ICRISAT Vision and Strategy to 2010

Challenges and Issues for the Semi-Arid Tropics

Reducing Poverty, Food Insecurity and Malnutrition

Despite the remarkable advances made by agricultural research in past years, poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition still remain as the most critical challenges facing the semi-arid tropics (SAT). The region is home to 38% of the developing countries’ poor, 75% of which are in the rural areas. Also, over 45% of world’s hungry and more than 70% of the world’s malnourished children live in the SAT. Even with growing urbanization, the challenges of poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition will continue to be greatest in the rural SAT due to the vagaries of climate, pervasiveness of risk, complexity of poverty, degrading natural resource base, poor infrastructure, and changes in demand and production patterns. Agriculture will continue to be the backbone of SAT economies in the foreseeable future. As most of the poor in the SAT are farmers and landless laborers, strategies for reducing poverty, hunger and malnutrition should be driven primarily by the needs of the rural poor and secondarily, the urban poor. Productivity gains in developing country agriculture are essential to achieving universal food security, poverty alleviation and the economic viability of farming. Renewed effort is therefore needed by ICRISAT on problem-based, impact-driven science and delivery of outputs to address these challenges.

Enhancing Productivity, Quality, and Utilization of SAT Crops

In the rural SAT, staple cereals are largely consumed locally and provide a major source of energy in the diets of the poor. In South Asia, the level of production of sorghum and pearl millet has been maintained. However, increase in productivity has released land for diversification into higher value crops. In West Africa, in contrast, yields have stagnated, genetic yield gains being substantially constrained by natural resource limitations. Integrated genetic and natural resource management approaches are critical to future productivity increases. Furthermore, sorghum and pearl millet are the keystones of integrated crop-livestock systems in the SAT. Demand for animal products (meat, milk and eggs) in developing countries is growing rapidly. Hence, increased demand for sorghum and pearl millet as dual-purpose varieties, crop residues, and feed grain is being fueled by this growing demand for livestock. In addition, industrial uses for coarse grains (e.g. starch and alcohol) are growing rapidly and opportunities for processing are also emerging. Greater utilization of sorghum and millet by the industrial and animal feed sectors in the SAT is likely if higher quality products can be developed and marketing innovations can reduce the transactional costs associated with procurement.

Protein-rich grain legumes are another component of integrated genetic and natural resource management strategies for the SAT poor. Productivity and quality enhancement will reduce food insecurity and malnutrition, and generate incomes. It will also addnitrogen and organic matter for sustaining cropping systems. The global area, production, and yields of chickpea and pigeon pea will continue to increase. Further advances in varietal development through enhanced biotic resistance, shorter duration and, for pigeon pea, dual purpose varieties and hybrids, will allow even greater exploitation by poor farmers for income generation and system sustainability especially in the SAT. Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa account for over 95% of the world’s groundnut area and 94% of the production, mostly grown by poor smallholder farmers, many of whom are women. Driven by the significant increase in demand for edible oils, groundnut production, area and yield have continued to increase annually. Haulms provide quality fodder for livestock. Opportunities for poor SAT farmers to generate additional cash income from oil and haulms will be realized with the continued development and sharing of improved technologies.

Effectively Managing a Fragile, Risk-Prone Environment

Today, more than ever, the world faces even greater challenges in managing the natural resource base and achieving food security. The SAT is a harsh, risk-prone, fragile environment. Drought is a constant threat; water scarcity is a growing problem; soils are poor; and land degradation is increasing. Risks are pervasive and greater than in any other important food production system. Research should therefore be directed at developing appropriate technologies for sustainable intensification of agriculture in risk-prone areas for the benefit of hundreds of millions of the poor. The key to success will be adapting production systems to the natural variability of the environment to achieve a grey to green revolution in the SAT. Along with this, improved integrated genetic, soil and water management strategies are increasingly needed to maintain/enhance productivity and reverse degradation in the SAT.

Diversifying Income-Generating Options and Commercialization of SAT Crops

The poor in the SAT face variable and unpredictable risks. Their ability to invest in technologies is both constrained and dynamic. The devastating effects of HIV/AIDS on household income and food security and the feminization of agriculture, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, demand innovative solutions. Options include integration of livestock and higher value crops such as tree and horticultural crops into SAT systems. Livestock especially benefit the poor by improving nutrition and generating income. Poor farmers need access to a full range of gender-sensitive technologies and approaches to choose the most suitable options to address their problems according to changing circumstances.

Growing commercialization in the SAT is leading to increased market opportunities and trade in SAT crops for poor smallholder farmers. Increased utilization of coarse grains in the SAT is inextricably linked with the fortunes of the market, the role of the private sector, and technical and policy factors that pattern the behavior of these institutions. Because of the potential for commercialization to contribute to poverty reduction, greater effort is needed in analysis of markets. Innovations in marketing institutions offer opportunities for reducing transactional costs associated with procuring adequate and consistent supplies of quality grain as well as linking smallholder farmers to industry in a sustainable manner.

THE CHANGING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT

The environment in which ICRISAT operates has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Publicly funded agricultural research has declined by over 50% during the past 15 years. An increasing share of agricultural research and ownership of new technologies has moved to the private sector. Environmental considerations are being increasingly integrated into international development policy. Thus, ICRISAT’s modus operandum is changing to function more effectively and efficiently in this new environment. ICRISAT recognizes that opportunities for productivity increases in the SAT will be firmly anchored on integrated genetic and natural resource management strategies and improved delivery systems. It also recognizes that impact can be achieved through strengthened and diversified partnerships, including those with the private sector.

CGIAR Vision and Strategy to 2010

The CGIAR’s Vision and Strategy 2010 articulates the new vision: a food secure world for all. The goal is to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Its strategy is embodied in seven core planks to: focus on reduction of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in developing countries; bring modern science to bear on difficult productivity and institutional problems; give highest priority to the research needs of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa; adopt a regional approach to research planning; diversify and closely integrate its partnerships; adopt a task force approach to the organization and delivery of CGIAR products and services; and serve as a catalyst, organizer, coordinator, and integrator of global efforts on key opportunities and constraints in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. ICRISAT’s Vision and Strategy to 2010 is strongly guided by these seven planks.

Programmatic Integration and Regionalization

The CGIAR is moving towards a programmatic approach to defining, financing and managing its research activities. Programmatic integration of current efforts is being organized as Challenge Programs (CP). This will promote synergies, economies of scale and center-wide efficiencies, coherence of approach to systemic issues, and an improved, comprehensible public image. Each CP will consist of building blocks of projects that together respond to a global challenge. As part of its strategy, ICRISAT is actively involved in the planning processes for CPs on climate change and water and leading on a proposed CP on combating desertification. ICRISAT is also actively involved in strengthening regional approaches to planning agricultural research for development in South Asia (where ICRISAT is the focal point), Southern and Eastern Africa and West Africa. ICRISAT will target important problems facing SAT farmers, many of which are also important at the global level. This will be pursued through diversification and integration of partnerships with appropriate stakeholders to include SROs (APAARI, ASARECA, SACCAR and CORAF); IARCs, NARIS, development agencies, NGOs, community-based organizations, and the private sector.

ICRISAT’s VISION, MISSION AND MANDATE

ICRISAT’s vision is guided by the seven planks of the new CGIAR vision and strategy; its core competencies and thematic comparative advantages; strategic analysis of opportunities in the SAT; and agricultural research and institutional environment and how this impacts on the livelihoods of the poor.

Vision

ICRISAT’s new vision to 2010 is improved well-being of the poor of the semi-arid tropics through agricultural research for impact.

Mission

ICRISAT’s new mission is to help the poor of the semi-arid tropics through science with a human face and partnership-based research and to increase agricultural productivity and food security, reduce poverty, and protect the environment in SAT production systems.

Mandate

ICRISAT’s new mandate is to enhance the livelihoods of poor in semi-arid farming systems through integrated genetic and natural resource management strategies. ICRISAT will make major food crops more productive, nutritious, and affordable to the poor; diversify utilization options for staple food crops; develop tools and techniques to manage risk and more sustainably utilize the natural resource base of semi-arid tropics systems; develop options to diversify income generation; and strengthen delivery systems to key clients. Partnership-based research for impact, gender sensitivity, capacity building and enhanced knowledge and technology flows are integral to this mandate.

ICRISAT’s STRATEGY – THE RESEARCH HEARTLAND

ICRISAT’s research strategy is founded on six global research themes, addressed through problem-based and impact-driven regional and local projects. These projects reflect specific strategic priorities for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. This organizational structure and modus operandum strongly parallels the evolving CG-wide programmatic integration and regionalization processes. ICRISAT’s strategy has a dual focus on scientific excellence and impact. It targets key opportunities for improving the well-being of the poor, with food security being fundamental. Above all, it recognizes greater integration and diversification of partnerships as a core methodology for engaging science and technology development. This also ensures that its deliverables improve the well-being of the poor. Functional linkages between research, extension, farmers and markets and participatory approaches will enhance the impact of knowledge and technologies generated through research on reducing food insecurity and poverty. Priority setting, impact assessment and conserving and strategically using biodiversity are mainstreamed in this strategy.

Global Themes and Deliverables

Harnessing biotechnology for the poor

ICRISAT will give priority to biotechnological approaches to crop improvement especially for traits most relevant to poor farmers and consumers in the SAT. We will seek to more effectively utilize available genetic diversity for resistance to abiotic (drought, nutrient and water limitations) and biotic (pests, diseases and weeds) stress traits. This will also hold true for quality and nutritional traits (higher digestibility [especially for stover], essential amino acids, micro-nutrients and toxins). Most activity will be carried out in Asia. We will seek opportunities to decentralize to Sub-Saharan Africa. Deliverables: Robust and cost effective screening systems for indirect selection in plant breeding and for detection of contaminants; characterized genetic stocks for crop improvement and basic scientific research; and agronomically elite and transgenic breeding lines with stress resistance/tolerance and higher nutritive quality.

Crop management and utilization for food security and health

ICRISAT will build on its main comparative advantage: its unrivalled capacity to efficiently and strategically utilize its germplasm collection for improvement of staple SAT crops, especially for biotic and abiotic stresses, yield and nutritional (micro-nutrients) and quality traits. In South Asia, ICRISAT will emphasize parental lines for cereals and varieties and, where possible, parental lines for legumes. In Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasis will continue on varietal development. We will strengthen participatory approaches. We will integrate biotic resistances with additional pest management strategies. Emphasis will be on pod borers, aflatoxin, grain mold and Striga. Rural agro-industry development opportunities will be sought with appropriate partners. Emphasis will be given to linking income generating utilization strategies with technology development activities through partnerships. Deliverables: Genetically diverse trait-specific populations and breeding lines; regionally adapted parental lines, varieties and hybrids; farmer participatory methods and products; impact-oriented IPM technologies; and opportunities for wider utilization of SAT crops.

Water, soil and agro-biodiversity management for ecosystem health

ICRISAT will develop diversified income-generating options for managing soil, water and agro-biodiversity in SAT systems. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the main entry point for raising the productivity of SAT systems remains improving soil fertility. We will seek input efficient, practical, integrated natural resource management strategies including targeting of fertilizer (micro-dosing), manure and/or residues; integrating genetic and non-genetic solutions to drought tolerance and water and nutrient use efficiency; low cost water catchment and conservation systems; managing agro-biodiversity for ecosystem sustainability; and institutional and policy reforms for water usage. ICRISAT will be active in both Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa and tailor options to farmers’ diverse investment and risk options. We will seek programmatic integration with CPs on water, climate change and combating desertification. Deliverables: Low cost, risk-reducing, income-generating water and soil management options (reduced input for unit of yield); income-generating options for diversification, intensification and sustainable soil improvement; impact-oriented IPM technologies; options for optimizing agro-biodiversity for food security; improved policies for efficient water use and management; and community-participatory approaches to INRM.

Sustainable seed supply systems for productivity

ICRISAT will develop more sustainable seed multiplication and supply systems for staple SAT food crops, including strategic use of biodiversity. It will seek to substantially improve the availability to and utilization of improved varieties by farmers to enhance the productivity potential of SAT farming systems. Deliverables: Strengthened farmer, community and national seed systems; options for optimizing biodiversity for sustainable productivity; more effective and sustainable seed supply strategies; and alternative emergency and relief seed delivery mechanisms.

Enhancing crop-livestock productivity and systems diversification

The inherent riskiness of the SAT necessitates diversified strategies to improve livelihoods and achieve more sustainable systems. Livestock is the fastest growing sector in the SAT. Improvement in poor farmers’ incomes and the nutritional status of the poor and thus impact on poverty alleviation in the SAT are firmly based in enhancing livestock productivity. ICRISAT’s strategic niche and comparative advantage is in improving the feed component for ruminants and poultry in crop-livestock systems. Gender-sensitive systems diversification options suited to poor farmers, including cash crops, trees, legumes and vegetables, will also be assessed and promoted. ICRISAT will actively work with ILRI, ICRAF, AVRDC, IWMI, NARS and other key partners in both Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Deliverables: High quality crop residues and dual-purpose varieties for improved meat and milk production; high quality, toxin-free grain for poultry and ruminants; options for improving and diversifying feed resources in SAT systems and enhancing supply of and access to safe livestock products; and diversified income generating options to improve livelihoods.

SAT Futures and development pathways

Strategic assessments of commodity and market trends, input supply and access constraints as well as understanding the dynamics and determinants of poverty will continue to be needed to inform and direct future investment in research for the future benefit of the SAT poor, especially women. Particular emphasis will be given to identifying constraints to the uptake, adoption and utilization of deliverables. Furthermore, poor farmers need access to diverse technologies and approaches to choose their most suitable options. ICRISAT will be active throughout the SAT. Deliverables: Strategic assessment of future scenarios for agriculture and livelihood strategies in the rural SAT including functional strategies to facilitate technology utilization; evaluation of prospects for diversification (higher value crops) and commercialization of SAT crops; micro-level assessment of the dynamics and determinants of poverty; identification of new institutional arrangements for research and development; and effective targeting of spillovers based on institutional experience.