variety, has brought millions of dollars to
farmers in the Karnataka Region in India. This variety
is also the world's first pigeonpea hybrid.
Certified seeds in packets were also
made available to the rural areas by introducing them
to schools. Children earn extra income selling them
to neighbors. Moreover, ICRISAT also introduced planting
legumes in rice/wheat fields to the Bangladeshi farmers
for increased income. It played a key role in bringing
legume crops to South African farmers, who had traditionally
planted cereals.
According to Dar, ICRISAT will continue
making changes for the rest of the decade, guided by
its vision of scientific excellence and impact. Dar
put emphasis on impact, saying it is the 'bottomline'
of any research. Furthermore, the institute envisions
improving the well-being of the poor by taking the livelihood
approach in introducing the fruits of agricultural research.
It also sees increased partnership with other institutions,
and sees itself playing a role in the transformation
of subsistence farming into self-reliant farming, and
eventually into commercialization; and establishing
a market linkage system a form of a business tool for
farmers.
ICRISAT is based in Andhra Pradesh, India,
and its director-general, from Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur,
was one-time BAR director and secretary of the Department
of Agriculture in the Philippines. 
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769 new agriculturists DA Sec Lorenzo graces oath taking
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BAR receives 159 papers for the 15th NRS
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ICRISAT DG presents successes vis-à-vis vision
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Bringing in China’s super hybrid corn
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::: More August 2003 articles :::
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