ICRISAT Happenings (23 May 2014)

ICRISAT

Happenings

23 May 2014 No. 1624

In-house Newsletter

Photo: SEWA

ICRISAT DG, Dr WD Dar; SEWA Director, Ms R Nanavathy; and Ms Mayaben Patel, a SEWA master trainer inaugurating the Community Learning and Business Resource Center at Nandasam village in Gujarat, India. Also seen in the picture are Drs G Dileepkumar and SP Wani.

Women farmers leading in ICT use in agriculture

T

o provide rural women farmers better access to knowledge and information as well as to revitalize agricultural extension and education in rural areas, the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) of India joined hands with ICRISAT to carry out ICTbased knowledge sharing platforms and other agricultural innovation initiatives.

Women farmers are more able to adapt to better farming techniques and increase yields and production, when agricultural information and resources are available to them. The overall goal of the ICRISAT-SEWA ICT platforms is to harness the opportunities that new information tools can bring to women farmers to improve productivity and profitability of smallholder agriculture.

The ICT platforms, developed by ICRISAT, include the SEWA KSIConnect, a virtual learning exchange and knowledge transfer series; the SEWA AgED Open Courseware that promotes open online courses for enhancing skills of SEWA members; the ICRISAT Radio SEWA; and the ICRISAT Video SEWA that will provide agro-advisories on agricultural innovations developed

by ICRISAT. All these will be carried out through farmers’ groups and farmer field schools established

by SEWA. These platforms will enable SEWA to reach out to a larger number of women farmers and help them with valuable information from experts to address their agriculture-related needs and concerns.

The partnership between ICRISAT and SEWA was sealed on 16 May with the signing of a Memorandum to page 2 ...4

Women farmers leading in ICT use in agriculture...from page 1 of Understanding that includes areas for collaboration in the adoption of the inclusive marketoriented development approach, capacity building and training, gender research, rural livelihoods, natural resource management, village level studies, and use of innovative ICT platforms to boost smallholder agriculture in rural areas.

“Millions of smallholder farmers worldwide could improve their yields, incomes and resilience if only they had better access to appropriate information and knowledge that helps them make informed choices about farming practices,” said Dr William Dar, ICRISAT Director General, during the agreement signing and launch of the ICT platforms.

“Working with partners and stakeholders like SEWA, ICRISAT has developed and supported many information systems that have helped smallholder farmers become more food secure and resilient,” Dr Dar added. He also appreciated the remarkable work that SEWA has been doing in bringing changes in the socio-economic status of rural women by improving their livelihoods. He announced ICRISAT’s support in scaling up the institute’s scientific solutions and innovations through SEWA’s institutional mechanism.

help of Pico projectors, master trainers in rural areas will be able to make their field trainings more interesting and effective by using multimedia.”

“With ICRISAT partnership, we are hoping to empower smallholder farmers by bringing innovative ICT tools in their hands, allowing them access to advanced scientific and technical knowledge, weather information and appropriate advisory and knowledge services,” said Ms Reema Nanavathy, Director, SEWA.

During the launch, SEWA members in Ahmedabad, Gujarat were connected to their counterparts in Sri Lanka, Nandasam and two other villages through KSIConnect, making them appreciate better the power of innovative ICT tools. Battery-operated Pico projectors were also distributed to master trainers of SEWA.

In her message, SEWA President Ms Kapilaben Vankar, herself a smallholder farmer, said: “I’m sure small and marginal farmers will immensely benefit from these ICRISAT-SEWA ICT platforms. With the

“The new approach to capacity building through ICT envisions a world in which all stakeholders can easily access and share information, knowledge and skills they need — anywhere and anytime — in a cost effective manner,” said Dr Guntuku Dileepkumar, Global Leader, ICRISAT’s Knowledge Sharing and Innovation (KSI) program.

Dr Dar, along with Dr G Dileepkumar and Dr Suhas P Wani, Director, ICRISAT Development Center were in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 15-16 May for the agreement signing and launch of the ICT platforms, and where they interacted with the SEWA team, visited the Vanalaxmi Tree Growers Cooperative, and inaugurated the Community Learning and Business Resource Center (CLBRC) of SEWA at Nandasam village. g Photos: SEWA

(Left) Dr Dar interacting with SEWA members at the CLBRC, Nandasam and (Right) riding a tractor during the visit to the Vanlaxmi Tree Growers Cooperative in Ganeshpura.

2 ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 23 MAY 2014 1624

Coffee value chain agribusiness incubator launched in Uganda

C

offee smallholder farmers in Uganda can now look forward to better entrepreneurship and agribusiness opportunities and become stronger players in the coffee value chain with the launch of the Consortium for Enhancing University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development (CURAD). CURAD also aims to work towards becoming the leading generator of young agribusiness entrepreneurs to create jobs and wealth in East Africa.

ICRISAT’s Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) program has facilitated the establishment of CURAD, an agribusiness incubator that will work along the coffee value chain, at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Station, Kabanyolo in Kampala, Uganda.

Photo: B Kumar, ICRISAT

Dr Y Akinbamijo and Dr KK Sharma interacting with CURAD incubatees.

CURAD is one of the six agribusiness incubators being established under the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa’s initiative on Universities, Business and Research in Agricultural Innovation (FARA-UniBRAIN) project with mentoring support from ICRISAT-ABI of the institute’s Agribusiness and Innovation Platform (AIP).

“FARA is committed to help the African farming community through initiatives like CURAD. We will work towards promoting agro-entrepreneurs in Uganda and elevate the position of Ugandan coffee in the international market,” said Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director, FARA and chief guest during the launch.

In his keynote address, Dr Kiran K Sharma, CEO, ICRISAT-AIP, highlighted ABI’s efforts in mentoring 22 agribusiness incubators in India and in establishing five Food Processing Business Incubation Centers in Africa under the India-Africa Forum Summit-II. He also spoke of extending support to all Agribusiness Innovation Incubator Consortia (AIIC) established under FARA-UniBRAIN and in exploring opportunities to scale-up this unique initiative across different African nations and work towards their sustainability.

“The Danish Government contributes about US$ 2 billion every year for various development activities across the globe and it will continue to support initiatives like UniBRAIN in the African continent,” said Mr Henrik Vistisen, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark.

“The AIIC established under the UniBRAIN initiative is committed to carry out extensive entrepreneurship activities in Africa and contribute immensely to the overall development of different nations,” said Mr Alex Ariho, UniBRAIN facility coordinator.

Others who spoke during the launch were: Mr Joseph Nkandu, Executive Director, National Union of Coffee Agribusinesses and Farm Enterprises (NUCAFE); and Dr Samuel Kyamanywa, Principal Investigator of CURAD. Hon Gerald Ssendaula, CURAD Board Chairperson; Prof Bernard Bashasha, Principal, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University; Ms Irene Frempong, Director, FARA; and many other dignitaries were present during the program.

Officially launched on 9 May, CURAD is primarily promoted by the Makerere University, NUCAFE, the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), the University of Copenhagen, and NIRAS International.

FARA also organized a UniBRAIN steering committee meeting on 8 May, where Mr Ariho presented the progress and scaling-up strategy of UniBRAIN. Mr S Aravazhi, COO, ICRISAT-ABI, presented the institute’s experiences in successfully running the Network of Indian Agribusiness Incubators (NIABI) and the way forward for the African Agribusiness Incubation Network (AAIN) leading to the formation of the Global Agribusiness Incubation (GABI) network. g ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 23 MAY 2014 1624 3

Conclave highlights role of agri-innovation in transforming Indian agriculture

B

ringing public and private sectors together in promoting innovations, partnership and entrepreneurial climate in the Indian agricultural sector, the Agri Innovation Conclave 2014 concluded successfully in New Delhi on 18-19 May. The Conclave was the culmination of the Krishi Parivartan Yatra, a train journey of 50 National Agricultural Innovation Project’s (NAIP) farmer beneficiaries across five cities to share success stories on agri-ventures, and the Agri-Biz Idol Camps held to reach out to the youth and start-up entrepreneurs. The Conclave convened Photo: Sangya S, ICRISAT agribusiness experts, professionals, and other Dr Dar and Mr P Kenmore visiting a value-added millet stakeholders from across the country, on a products’ stall in the expo organized at the conclave. common platform to share NAIP’s success and transformation, as we intended at the end of these conceive path breaking ideas for strengthening the five years of NAIP implementation. It has all been future of agribusiness in India. about giving, enabling and empowering our fellow Organized by of the NAIP of the Indian Council of farmers,” said Dr S Ayyappan, Director General, ICAR. Agricultural Research (ICAR), in collaboration with the Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) program of ICRISAT, the “ICAR is trailblazing in many ways. NAIP has benefited about 200,000 farmers in five years. This is the two-day Conclave marked the successful completion ultimate test of success of any development project of NAIP, showcasing success stories and best agriand NAIP certainly passed it with flying colors,” said innovative products developed under the project.

Dr D Rama Rao, National Director, NAIP. “This is just the beginning of big things to come.

“The joint effort of ICRISAT-ABI and NAIP’s Business Transformation is important to enable economies to Planning and Development (BPD) units has brought progress. One of the best ways to achieve this is to in a great change in the entrepreneurial system in the promote entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector. country. This success has to continue and the BPD Entrepreneurs act as major building blocks of the operations must attain sustainability,” said Dr Kiran economy anywhere in the world today. Agribusiness K Sharma, CEO, Agribusiness and Innovation Platform incubation is the only way to solve the many and (AIP), ICRISAT. diverse challenges faced by entrepreneurs,” said Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT, in his Mr Onno Ruhl, World Bank Country Director for India special address at the Conclave. said that: “NAIP has addressed the challenges by transforming the agriculture sector in the country “For us, the parameters of success have been the and enhancing the livelihoods of the farmers. The farmers and their growth. We call it an agricultural agriculture system in India has completely changed and now farmers are having access to agricultural technology.”

Photo: Sangya S, ICRISAT

The dignitaries during a book launch at the event.

4 ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 23 MAY 2014 1624

According to Mr Peter Kenmore, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in India, “The country is on the march towards attaining food security and NAIP has really contributed towards this aim through innumerable innovations and interventions. Development in the agriculture sector should also emphasize off-farm job creation in the rural areas through more innovations.” g

ICRISAT West and Central Africa Director visits partners in Niger

D

r Ramadjita Tabo, ICRISAT Director for West and Central Africa, visited staff and partners in Niger from May 11 to 17 as part of his first regional tour. During his mission, Dr Tabo held high-level talks with officials and partners in Niger.

Dr Tabo met the Prime Minister of Niger, His Excellency Brigi Rafini and Foreign Minister Mr Mohamed Bazoum, and expressed ICRISAT’s Photo: ICRISAT deep appreciation of their support (L-R) Dr M Gandah, Dr R Tabo, HE Brigi Rafini, Mr AS Massaoudou (Principal to the institute. He also provided advisor to the Prime Minister), and Dr Aboubacar Ichaou (Director General updates on projects and programs of INRAN) at the meeting. in progress and the prospects for future collaboration within the framework of the Development (ACMAD) and the Centre for CGIAR Research Programs. The Government of Niger Application in Agro Meteorology and Operational reaffirmed their support to ICRISAT’s mandate.

Hydrology (AGRHYMET), and members of the Sadoré Village Women Association involved in market Dr Tabo also met Ms Martine Therer, Deputy gardening activities.

Resident Representative and Program Director, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); In his meetings, Dr Tabo referred to the quality of Mr William Rastetter, Representative of the Catholic partnership in Niger and discussed opportunities to Relief Services; Mr Oumarou Malam Issa, further strengthen ties through better integration of Representative of the Institut de Recherche pour le projects and programs for the benefit of smallholder Dévéloppement (IRD); and Mr Ahamadou B. Ndiade, farmers in West and Central Africa.

United States Agency for International Development At the Sadoré station, Dr Tabo interacted with (USAID) Food for Peace Officer.

ICRISAT scientific and support staff and toured its Other meetings included senior staff of the African research facilities. g Centre of Meteorological Application for

Photos: ICRISAT

(Left) Dr R Tabo interacting with members of the Sadoré village women’s association involved in gardening.

(Right) Visiting the ICRISAT Niger research facilities.

ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 23 MAY 2014 1624 5

Finger millet and sorghum large-scale farming on the rise in Kenya – story of one farmer going big

F

inger millet is on the rebound in Kenya, thanks to the ICRISAT-HOPE project. One recent success can be attributed to the entrepreneurial spirit of Mr Cliff Neylan, a farmer in Kenya who has taken up improved varieties to plant the largest acreage in the country outside of maize or wheat.

Mr Cliff Neylan of Lalela Enterprises Ltd, Narok, saw a demand for brownseeded finger millet variety and sought advice from ICRISAT on improved varieties. ICRISAT recommended the U-15 variety, released in Kenya and Tanzania under the HOPE project.

Photo: ICRISAT

Mr C Neylan explaining about the state-of-the art planter he uses for finger millet and sorghum to Drs H Ojulong and E Manyasa.

Through the HOPE Project, farmer groups in western Kenya have been trained in finger millet seed production. ICRISAT organized sourcing seeds of U-15 variety from seed farmers in western Kenya. Farmers from five farmer groups collectively sold 3.16 tons of U-15 finger millet seed valued at US$ 3,628, 150% more than the grain value.

Mr Neylan had been producing finger millet on contract for Unga Ltd (a multi-national food flour processor based in Nairobi) which uses finger millet to produce breakfast and baby porridges. However, the finger millet variety P224 which he has grown for the last five years is a light-colored grain which gives light-colored flour as opposed to the brown color preferred by consumers.

During the first week of May 2014, ICRISAT’s Henry Ojulong, Eric Manyasa and Daniel Otwani, visited Mr Neylan’s farm and were impressed to see 1,200

acres of finger millet crop as well as 1,100 acres of sorghum crop extending to the horizon. Mr Neylan is also growing sorghum (white grain variety – Sila) on contract with Unga Ltd, to be used for the manufacture of poultry feed. Before taking up Sila, he had grown Gadam el Hamam for the past five years on contract with the East African Malting Ltd (a subsidiary of East African Breweries) for brewing.

Although the location is predominantly under maize and wheat production, farmers are diversifying into finger millet and sorghum due to climate change (consistent low rainfall for the past few years) and other challenges in crop production like the devastating Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) that almost wiped out the entire maize crop in the past two seasons. This disease does not infect sorghum and finger millet.

Mr Neylan shared his experiences with finger millet production in the dry high elevation agro-ecologies of Kenya. Five years ago he abandoned wheat farming due to escalating production costs. He practices minimum tillage and incorporates the massive finger millet biomass into the soil to improve soil structure and fertility. This was evident owing to the fact that although the season had received the last rains a month ago, the finger millet and sorghum crops had survived on residual moisture.

Photo: ICRISAT

In the farm of Mr C Neylan.

ICRISAT will collaborate with Mr Neylan in variety testing to identify better varieties to suit market preferences for both sorghum and finger millet and to page 7 ...4

6 ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 23 MAY 2014 1624

ICRISAT strengthens partnership with Mali and Niger through a series of collaborative meetings

Researchers of IER and ICRISAT during the collaborative meeting held at ICRISAT Samanko station in Mali.

T

o strengthen research collaborations and partnerships between ICRISAT and the national agricultural research systems (NARS) in West and Central Africa, a series of collaborative meetings was held in the region and areas of research partnership were discussed and formalized.

The first series of meetings was organized on 8 May at the ICRISAT Mali station in Samanko. Senior researchers from ICRISAT and from the Institut d’Economie Rurale (IER), Mali discussed research projects and programs embedded in the CGIAR Research Program framework namely: Dryland Cereals, Grain Legumes, Dryland Systems, and Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.

Discussions were held on opportunities in millet, sorghum and groundnut improvement, and in research facilities and germplasm exchanges.

Dr Ramadjita Tabo, ICRISAT Director, West and Central Africa, said, “The goal of the collaborative meetings is to revive joint working groups that will then identify and strengthen areas of partnerships.

(L-R) Dr A Ichaou, Dr R Tabo and Dr M Gandah at the meeting in Niger.

The approach is to consolidate the gains and transfer them to producers. Indeed, IER and ICRISAT are already engaged in collaborative work, but joint working groups will enable us to better know each other as we also have new staff members.” During the meeting, IER scientists and researchers presented their research programs and projects.

In a series of meetings in Sadoré, Niger, researchers from ICRISAT and from the Institut National de Recherche Agronomique (INRAN) discussed their perspectives for future joint research.

Dr Aboubacar Ichaou, Director General of INRAN said, “Joint scientific working groups offer an opportunity to build on existing links and creating synergy in research priorities. Niger is engaged in a vast reform of its agricultural transformation agenda and joint scientific working platforms in agricultural research between ICRISAT and INRAN are very useful.”

IER and INRAN have been ICRISAT’s main hosts and partners in Mali and Niger, respectively for over three decades. g

Finger millet and sorghum large-scale farming on the rise...from page 6 also for chickpea to fit in the rotation program. There The Harnessing Opportunities for Productivity is potential for sorghum hybrid commercialization as Enhancement (HOPE) of Sorghum and Millets in most of the sorghum varieties seem to have reached sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia is implemented a yield plateau. A number of sorghum hybrids have in collaboration with the International Food Policy been recommended for release in Kenya and these Research Institute (IFPRI); the Centre de will be evaluated on the farm next season. coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), Mr Neylan is proud to produce finger millet because France; NARS institutes and universities in 11 it is highly nutritious, thus contributing a lot to the countries; and private sector and research for health and well-being of the community and the development organizations, and is funded by the country at large. ICRISAT will work closely with Mr Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It is being Neylan to realize the profitable commercialization of undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program the two crops through provision of appropriate on Dryland Cereals. g cultivars and crop management options.

ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 23 MAY 2014 1624 7

Southern Africa assembly on agricultural research and development

A

t the first general assembly of the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), various stakeholders convened in Gaborone, Botswana on 6-7 May to deliberate on agricultural research and development priorities for member states of the South African Development Community (SADC).

Speaking at the assembly on behalf of CGIAR Centers, Dr Moses Siambi, ICRISAT Director, Eastern and Southern Africa, pledged continued commitment towards supporting national and regional research agendas in the region. He said that research products generated by the CGIAR are international public goods and made available upon request. He further said, “About seven CGIAR Centers are situated in the CCARDESA working domain and I do believe that CCARDESA can benefit a lot from our strategic positioning.”

At the opening of the assembly, SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax said: “As we celebrate the African Union Year of Agriculture and Food Security, we need to launch a SADC-wide youth program to create opportunities in agricultural value chains and in building agricultural entrepreneurs.”

ICRISAT was represented by Dr Siambi, Dr Kizito Mazvimavi, Country Representative, Zimbabwe, and Dr Harvey Charlie, Senior Scientific Officer, Lilongwe, Malawi.

The stakeholders included ministries responsible for agriculture and food security, the agro industry, agricultural education institutions, CGIAR, farmer organizations, and civil society organizations of the 15 member states of SADC. CCARDESA is a sub-regional research organization created by SADC member states to coordinate agricultural research and development in the SADC region. g

Visitor’s log

New publication

Dr B Raju, Vice Chancellor of the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, visited ICRISAT on 17 May through Dr CLL Gowda.

Grain Legumes Strategies and Seed Roadmaps for Select Countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

(2014) http://oar.icrisat.org/8016/

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

ICRISAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium

ICRISAT’s scientific information: http://EXPLOREit.icrisat.org

www.icrisat.org

Science with a human face