ICRISAT Happenings (14 Feb 2014)

ICRISAT

Happenings In-house Newsletter

14 February 2014 No. 1610

Photo: PS Rao, ICRISAT

“Our aim is to achieve real gender equality and thereby significantly help empower women,” Dr Dar said at the inaugural session of the ICRISAT Asia Regional Planning Meetings.

ICRISAT adopts gender transformative approach in agricultural research

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mpowering women smallholder farmers to overcome the unique hurdles they face in the semi-arid tropics, and thus securing the future of food production and the economic growth in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, was among the key messages at the ICRISAT Asia Regional Planning Meeting.

The meeting held on 10-12 February at the ICRISAT headquarters, acknowledged the significant contributions made by women smallholder farmers and the transformative role they play in dryland agriculture.

“The efforts of ingenious and resourceful women smallholder farmers are helping us in our mission to achieve prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. They have always been at the forefront in fighting poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation. It is upon us to work with and provide them with scientific innovations

and solutions to help increase the productivity of their crops and their incomes, while improving the resilience of their lands and livelihoods,” ICRISAT Director General Dr William Dar said.

“ICRISAT now adopts a gender transformative approach in all its research for development activities in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Our interdisciplinary teams of scientists, with guidance from gender specialists, will methodically assess the women smallholder farmers’ control over resources and explore more opportunities for value addition to their services. Our aim is to achieve real gender equality and thereby significantly help empower women,” Dr Dar added.

Present during the meeting were two new gender specialists to be based in West and Central Africa (WCA) and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) to complement the gender specialists based in its to page 2 ...4

ICRISAT adopts gender transformative approach....from page 1

Photos: PS Rao, ICRISAT

(Left) “The meeting helped us collect our thoughts, celebrate achievements and mull over the challenges,” said Dr Delmer, at the concluding session of the meeting. (Right) Dr P Sereme touring the ICRISAT campus.

headquarters in India, for enhanced and active gender integration into agricultural research for development.

“This Regional 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, as well as with all the five other CGIAR Research Programs we are involved in. But more importantly, it serves as a guide for us to make sure that we are still focused on the right questions, that we are relevant to the smallholder farmers particularly women, and that we have strategies, tools and technologies in place for maximum impact,” said Dr CLL Gowda, Deputy Director General for Research, in his welcome remarks.

The meeting attended by over 100 ICRISAT scientists and senior staff mainly from the headquarters, and some from the WCA and ESA regional offices, consisted of a review of past research for development activities, as well as brainstorming and interactive sessions to help identify new areas of

research and opportunities for scaling out improved technologies and tools.

ICRISAT’s 2014 work plans for Asia were drawn up and the way forward was mapped out with focus on inclusiveness – gender integration; working with and bringing in the concerns of smallholder farmers; enhancing their participation and engagement in the institute’s research for development activities; and working along the Inclusive Market-Oriented Development (IMOD) framework to give smallholder farmers access to scientific innovations and connecting them to markets.

Dr Deborah J Delmer, Chair of the Program Committee of the ICRISAT Governing Board, led a brainstorming session during the meeting on ‘Integrating genetic engineering with genomics for crop improvement, with social science and natural resources perspectives’. The technical deliberations stressed on the importance of a better integration of social science and natural resources perspectives in modern biotechnology, to maximize its potential applications in crop improvement and the to page 3 ...4

Photos: PS Rao, ICRISAT

Participants of the ICRISAT Asia Regional Planning Meetings.

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Africa RISING review and planning meeting held in Mali

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he Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING) project launched in 2011, as part of the US government’s Feed the Future initiative, is supporting sustainable intensification of key farming systems in Africa, combining and integrating technologies for increased farm-level productivity.

On 3-4 February, the project held its review and planning meeting in Bamako, Mali, to take stock of the activities and plan future course of action in West, East and Southern Africa.

Photo: ICRISAT

Participants of the Africa RISING review and planning meeting.

Dr Farid Waliyar, ICRISAT Director for West and Central Africa, stated that the project was able to achieve significant results on the ground over the past few years.

“In southern Mali, the initiative has helped in scaling-up production by enhancing technologies to help farmers improve components of their farming system, including stable feeding, improved varieties of early and dual purpose legumes and cereals fodder shrubs, improved organic resources management, cereal-legume and crop-vegetable intercropping systems. The project also characterizes different farm households, village natural resource base and use, as well as market opportunities in order to better target technical, and institutional innovations,” he said at the meeting.

“The systems integrations have improved agricultural productivity of a number of farmers in southern Mali.

The project has also contributed to capacity building

through platforms and farmers associations,” Dr F Waliyar added.

In West Africa, several other projects are in progress that can help develop products and methods of interest to Africa RISING’s work. According to Dr Robert Asiedu, Director, Research for Development, for International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) - West Africa, these include “the project Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa, with which Africa RISING already has links, to develop and test a regional approach to utilize biological control to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut”.

The two-day workshop presented and discussed progress and results from 2013 and developed research activities and work plans for 2014. Scientists and partners involved in the implementation of the work packages took part in the meeting, sharing both technical and organizational experiences from the past years. g

ICRISAT adopts gender transformative approach....from page 2 betterment of farming systems in overcoming the serious challenge of feeding the rapidly growing world population in the future.

“The meeting helped us collect our thoughts, celebrate achievements and mull over the challenges.

The brainstorming sessions were very helpful and the Board will welcome the inputs. I congratulate all the participants for the success of this event,” Dr Delmer said at the concluding session of the meeting.

Dr Paco Sereme, a member of the ICRISAT Governing Board, said: “For me, as a new board member, the meeting was very informative and helpful as I advocate ICRISAT’s efforts and achievements as a Board member.”

Other sessions during the meeting included: presentations on human resources services, financing plan, strategic marketing and communication, and enhancing synergies between CGIAR Research Programs and ICRISAT’s Research Programs; and discussions on the institute’s Critical Focus Areas such as data management, impact assessment, integrated breeding and enhancing agribusiness.

Deliberations on emerging needs and issues were also held, such as: tackling the problem of rancidity in sorghum and pearl millet; and innovative research to facilitate and accelerate genomics-assisted breeding activities at ICRISAT. g ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 14 FEBRUARY 2014 1610 3

Chickpea cultivation gains ground in Kenya

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recent visit by an ICRISAT team to partners and farmers’ fields in Kenya showed good results particularly in the adoption of improved varieties of chickpea by farmers under the Tropical Legumes II (TL II) Project.

Dr Emmanuel Monyo, ICRISAT Principal Scientist and TL II Project Coordinator, and Mr Ibrahim Shiundu, Research Technician, visited Egerton University and met with its Principal Investigator, Dr Paul Kimurto, to monitor TL II activities being undertaken by the university which included development of new chickpea varieties, maintenance of breeding pipelines, and dissemination of improved varieties to farmers.

In the past five years, six varieties of chickpea were released as a result of the collaboration between ICRISAT and Egerton University. Some of these varieties have already found their way into the farmers’ fields across the country. The team visited and interacted with some of the farmers who have significantly benefited from their involvement in TL II. Ms Nancy Njogu has been cultivating two chickpea varieties (ICCV 97105 and ICCV 95423) in her 1 ha land for seed production under contract with the university. She is one among the 55 smallholder farmers across Njoro (15), Bomet – Rongai (20) and Eastern Kenya (20) producing chickpea seed under contract and linked to the university.

In the highland region where she lives, chickpea is planted as an off season crop in October after the main season crop of wheat, maize or Irish potatoes are harvested. This timing avoids high incidences of Ascochyta blight while offering an alternative crop in an otherwise fallow season.

“Chickpea is a low input crop, matures faster producing high yields and fetches good prices on the

Photo: ICRISAT

Ms Nancy Njogu showing off her chickpea seed production plot.

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Photo: ICRISAT

Drs E Monyo and P Kimurto (left) at one of the Egerton University’s breeder seed production plots.

market. I thank ICRISAT and the Egerton University for introducing me to the crop,” she told the ICRISAT team during their visit to her farm on 7 February.

Dr Kimurto told the team that there has been an increased demand for chickpea seed from local farmers. “We have undertaken breeder seed production in 6 ha of university farms to regularly supply seed producers,” he said. He added that keeping in mind the great potential to increase production of chickpea in the region, the requirements of farmers including quality seed, value addition of the produce, and linkage to markets, need to be met.

A tour of the University Agronomy and Agro Science Based Park farm helped the team understand how TL I and TL II supported facilities such as laboratories, field stores and rainout shelter are helping the university support students to conduct research – much of which is linked to the project. They also met with Professor Alfred Kibor, Director of Research at the university who hoped for even greater collaboration between the two institutions.

The team likewise visited the Faida Seed Company, a strong Egerton University collaborating partner in production, processing and marketing of seed products. The company’s operations manager, Mr George Njihia promised to strengthen his legumes seed section to make available high quality affordable seed of chickpea to smallholder farmers in Kenya.

The TL II project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is a joint initiative of three international agricultural research centers: ICRISAT (chickpea, groundnut and pigeonpea), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (cowpea and soybean), and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (common bean). The project is being undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes. g

Incoming Board Chair visits ICRISAT Malawi and Kenya offices

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o explore opportunities to boost the institute’s efforts to build resilience of smallholder farmers for productivity enhancement and market opportunities in Eastern and Southern Africa, Dr Chandra A Madramootoo, ICRISAT’s incoming Board Chair recently visited the ICRISAT Malawi and Kenya offices.

In Malawi, Dr Madramootoo met with the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malawi, Dr Jeffrey Luhanga, accompanied by Drs Moses Siambi, ICRISAT Director, Eastern and Southern Africa and Patrick Okori, Principal Dr Madramootoo interacting with local farmers in their fields Scientist (Groundnut Breeding). During the at Mchinji, Malawi. visit, Dr Luhanga urged ICRISAT to extend its watershed management research in Malawi, The incoming Board Chair also toured Chipata in which is a new investment priority of the country. eastern Zambia, a province that produces 75% of Zambia’s groundnuts, where he visited the Msekera Dr Madramootoo also met a number of ICRISAT Research Station; and the Eastern Province Farmers partners including the CEO of the National Cooperatives (EPFC) of Zambia where he met with Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi the Director, Mr Whytson Sakala. “In 2012, we were (NASFAM) and Seed Traders Association of Malawi, able to export 120 MT of groundnut grain following and interacted with smallholder and commercial adoption of ICRISAT technologies. This has immensely farmers engaged in the research and production of increased opportunities for the smallholder farmers ICRISAT crops in Mchinji district. Seed farmers in the of eastern Zambia,” Mr Sakala said. community had expanded from 10 in 2008 to over 300, producing ICRISAT’s CG-7 and other groundnut varieties.

At Chitedze where ICRISAT is hosted, Dr Madramootoo was briefed on a number of research activities, as well as socioeconomic studies and gender sensitive and labor saving technologies being developed and promoted for postharvest and value addition.

“I am more than convinced by what I have seen and heard during my visit. Our research at ICRISAT hopes to strengthen smallholder farmers’ livelihood strategies for climate change adaptation, increased agricultural productivity, and defining pathways out of poverty,” Dr Madramootoo said at the conclusion of his visit.

In Kenya, Dr Madramootoo toured the pigeonpea experiment plots at the University of Nairobi (UoN) in Kabete campus. The visit was facilitated by ICRISAT’s Dr NVPR Ganga Rao, Senior Scientist (Breeding, Grain Legumes) and Mr Ibrahim Shiundu, Research Technician (Grain Legumes).

Dr Madramootoo was given an overview of pigeonpea experiments in UoN, and in return congratulated the pigeonpea team for initiating research on hybrids and for the well-maintained experimental fields.

Photo: I Shiundu, ICRISAT

The incoming Board Chair closely watching the flowering of ICEAP 01514/15 (Chitedze Pigeonpea 1), at the University of Nairobi.

The incoming Board Chair also visited the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) facilities located at the International Livestock Research Institute campus and held discussions with the BecA hub Director, Dr Appolinaire Djikeng. ICRISAT scientist, Dr Damaris Odeny, facilitated Dr Madramootoo’s visit to BecA. g ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 14 FEBRUARY 2014 1610 5

Climate change impact assessment results shared at AgMIP workshop

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esults of the systematic, comprehensive, and quantitative assessment of impacts of climate variability and change on agricultural systems and identified adaptation options under the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) were shared among regional researchers, leaders, and stakeholders, at a finish line workshop for South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa held in Arusha, Tanzania from 30 January to 4 February.

Over 130 participants from 34 countries including USA, Australia, France, Greece, The Netherlands, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Nairobi and Ethiopia took part in the deliberations. The stakeholders’ meeting was an important component of the workshop as it explored the possibility of defining the project outcomes and contributing to policy recommendations to strengthen national agriculture development plans.

AgMIP leaders including Drs John Antle (Oregon State University, USA), Peter Thorburn, John Hargreeves (CSIRO, Australia), Alex Ruane (NAASA, USA), Jim Jones and Ken Boote (University of Florida, USA), Carolyn Mutter and Cynthia Rosenzweig (Columbia university, USA) addressed and guided the participants on the issues, either face-to-face or virtually. ICRISAT provided the technical support through the KSIConnect for the virtual participation of key leaders who were unable to attend personally.

Photo: VV Sumanthkumar, ICRISAT

The South Asia Coordination Research Team with AgMIP Leaders.

The ICRISAT delegation to the event included: G Dileepkumar, Rosana Mula, Piara Singh, Chukka Srinivasarao, Sumanthkumar VV, and Dakshina Murthy from the headquarters; KPC Rao and Sridhar G from Ethiopia; P C Sibiry Traore, Manda Sissoko, Madina Diancoumba, and Folorunso Akinseye from Bamako; Patricia Masikate, Lieven Claessens and Sabine Homann from Zimbabwe; and Dougbedji Fatondji from Niger.

AgMIP is supported by the UK Department for International Development’s UKaid, the US Department of Agriculture; the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). g

Farmer partner on pigeonpea seed production in Odisha, India receives top honor Mr Pradip Kumar Panda, a progressive farmer cooperator under ICRISAT’s “Introduction and Expansion of Improved Pigeonpea (Arhar) Production Technology in Rainfed Upland Ecosystems of Odisha” project was honored with the India Agriculture Minister’s “Krishi Karman Award for Progressive Farmers” on 10 February.

Mr Panda received the award from the Honorable President of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee during the inaugural 6 ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 14 FEBRUARY 2014 1610

ceremony of the World Agroforestry Congress 2014 at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Mr Panda of Antamoda village, Rayagada district, Odisha owns 17 hectares of land on which he cultivates paddy, cotton, pigeonpea and maize.

This award was in recognition of his involvement in 2011-2012 cropping season as seed producer of ICRISAT line ICP 8863 (Maruti). He was also the recipient of the Odisha Best Farmer Award on Pigeonpea last March 2013. In 2013-2014 cropping season, he increased his area to 14 ha (some leased) to produce foundation seeds of Maruti. His field has been used as demonstration site for farmers from other districts, as well as for projects such as the Tropical Legumes II. g

Taking stock of the progress of pigeonpea initiatives with the University of Nairobi

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CRISAT’s collaborations with the University of Nairobi (UoN) on pigeonpea research are showing promising results.

The university now has 11 ha of pigeonpea experiments and quality seed production plots through its involvement in the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes, Tropical Legumes II, European Community – International Fund for Agricultural Development (EC-IFAD)-funded project, and other ICRISAT ongoing projects in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA). With assistance from ICRISAT, the university has also renovated its irrigation facilities now being used for its research activities.

In a recent visit by Dr Rajeev K Varshney, ICRISAT Research Program Director – Grain Legumes to the Kabete campus of UoN, he acknowledged the progress of the institute’s partnerships with the university in terms of pigeonpea research, particularly in the areas of CMS lines maintenance, evaluation of hybrids along with ESA varieties, and pure seed production under the nets.

The university also has a considerable trial and breeding population block, and experimental fields consisting of a germplasm block involving about 300

Photo: ICRISAT

Dr Varshney (Center) visiting the pigeonpea experiment plots at Kabete campus.

germplasm lines planted for rejuvenation and characterization. In the seed production block, 15 released varieties and elite lines are being multiplied to meet the seed demand from ESA National Agricultural Research Systems and other partners involved in the seed production chain.

During the visit, Dr Varshney was accompanied by Dr Emmanuel Monyo, Project Coordinator of TL II, and Dr NVPR Ganga Rao, Senior Scientist (Breeding, Grain Legumes, ICRISAT Nairobi). g

ICRISAT Mali bids farewell to Dr Tom Van Mourik

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CRISAT Mali bid farewell to Dr Tom Van Mourik and family on 6 February at a dinner party hosted by the staff at the Plazza Hotel of Bamako. ICRISAT’s Director for West and Central Africa (WCA), Dr Farid Waliyar recalled Tom’s role and significant contributions and thanked him for his work in leading the fight against Striga in Mali and West Africa over the past few years.

He also acknowledged Tom’s contributions to the Africa RISING project, especially in developing and strengthening partnerships.

Tom first joined ICRISAT in 2001. He became an Associate Professional Officer in October 2006 and a Regional Scientist in 2009. He will join Hellen Keller International as Coordinator of the Enhanced Homestead Food Production program in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cote d’ Ivoire and Tanzania. g

Photo: ICRISAT

Swimming pool maintenance Please note that the swimming pool at ICRISAT, Patancheru, is under annual maintenance during 17-28 February. Housing & Food Services requests the staff to kindly cooperate in this regard.

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ICRISAT’s Krishi Gyan Sagar and Krishi Vani receive Flame Award 2013

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rishi Gyan Sagar and Krishi Vani, financially sustainable ICT-mediated agro-advisory systems spearheaded by ICRISAT, received the Flame Award 2013 for ‘showcasing innovative use of technology of the decade’ from the Rural Marketing Association of India (RMAI) among 209 entries from big corporate entities and non-profit organizations.

Krishi Gyan Sagar and Krishi Vani were launched by Mr Krishna Byre Gowda, Photo: ICRISAT Agricultural Minister, Government of ICRISAT Director General, staff and representatives of GoK with the Karnataka (GoK) in July 2013 to bring the Flame Award. best of affordable technologies, knowledge solutions, availability of quality inputs, personalized advisory services on correcting soil credit and insurance to the doorstep of smallholder health deficiencies, and on fertilizer and pesticide farmers through appropriate ICT-mediated tools recommendations through the Krishi Gyan Sagar anchored on public-private partnership. (platform developed and piloted by ICRISAT and The system was piloted in three different experimental Nunc Systems). hubs – Karnataka (with the Government of Karnataka), The generic advisories to the group of farmers in a Ananthpur in Andhra Pradesh (with the Rural location will be delivered through Development Trust, an NGO), and Mahabubnagar in Krishi Vani enabled by the Green SIM (platform Andhra Pradesh (with the Aadarsha Mahila Samaikya, developed and piloted by ICRISAT, IFFCO Kisan a women federation organization) – to understand Sanchar Limited and Airtel) in the form of free voice various dimensions and dynamics of government, messages – 35 free voice messages per week per NGO and civil society organization’s ICT-enabled farmer in 16 categories in multiple languages. With innovative extension models. the Green SIM, farmers get value-added agroThe pilot project has been reaching around 40,000 advisory services in addition to the regular services smallholder farmers in 171 villages by providing they receive from a regular SIM card. g

Visitors’ log 11 February: Thirty-five students from the Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce from Shivajinagar, Pune.

12 February: Twelve students from Jain College, Bangalore.

14 February: Eighty-six students from the CP College of Agriculture, Sardar Krushinagar, Gujarat.

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

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

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

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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