Regional Projects

Project 2.1 Improve crop productivity through genetic enhancement and eco-friendly pest management in Asia

Project 2.2 Improved germplasm and innovative research methodologies that enhance productivity, utilization and profitability from SAT crops by smallholder farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)

Project 2.3 Increasing productivity and utilization of sorghum, groundnut and pearl millet in key WCA cropping systems

Project 2.1
Improve crop productivity through genetic enhancement and eco-friendly pest management in Asia

Output 1: Germplasm conserved, evaluated, documented, and exchanged

Activity 1: Assemble, conserve, and regenerate the global germplasm collection for safe storage and supply

Activity 2: Undertake characterization, evaluation and documentation of germplasm to enhance its utility in crop improvement

Activity 3: Assure risk-free export and import of germplasm and breeding materials

Output 2: Diverse range of populations, breeding lines and potential hybrid parents developed, evaluated and disseminated

Activity 1: Evaluate and introgress new germplasm sources of variability for yield components, resistance to biotic and abioitc stresses, and quality traits

Activity 2: Develop diverse range of populations and breeding lines with improved yield potential, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and better quality

Activity 3: Develop regionally adapted parental lines of potential hybrids in sorghum, pearl
millet and pigeonpea

Activity 4: Conduct strategic research to improve the efficiency of genetic enhancement

Outputs 3: Effective and eco-friendly IPM technologies designed and evaluated for legumes

Activity 1: Develop cost-effective and eco-friendly components of IPM technologies

Activity 2: Integrate IPM components and validate for effective pest/disease management

Activity 3: Respond to unpredicted pest or disease epidemics, and related natural disasters and emergencies

Output 4: Alternative uses and food/feed quality of crop produce researched and promoted

Activity 1: Assess and improve crop traits related to food/feed quality, safety and market acceptance (modify activity title)

Activity 2: Develop technological options and institutional alliances to enhance market demand for crop produce

Activity 3: Improve fodder yield and quality for enhanced ruminant nutrition

Output 5: New technologies evaluated, disseminated and their impact documented

Activity 1: Farmer participatory research and development

Activity 2: Monitor and document the impact of improved technologies

Activity 3: Exchange improved technologies and new knowledge with ARIs, NARS, NGOs, private sector and farmers' groups

Output 1: Genetically diverse and regionally adapted germplasm and breeding populations [Increased availability of diverse germplasm sources and breeding materials]

Activity 1: Develop and evaluate trait specific populations and breeding lines for adaptation to
specific environments, pests and diseases and for product market / food safety requirements

Output 2: Regionally adapted parental lines, varieties and hybrids developed for SAT
regions [Enhanced and newer options of locally-adapted cultivars]

Activity 1: Assist NARS to pursue regionalized sorghum, pearl millet and groundnuts improvement strategies.

Activity 3: Assist in multiplication of nuclear seed of improved genetic materials.

Output 3: Participatory methods and technologies for crop improvement and IPM

Activity 1: Evaluate and promote IPM technologies for major groundnut diseases (Rosette and foliar) and management practices for aflatoxin contamination

Activity 2: Evaluate and promote through participatory methods, new improved sorghum and pearl millet varieties, hybrids and seed parents, and groundnut varieties with resistance to major diseases (rosette, early and late leaf spots, and rust)

Activity 3: Evaluate, promote and disseminate through participatory methods, new improved chickpea for production after rice in the rice fallow system in ESA

Output 4: Technical backstopping provided to regional networks and projects

Activity 1: Provide technical backstopping and implementation strategies, capacity building, and information to regional networks

Activity 2: Strengthen linkages and partnerships between projects, activities and networks
operational within and beyond the ESA region

Output 5: Regional /sub regional Gene-banks maintained

Activity 1: Complete upgrading of regional /sub-regional gene banks

Activity 2: In collaboration with the regional and national gene-banks identify gaps and
organize collection missions to fill gaps of materials not previously collected

Activity 3: Rejuvenate, characterize, and share information with partners in the region to
enhance utilization of the germplasm

Project 2.3
Increasing productivity and utilization of sorghum, groundnut and pearl millet in key WCA cropping systems

Output 1: Regionally adapted diverse breeding materials, varieties and hybrids developed

Activity 1: Develop and improve trait specific populations and breeding lines of sorghum,
pearl millet and groundnut

Activity 2: Develop hybrid parents adapted to specific zones of cereals cultivation in WCA

Activity 3: Participatory testing and release of improved sorghum, pearl millet and groundnut varieties

Output 2: Methodologies for enhancing productivity, adaptation of sorghum pearl millet and groundnut cultivars developed.

Activity 1: Design sorghum and pearl millet ideotypes for a regional selection strategy for increasing productivity under production system-specific conditions

Activity 2: Refine and adapt methodologies for farmer participation in specific stages of
sorghum and pearl millet breeding

Activity 3: Develop selection strategies for pearl millet adapted to farmer needs

Output 3: Impact-oriented eco-friendly IPM technologies developed.

Activity 1: Develop and evaluate on-farm integrated Striga control strategies in sorghum and
pearl millet (in collaboration with GT Agro-ecology)

Activity 2: Develop and promote IPM options for panicle and storage pests of sorghum and pearl millet

Activity 3: Test options to reduce aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts

Activity 4: Test components for integrated management of sorghum anthracnose, and effects
of leaf diseases on stover quality (in collaboration with GT Agro-ecology)

Activity 5: Develop and evaluate on-farm integrated peanut clump virus control strategies.

Activity 6: Risk assessment of mycotoxin contamination of feed on animal health

Output 4: Opportunities for enhancing nutritional quality of SAT crops and their utilization and commercialization

Activity 1: Promote sorghum, pearl millet and groundnut grain marketing

Activity 2: Assess opportunities for enhancing human nutrition in sorghum and pearl millet based cropping systems in WCA

Output 5: Regional gene bank maintained