Agro-ecosystem development

Leader's Note

		Dr Peter Craufurd Global Theme Leader Agro-ecosystems P(dot)Craufurd(at)cgiar(dot)org

Agro-Ecosystems (AEs), the management of natural resources and ecosystem services, is one of four research themes at ICRISAT. AEs focuses on soil and water management, coping with climate variability and ecosystem health. Our research is largely, though not exclusively, conducted in the drylands of the semi-arid tropics (SAT) with scientists based in India, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Niger and Zimbabwe.

Currently, AE research is housed in two main projects (ICRISAT MTP 2010-2012 http://www.icrisat.org/aes-projects-mtp.htm):

Project 7: Reducing rural poverty through agricultural diversification and emerging opportunities for high value commodities and products

Project 9: Poverty alleviation and sustainable management of land, water, livestock and forest resources through sustainable agro-ecological intensification in low and high potential environments of the semi-arid tropics of Africa and Asia

However, ICRISAT is currently writing a new Strategic Plan and the CGIAR is in the process of initiating a series of Mega-Programs (http://alliance.cgxchange.org/strategy-and-results-framework-and-mega-programs). A key feature of both these initiatives is a greater emphasis on systems research or a ‘systems perspective' that views research for development (R4D), including natural resource management, in a more integrated manner and within the context of livelihood strategies and policy contexts. Furthermore, this perspective extends from farm to community to landscape scales.

At ICRISAT AEs will focus on community-based natural resource management that includes adaptation to and mitigation of climate-based risk in SAT farming (http://www.icrisat.org/aes-climatechange-sat.htm), enhanced crop-livestock interactions and diversification of crop production. We will work closely with other partners within and outside the CGIAR to achieve greater integration across systems and scales.

In the following pages you will find details of current Agro-Ecosystems projects, publications and research briefs.