ICRISAT Happenings (24 Jan 14)

ICRISAT

Happenings In-house Newsletter

24 January 2014 No. 1607

Photo: PS Rao, ICRISAT

“We need to accelerate agricultural growth and the way forward is to foster an entrepreneurship climate in the agribusiness sector,” Dr Dar said while addressing the participants of the Agribusiness Fair in ICRISAT. Also seen in the picture are Dr AS Rao (Left) and Dr KK Sharma (Center).

Helping agribusiness ventures in technology upscaling and commercialization

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Our mission at ICRISAT is to make smallholder farmers in the drylands prosperous, not just self-sufficient. That is why we are engaged in promoting an inclusive and technology-based entrepreneurship and agribusiness program,” said ICRISAT Director General William D. Dar in his address during the inaugural program of the Agribusiness Fair held at the ICRISAT headquarters on 17 January.

Welcoming the participants, Dr Kiran Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, ICRISAT-AIP, stressed that events such as these contribute to the sustainable transformation of the agricultural sector.

“Entrepreneurship at the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) level is one of the most efficient ways of taking products of research for development to the farmers,” he added.

A one-day Agribusiness Fair organized by ICRISAT proved to be a major success, attracting more than 300 agribusiness innovators and entrepreneurs. The activity gave participating agribusiness ventures a chance to explore numerous opportunities within the sector and avail of the technology upscaling and commercialization services of the Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) Program under ICRISAT’s Agribusiness and Innovation Platform (AIP).

Seeking further active participation from potential entrepreneurs present at the gathering, Dr Sharma assured them of effective business incubation support to help take their agribusiness ideas and ventures forward.

Dr AS Rao, Former Advisor, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India, in his special address to the participants, emphasized on to page 2 ...4

Helping agribusiness ventures....from page 1 the growing prospects in the agribusiness sector for innovators and entrepreneurs and shared valuable business insights.

Mr SM Karuppanchetty, Chief Operating Officer (COO), ABI Program, briefed the participants of the day’s activities which included parallel sessions focusing on agro-tech business opportunities, innovation, new ventures, food business, seed and farm business, and fund facilitation for potential agribusiness entrepreneurs.

Dr Saikat Datta Mazumdar, COO, NutriPlus Knowledge (NPK) Program spoke on business opportunities in the food sector while Mr S Aravazhi, COO, Innovation and Partnership (INP) Program, elaborated on funding opportunities to potential entrepreneurs through the Technopreneur Promotion Programme and the Technology Development Board.

Seventy-six potential entrepreneurs submitted business proposals to a selection committee, of which 10 were picked as potential clients for seed business incubation, 9 for entrepreneurial support, 21 for food business incubation support, and 36 for farm venture support. Fifteen proposals were

Photo: Sangya S, ICRISAT

Participants looking at agribusiness products on display during the Agribusiness Fair.

screened for innovative ideas, three of which were recommended for funding.

“The event proved to be a highly valuable initiative to guide and mentor individuals interested in agribusiness. I can now link my big ideas with the available support systems to nurture my interests.

The Fair helped me interact with several entrepreneurs in the sector and has given me insights on various funding schemes, incubation support, and market information,” said Dr Janaki Srinath, a participant at the Agribusiness Fair. g

Philippines’ Yamang Lupa program for sustainable agriculture in full swing

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he implementation of the Bhoochetana approach in the Philippines under the Yamang Lupa (soil wealth) program is now in full swing, with a series of

management, coordination and partnership activities held recently in the country.

Under the ICRISAT and the Philippines’ Bureau of Agricultural Research – Department of Agriculture (DA-BAR) partnership, the adoption of Bhoochetana principles and approaches through the Yamang Lupa program promises to boost agricultural productivity in the Philippine rainfed areas.

Dr Dar also met with DA Undersecretary Dante Delima to finalize details of a Memorandum of Agreement between ICRISAT and Photo: DA-BAR Yamang Lupa’s Program Management Group meeting on 9 January attended the DA in the implementation of by (seated, L-R) Engr. Samuel Contreras, Head, Soil Conservation and integrated programs on sustainable Management Division, Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) and agriculture to improve productivity newly designated program leader of Yamang Lupa; Dr Dar; DA-BAR Director Nicomedes Eleazar; and members from the different consortium partners in and rural livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Philippines. g the Philippines.

2 ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 24 JANUARY 2014 1607

Training Bhoochetana farmers in management practices for rainfed crops

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pdating smallholder farmers on information about improved crop, soil and water management options to help them enhance agricultural productivity, are vital in the success of Bhoochetana, a science-based, mission mode program being implemented across the 30 districts of Karnataka to improve rural livelihoods and achieve food and nutrition security while protecting the environment.

In line with this, a training program on “Improved soil, water, nutrient, pest and disease management practices for rainfed crops” was held for farmers from the Gadag district in Karnataka, participating in the Bhoochetana program. The two-day event was held on 21-22 January at the ICRISAT headquarters in Patancheru.

Twenty-six farmers freely interacted with a team of interdisciplinary scientists and were exposed to on-station trials in watershed management for a hands-on experience particularly on rainwater and soil conservation technologies.

Farmers were briefed about the improved Vertisol management technology in farm situation that enables double cropping without any supplemental irrigation. The group expressed keen interest in visiting the Heritage Watershed research plots where even under normal rainfall, farmers with improved management interventions managed to harvest crop yields up to 5.2 t per ha.

The importance of balanced soil nutrition was demonstrated to the group by ICRISAT scientists through the ongoing watershed experiments.

Photo: ICRISAT

Farmers visiting a pigeonpea breeding field trial on ICRISAT campus in Patancheru.

Under the Bhoochetana program, balanced nutrient management options have been widely adopted by farmers, giving them improved crop yields by 20 to 66%.

The farmers also visited the Adarsha watershed at Kothapally in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh and observed the impacts of various interventions of soil and moisture conservation measures and check dams on streams for groundwater recharge. They also toured the ICRISAT Genebank and posed queries to scientists on how to adopt improved cultivation and management practices in their villages.

The training-cum-exposure visit was organized under the Bhoochetana capacity building program, and was facilitated by Mr LS Jangawad with support from a team of scientists from ICRISAT Research Programs on Resilient Dryland Systems, Grain Legumes, and Dryland Cereals. It was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems. g

Welcome Dr Babu Nagabhushan Motagi, an Indian national, joined as Senior Scientist– Groundnut Breeding, in the Research Program - Grain Legumes on 18 January. He will be based in Kano, Nigeria. He has a PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding from the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, India. Prior to joining ICRISAT, Dr B Motagi worked as a Senior Scientist (Plant Breeding), UAS, Dharwad. He was also associated with ICRISAT’s Tropical Legumes - II (Groundnut) project in 2009-2012.

Mr Ermias Alemu joined the ICRISAT Ethiopia Office as Research Technician III in the Research Program - Resilient Dryland Systems on 21 January. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry from the Wodogenet College of Forestry. He will assist ongoing research in the areas of climate change and sustainable management of landscapes. Before joining ICRISAT, Mr Alemu worked as Associate Researcher in the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research at its Melkasa Agricultural Research Center.

ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 24 JANUARY 2014 1607 3

AGRHYMET Regional Center officials visit ICRISAT Niamey

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o further strengthen its partnership with ICRISAT, AGRHYMET Regional Center’s Director General, Prof Bouafou Kouamé Guy-Marcel, paid a visit to ICRISAT Niamey on 16 January. He was accompanied by Prof Atta Sanoussi, Head of Training and Mr Mamadou Samaké, Head of Technical Support of the center.

The AGRHYMET Regional Center is a specialized agency of the permanent Inter-state Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS). Its mission is to contribute to sustainable food security, and sustainable natural resources management and environment in the Sahel by strengthening the capacity of national institutions through training and research, production and information dissemination for policy makers and users.

The visitors explored ways and opportunities of collaboration with ICRISAT, particularly in the area of training. Dr Mahamadou Gandah, ICRISAT Niamey Country Representative welcomed the delegation and

Photo: ICRISAT

Dr CT Hash explaining millet selection to Prof BK GuyMarcel (center) and his colleagues.

briefed it on the institute’s activities and facilities.

ICRISAT scientists Drs CT Hash and Falalou Hamidou showcased the millet selection plots and the lysimeters used in drought and heat screening of crop species to the visitors. Dr Shoba Sivasankar, Director, CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Cereals also interacted with the delegation during the visit. g

Visitors’ log

9 January: Ten students from the West African Science Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) visited ICRISAT-Niamey to learn about the institute’s activities related to climate change adaptation.

students from Karimnagar district through the non-government organization, Sreyassu.

21 January: Twenty-one international delegates from the National Institute of Rural Development; 60

23 January: Thirty-two students from Nagarjuna Government College in Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh.

22 January: Forty-four students from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka; 50 20 January: Sixty students from Vignan Junior College, students from Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Mahabubnagar, Andhra Pradesh.

Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh.

‘Run for Fun’ at the International School of Hyderabad The International School of Hyderabad (ISH), located at the ICRISAT campus invites everyone to join ‘Run for Fun’, a 5-km charity run/walk on Saturday, 25 January, at 9 am. The event is open to all with an entry fee of ` 500 per adult and ` 300 per child, which includes refreshments. All proceeds will be used to support the ISH Service Learning Initiative. To register ahead of time or on the day, ring Mike Hancock at 09866515864.

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

ICRISAT-Liaison Office CG Centers Block NASC Complex Dev Prakash Shastri Marg New Delhi 110 012, India Tel +91 11 32472306 to 08

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ICRISAT- Kano PMB 3491, Sabo Bakin Zuwo Road Tarauni, Kano, Nigeria Tel: +234 7034889836

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

ICRISAT-Addis Ababa C/o ILRI Campus, PO Box 5689 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251-11 617 2541

ICRISAT-Lilongwe Chitedze Agricultural Research Station PO Box 1096 Lilongwe, Malawi Tel +265 1 707297, 071, 067, 057

ICRISAT-Bulawayo Matopos Research Station PO Box 776 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Tel +263 383 311 to 15

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

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