Press Releases – 2000

1. Researchers Take A Step Forward Towards Developing Drought-Tolerant Rice, December, 2000

2. Chandrababu Naidu Invites ICRISAT to Develop Jointly with Andhra Pradesh Government a Model to Transfer Agricultural Technologies, December, 2000

3. Shaping the Future of the Semi-Arid Tropics: World-Renowned Experts Help Develop a Blueprint for ICRISAT's Future and Growth, November, 2000

4. Bringing the Green Revolution to the Dry Central Regions of India: The Power of ICAR-ICRISAT Partnership, November, 2000

5. ICRISAT Rededicates itself to the Vision of the World Food Day, October, 2000 6. Karnataka's Minister Urges Extension Systems to Take Advantage of ICRISAT's

Technology, October, 2000 7. ICRISAT Signs MOU with the International Water Management Institute,

September, 2000 8. ICRISAT Trains ICAR Librarians in New Information Technologies, September,

2000 9. ICRISAT Strengthens Partnerships with the Private and Public Sectors,

September, 2000 10. ICRISAT Helps Andhra Pradesh Government Tackle Groundnut Virus Epidemic,

September, 2000 11. ICRISAT disburses compensation to heirs of flood victims, September, 2000 12. Dr Jill Lenné Joins ICRISAT as Deputy Director General-Research, September,

2000 13. ICRISAT Announces Assistance for Victims, August, 2000 14. Five Farm Laborers Missing, August, 2000 15. Developing a Road Map to the Future of the Semi-Arid Tropics, August, 2000 16. Karnataka MLAs hail ICRISAT's research as 17. ICRISAT Strategizes with Partners to Reduce Aflatoxin Levels in Groundnut-

based Products in India, July, 2000 18. Brainstorming a Brighter Future for Dry Areas of the Rural Tropics, July, 2000 19. ICRISAT DG Meets New Chairman of CGIAR, July, 2000 20. Former ICRISAT Board Chair Honored by the Queen of England, July, 2000 21. World Bank Vice President Ian Johnson to Lead CGIAR, July, 2000 22. ICRISAT Lead Center for ICAR Project on Natural Resources Management, July,

2000 23. ICRISAT Lauds ANGRAU, CRIDA, June, 2000 24. ICRISAT Combats Desertification and Drought, June, 2000 25. Legislators Study ICRISAT's Water-Harvesting Strategies, June, 2000 26. OU-ICRISAT Bag AP-Netherlands Biotech Project, June, 2000 27. Brainstorming Session on Desertification in Asia, June, 2000 28. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Seeks ICRISAT's Help 29. 'Rainwater-use efficiency can be increased up to 70 percent' -- ICRISAT, May,

2000 30. ICRISAT's Drought Research: Hope that Never Dries Up, May, 2000 31. Integrated Pest Management strategies to increase pulses production, May,

2000 32. ICRISAT Inaugurates Containment Glasshouse for Transgenic Plants, April,

2000

33. President and Prime Minister of Niger Visit ICRISAT's Display, April, 2000 34. A role in the life of the poor, April, 2000 35. US Under Secretary Lauds ICRISAT's 36. For a food-secure future, March, 2000 37. Providing science a human face, March, 2000 38. Legislators Praise ICRISAT, February, 2000 39. CGIAR at the World Book Fair, New Delhi, India -- 5-13 February 2000 40. CGIAR at the World Book Fair, February, 2000 41. ICRISAT Releases Handbook on Environment-friendly Control of Pulse Pests,

January, 2000 42. ICRISAT's First Director General of the New Millennium Emphasizes the Human

Face of Agricultural Research, January, 2000

1)  Researchers Take A Step Forward Towards Developing Drought-Tolerant Rice, December, 2000

Major rice-growing countries, such as China and India, are now alarmed by the increasing rate of soil water depletion and environmental degradation. Researchers are, therefore, under great pressure to find ways to maximize the water use efficiency of food crops, especially rice, which is one of the biggest users of water.

With over a quarter century of experience in drought research, ICRISAT was specifically chosen to host a workshop on “Field Screening for Drought Tolerance in Rice”, 11-14 December 2000, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation and to act as a catalyst to pool the expertise in this field.

Over 50 crop experts from Asia and Africa participated in the workshop to find ways to crack one of the most intractable agricultural problems of our times – drought. The immediate aim of the workshop participants was to share their knowledge and experience and to develop common protocols for doing research in this field. The common research protocols would accelerate the process of developing drought-tolerant varieties.

“All the methods, ranging from field screening to molecular markers will be used to overcome this problem and we have set time-frames to our research in this field,” said Dr. N P Saxena, Former ICRISAT Senior Crop Physiologist, who is now a Consultant Scientist for ICRISAT and Coordinator of this Workshop. Dr. Saxena explained that ICRISAT's facilities and drought screening techniques would be useful for this research, which has strong links to the project on rice-sorghum synteny.

The synteny project is based on the knowledge that many cereals, such as rice and sorghum, share a common genetic heritage and may contain some of the same gene structures. For example, sorghum can thrive with only 500 mm of rainfall, while paddy rice

requires almost total immersion in standing water. Thus, if scientists could locate in rice, the genes that enable sorghum to grow with so little water, it may be possible for them to activate the genes and develop a more water-efficient rice plant.

Dr. J. C. O'Toole, Senior Scientist and Field Representative for South and Southeast Asia, Rockefeller Foundation, explained why Rockefeller Foundation is supporting this area of research, “Since this particular area has not been successful, it has not been funded by governments. However, new technologies and new approaches, such as networking of world experts, can now make this research a big success.” Quoting from the World Bank on the crisis of water scarcity, Dr. O'Toole said, “Today's irrigated areas may be tomorrow's water-limited environments.”

Dr. A. Blum, Scientist Emeritus from Israel, Dr. Renee Lafitte, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Philippines, Dr. Marianne Banziger, International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT-Zimbabwe), Dr. Alain Audebert, Plant Physiologist, West African Rice Development Association (WARDA), Cote d'Ivoire, Dr. Arjula R Reddy, University of Hyderabad, were among the participants

2)  Chandrababu Naidu Invites ICRISAT to Develop Jointly with Andhra Pradesh Government a Model to Transfer Agricultural Technologies, December, 2000

Describing ICRISAT as the “most important international research institute in India and i n the region”, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, urged the Institute to develop an Action Plan with the State Government for boosting agriculture production, especially in Telengana and Rayalseema regions.

“Together, we can develop a successful model that will be replicated in India and around the world,” Mr. Naidu said. 

The Chief Minister expressed his keenness for close collaboration during his visit to the Institute on the occasion of the Institute's 28th Anniversary on 7 December 2000.

As a befitting gesture of this new spirit of partnership and in keeping with his image of a leader who believes in the power of technology to transform the world, Mr. Naidu launched the first issue of ICRISAT's millennium electronic newsletter “SATrends” on news about ICRISAT's partnership-based R&D activities in the semi-arid tropics (SAT).

After welcoming warmly Mr. Naidu as the Chief Guest for the Annual Day Function, ICRISAT Director General Dr. William D. Dar and senior ICRISAT staff, took him on a brief tour of SatVenture – a futuristic museum showcasing ICRISAT's activities.

Dr. Dar thanked the Chief Minister “for all the wonderful support from the state government and other institutions that have helped enormously in our mission.” Dr. Dar gave a few examples of how ICRISAT and the State Government are working together on the

ground for the benefit of smallholder farmers. “ICRISAT responded positively to address the groundnut bud necrosis epidemic in Anantapur District and has agreed to provide seeds of resistant varieties.”

Describing the year 2000 as a productive one for ICRISAT, Dr. Dar praised ICRISAT scientists and scientific officers and said, ”We have decided to recognize outstanding contributions of our scientific staff through an annual awards program.”

During the Annual Day function, a commemorative brochure was released by Mr. Naidu and commemorative mementos were distributed to all the dignitaries who graced the occasion, including the State Ministers for Education and Agriculture, the Chief Secretary, and the Rangareddy District Collector. A symbolic presentation of long-service awards was also made to ICRISAT staff.

A colorful and animated cultural program by the ICRISAT staff marked the end of the Annual Day Function. See pictures from the Cultural Program.

3)  Shaping the Future of the Semi-Arid Tropics: World-Renowned Experts Help Develop a Blueprint for ICRISAT's Future and Growth, November, 2000

In keeping with the spirit of the new millennium, ICRISAT invited a panel of internationally renowned experts - such as Dr. V. Kurien, Father of the “White (Dairy Industry) Revolution” in India – to an International Symposium on the Future of Agriculture in the Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT) on 14 November at ICRISAT-Patancheru.

The experts were chosen from a wide range of national, regional, and international institutions to help ICRISAT learn from their rich experience and

wisdom in order to develop a blueprint for the Institute's future and growth.

The International Symposium was the culmination of a series of Brainstorming Sessions on SAT Futures held at various ICRISAT Centers globally in the past few months as part of a process to develop a long-term strategy over a 20-years' horizon for the Institute. (See "Developing a road-map to the future of the semi-arid tropics", and "Brainstorming a Brighter Future for the Dry Areas of the Rural Tropics") ICRISAT Director General Dr. William D. Dar, presenting his Opening Remarks for the Symposium commended the leading experts and said, “No one understands the harsh realities of the SAT and SAT agriculture better than the eminent panelists we have with us.”

Critical forces and trends that would determine the shape of agriculture in the SAT in the next couple of decades and their implications on ICRISAT's research thrusts were discussed. The panelists emphasized the importance of specific approaches that should be considered in this long-term strategy so that ICRISAT continues to be relevant and demand-driven in the new millennium.

Recounting his experience of the Dairy Development Project in India, Dr. Kurien said, “Only when we, as scientists look at the world from farmers' perspective in a holistic manner by removing the blindfold imposed by our narrow disciplinary training and experiences we will be able to make a difference in the lives of farmers living in semi-arid areas.”

Ms. Victoria Sekitoleko, Sub Regional Representative for Southern and Eastern Africa, FAO, Harare, recounted her knowledge and experience of the agricultural situation in Africa, highlighting the critical role of education and good governance for a real impact on farmers.

One of the seminal papers of the Symposium “Some Challenges, Trends and Opportunities Shaping the Future of the Semi-Arid Tropics” was presented by Dr. James G Ryan, Visiting Fellow, Australian National University, Canberra and former ICRISAT Director General. The paper was jointly written by Drs Ryan and Dunstan Spencer, who have been commissioned by ICRISAT to develop a White Paper on this theme. Dr. Ryan's presentation concluded that considering the big difference in the agricultural situation of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, ICRISAT should have different R&D strategies for the two SAT regions.

Jock R. Anderson, Advisor, Rural Development Strategy and Policy, World Bank, Washington DC presented his thoughts on the analysis by Drs. Ryan and Spencer.

Panel discussions followed the presentations, chaired by Dr. Kurien and the Program Director of ICRISAT's Socioeconomics and Policy Program, Dr. Cynthia Bantilan. Dr. Jill M. Lenné, Deputy Director General, ICRISAT, made the Closing Remarks.

4)  Bringing the Green Revolution to the Dry Central Regions of India: The Power of ICAR-ICRISAT Partnership, November, 2000

"The collaboration between India and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is helping to extend steadily the Green Revolution to the poor of the dry central regions of the country who had been bypassed the first time," said Dr. William D. Dar, ICRISAT Director General, during the India-ICRISAT Day Celebration at Patancheru on 15 November 2000.

The India-ICRISAT Day was organized to commemorate the Institute's contribution to Indian agriculture and review cooperation between ICRISAT and India, particularly the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and ICRISAT.

Referring to this long and fruitful partnership, Shri Nitish Kumar, Honorable Agriculture Minister, Government of India, stated in his message for the India-ICRISAT Day, "It is heartening to know that the varieties and hybrids developed jointly by ICAR, Agricultural Universities of India, and ICRISAT are grown in large areas not only in India but in other countries as well."

Shri Vadde Shobhanadreeswara Rao, Honorable Minister for Agriculture and Horticulture, Government of Andhra Pradesh, who was the Chief Guest for the event, urged ICRISAT and ICAR to bring an awareness among farmers about new technologies. "The need of the hour is to transfer these technologies to farmers of the dry areas who depend on rainfed agriculture," he said.

ICRISAT was created in 1972 to address the challenges of agriculture in the dry areas of Asia and Africa and since India has the largest expanse of dry areas in its Deccan plateau and has also a strong national research capacity, it was chosen as the ideal location for the Institute's headquarters. "We feel privileged that ICRISAT is located in the heartland of India," Shri Nitish Kumar stated in his message.

Highlighting the benefits of this collaborative research to India and other developing countries, Dr. R. S. Paroda, Director General, ICAR, said, "The development of the world's first pigeonpea hybrid is a result of this partnership. The shortening of the maturity period for pigeonpea from 300 days to 120 days has helped us change the cropping system in the wheat belt of India. We now have pigeonpea-wheat rotation in this area, which was unheard of before." Dr Paroda explained that the addition of legume crop into the cereal monocrop system would make the cropping system more sustainable. "We can then look forward to an ever-Green Revolution in India."

Shri Bhaskar Barua, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, Shri P.V. Rao, Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Mangala Rai, ICAR Deputy Director General (Crops), Dr Jill Lenne, ICRISAT Deputy Director General as well as representatives from the donor community attended the function.

Dr. J. G. Ryan, Former ICRISAT Director General, Dr. Y.L. Nene, Former ICRISAT Deputy Director General, Dr. M. V. Rao, Special Director General, ICAR (Retd) and Ex-Vice-Chancellor, ANGRAU, Hyderabad were some of the eminent speakers at the function.

Removing the Root Cause of Hunger in the Semi-Arid Tropics

5)  ICRISAT Rededicates itself to the Vision of the World Food Day, October, 2000

"We have come a long way since the days of large-scale famines in Asia. But ICRISAT's challenge to help developing countries reduce hunger and environmental degradation in the semi-arid tropics remains as urgent as ever in the new millennium," said Dr. William D. Dar, Director General, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in the context of the World Food Day.

Citing recent cases of severe droughts in parts of India and in the Horn of Africa, Dr. Dar said that technologies resulting from ICRISAT's partnership-based research, such as crop varieties that escape drought by maturing early, have helped the rural communities

immensely during such disasters.

"Over 400 improved varieties developed by ICRISAT and its partners have been released in 170 countries, contributing to sharp increases in productivity in the semi-arid tropics," Dr Dar specified, emphasizing that agriculture is at the heart of any effective solution in this region.

"And agriculture is about people, food for people, and how people work together to sustain life," said Dr. Dar. "The positive effects of agricultural technology on poverty reduction are vividly evident. This is especially true where human nourishment and sustenance are involved."

ICRISAT seeks to improve the most important staples of the poor in the semi-arid tropics as well as the management of land and water resources of this region, where about 300 million people survive on less than a dollar a day.

"This year's World Food Day theme of A millennium free of hunger is, therefore, highly relevant to what ICRISAT is striving to achieve in the semi-arid tropics. This is what we like to call Science with a Human Face," observed Dr. Dar, highlighting some of the achievements of ICRISAT's partnership-based research:

• ICRISAT has shown that by using integrated watershed management technology, up to 4 tons of grains per hectare can be harvested from drylands, with about 60% reductions in soil and water loss

This technology is being transferred to farmers using community-based approach in India, Thailand, and Vietnam with support from the Asian Development Bank

• By adopting environment-friendly pest management technologies, farmers in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam have reduced up to 100% the use of insecticide in some areas

• In sub-Saharan Africa, 92 improved varieties developed by ICRISAT and national research teams have been released. The new varieties offer yield increases of 20% or more over traditional varieties

• Improved millet cultivars developed by ICRISAT and its partners are grown in more than two-thirds of the total area under millet in India

• In Andhra Pradesh (India), chickpea production registered a sevenfold increase following the introduction of new varieties. The additional produce adds US$ 48 million annually to the state's gross domestic product

• ICRISAT developed the world's first pigeonpea hybrid, ICPH 8, which reached farmers' fields in 1991

"With support from development investors and sponsors, such as the World Bank, FAO, and UNDP, we are increasingly taking the help of our partners to deliver the technologies to the people who need them most," Dr Dar remarked.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is a non-

profit, apolitical, international organization for science-based agricultural development. Established in 1972, it is a Future Harvest Center supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

6)  Karnataka's Minister Urges Extension Systems to Take Advantage of ICRISAT's Technology, October, 2000

Mr T B Jayachandra, Honorable Minister for Agriculture, Government of Karnataka, sta ted that ICRISAT's innovative technologies should be transferred immediately to farmers, during his visit to the Institute's headquarters at Patancheru on 10 October 2000.

"The extension systems in the country have failed to take advantage of the Institute's results," Mr Jayachandra said. He

urged the extension staff "to work out an effective mechanism" for such transfer of technologies.

Dr William D. Dar, ICRISAT Director General, accompanied the Minister on a short tour of the experimental fields and laboratories, giving him an overview of research activities carried out by ICRISAT in collaboration with its research and development partners.

The highlight of Mr Jayachandra's visit was his tour to the Watershed Research Project, where ICRISAT researchers explained to him the various components of this integrated technology. The Minister asked his officials of State Department and Agricultural Universities to interact with ICRISAT for the possibility of adoption of this technology in rainfed areas of Karnataka.

Mr Jayachandra said that he would ask the Managing Director of Karnataka State Seed Corporation to get improved crop varieties of ICRISAT mandate crops and discuss the modalities of seed multiplication for distribution to the farmers in the state.

During the visit, the Honorable Minister was accompanied by Dr S A Patil, Director of Research, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad and a few other officials from the Government of Karnataka.

Dr Patil said that although UAS has been working with ICRISAT for a long time, he would "like to have collaboration in many more programs."

7)  ICRISAT Signs MOU with the International Water Management Institute, September, 2000

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to initiate cooperative activities in natural resou rce management and policy research on water resources was signed between the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on 29 September 2000 at ICRISAT, Patancheru.

The cooperative activities between the two international sister institutes will include, among others:

Joint planning meetings Joint appointments of IWMI and ICRISAT scientists in appropriate locations. Joint research Exchange of scientists for lectures, seminars, and training courses Holding in trust of IWMI funds by ICRISAT to support research work in India Sharing of information, administrative, and support services in India Co-sponsoring of seminars, conferences, and workshops, as necessary

The agreement will last for an initial duration of 5 years. Preliminary work plan will commence in the areas of a regional programmatic integration in South Asia, watershed management research in India and in Southern Africa, and a comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture.

The MOU was signed by Dr. William D. Dar, Director General of ICRISAT, and Dr. Frank Rijsberman, Director General of IWMI, a research organization based in Sri Lanka, focusing on the use of water in agriculture and on the water needs of developing countries.

Dr. Tushaar Shah, IWMI Research Leader, Policy Institutions and Management Global Programs; Dr. Jill Lenné, ICRISAT Deputy Director General; and Mr. S. Parthasarathy, ICRISAT Assistant Director General were present at the signing ceremony.s

8)  ICRISAT Trains ICAR Librarians in New Information Technologies, September, 2000

Library automation, web-based information technologies, state-of-the-art information retrieval systems, and marketing of information services, were some of the topics that were covered in a 2-week intensive training course on “Application of Information Technologies” conducted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), 4-16 September 2000 at Patancheru.

This course is the third in the series of a highly acclaimed training program, which began in 1995 at ICRISAT on the request of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for librarians from ICAR Institutes and Agricultural Universities across India. The program has been so successful that “over the past 5 years, librarians from nearly 50 institutions across India have already been trained,” said Mr S Srinivas, Senior

Manager of ICRISAT Library.

Participants for this training course included 13 librarians from ICAR and State Agriculture Universities. The sessions were a mix of classroom presentations and hands-on experience.

Dr S S Srivastav, one of the participants said, “We, on our part, shall not lag behind in using these information technologies in our respective organizations.”  Dr Srivastav, a SAARC Expert, is Head of Library System, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi.

Presenting certificates to all the course participants, ICRISAT Director General Dr William Dar told them, “We are not just teaching you, we are also learning from you at the same time.”

9)  ICRISAT Strengthens Partnerships with the Private and Public Sectors, September, 2000

Traditionally used for food, especially in rural semi-arid tropics, sorghum and pearl millet have a great potential for industrial uses: poultry feed, snacks, or alcoholic beverages. This was one of the themes that were highlighted in the 4-day Field Day events (12-13 September for Pearl Millet and 14-15 September for Sorghum) organized at ICRISAT-Patancheru.

The other important themes that emerged during the Field Days were the developments in the use of cutting-edge technology - such as molecular markers and genomics for sorghum and pearl millet breeding - online crop information systems, and the importance of forging strong R&D partnerships between public and private sectors.

The Field Day events, coordinated by ICRISAT researchers Dr Belum V S Reddy (Sorghum) and Dr K N Rai (Pearl Millet) this year differed from those of previous years in several ways:

• The Field Days were organized for the first time with funding support from the private sector.

• The scope of issues covered during the presentations and discussions was large and topical.

• The number of participants, especially from the private sector, was very high.

In total, 54 private sector partners participated in the two events, demonstrating the growing strength of ICRISAT-private sector research partnerships. “This partnership makes not only ICRISAT research stronger, but it also strengthens indirectly the joint project activities of ICRISAT and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on hybrid parents,” said Dr William Dar, inaugurating the Pearl Millet Field Day.

The participants, including over 50 representatives from the public sector, had a first-hand view of joint trials, breeding materials, and screening techniques for disease and insect pest resistance. They discussed production and utilization trends, and research status and needs relating to sorghum and pearl millet. The Field Days provided the participants with an opportunity to evaluate and select breeding materials for use in their program.

11)  ICRISAT disburses compensation to heirs of flood victims, September, 2000

On 11 September 2000, ICRISAT Director General Dr William Dar disbursed the remaining compensation of Rs.2.75 lakhs on behalf of the Institute to the legal heirs of each of the five flood victims who lost their lives in a tragic accident that took place at ICRISAT on 23 August.

On 23 August, extraordinary rainfall and flash flooding had engulfed ICRISAT's campus near Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh. Five temporary farm laborers stranded by the floodwaters lost their lives during a rescue attempt. Three others were saved - rescued by an Air Force helicopter.

Just after the tragedy had struck, in order to support the families in their pain and tragic loss, ICRISAT had decided to provide each family with a sum of Rs.3 lakhs as financial assistance out of which an advance of Rs.25,000/- was paid immediately to assist them with their urgent expenses.

Today, the remaining compensation was disbursed in the form of saving passbooks, National Saving Certificates (NSC), and fixed deposit receipts. The mode of disbursement was decided according to the advice of Smt A Santhi Kumari, Collector and District Magistrate, Medak District, who had made a special effort to be present at this event.

Mr Govind Raj, Group Captain, Air Force Station, Begumpet, who had sent the rescue team and helicopter in response to ICRISAT's urgent request, was also present for this event, accompanied by some of his staff.

Presenting the compensation, ICRISAT Director General said, "Condolence messages have poured in from all over the world, especially from our sister institutes and ICRISAT staff who are working in our African locations."

After thanking all the people who had assisted during the crisis, Mr S Parthasarathy, ICRISAT Assistant Director General said, "No amount of money or words will ever compensate the loss of a loved one. However, the Institute hopes that this compensation will help the children of the victims to have a better future."

12)  Dr Jill Lenné Joins ICRISAT as Deputy Director General-Research, September, 2000

Dr Jill M Lenné, an Australian, who was appointed as ICRISAT's Deputy Director General in May this year, arrived at Patancheru (ICRISAT Headquarters) on 28 August 2000 to start work in her official capacity. She was for mally welcomed to the Institute at a lunch hosted by Director General Dr William Dar.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Dar said, "The ICRISAT Management Team is now complete allowing us to go ahead at full-steam. Since we now have a much clearer direction for the Institute, research productivity will rise to new levels. Jill will play a key role in managing the Research Portfolio of the Institute."

For her part Dr Lenné is very pleased and happy to be back at ICRISAT, having served as Principal Plant Pathologist and Director of the Crop Protection Division from 1994 to 1997. She is aware of the challenges ahead, but excited about the opportunities for the Institute in the future. "I am looking forward to working closely with the ICRISAT team, both in generating new technologies, as well as in promoting their uptake by resource poor farmers of the semi-arid tropics," she said.

Since May of last year, Dr Lenné has been Programme Leader (Strategy) for the DFID Crop Protection Programme, Natural Resources International, UK. Prior to that (1997-99), she was a consultant to Agrobiodiversity International as well as to CABI Bioscience and Natural Resources International, UK. Dr Lenné has more than 20 years experience in tropical agricultural research, including assignments in almost 40 countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. During her career, she also worked for two science consultancy firms and for our sister Center, CIAT. She is author, co-author or editor of 130 research publications including four books, refereed journal articles, book chapters, and conference articles. She has long experience and contacts with European advanced research institutes, DFID-UK, and other European and Australian aid agenscies.

ICRISAT extends a very warm welcome to Dr Lenné and her husband Dr David Wood, and wish her every happiness and success in her new position. Her email address is J.LENNE@CGIAR.ORG .

13)  ICRISAT Announces Assistance for Victims, August, 2000

ICRISAT joins in the grief of the families of the 5 victims of the tragic flooding event on 23rd August 2000. In order to support the families in their pain and tragic loss, ICRISAT will provide each family with a sum of Rs.3,00,000/- (about US$ 6682) as financial assistance out of which an advance of Rs.25,000/- (about US$ 557) is being paid immediately to assist them with their urgent expenses.

Following the identification of the deceased and the production of legal heirship certificates from the Mandal Revenue Officer, Ramachandrapuram Mandal, Medak District, the remaining amount of Rs.2,75,000/- (about US$ 6125) will be disbursed following proper procedures and safeguards protecting the interests of the families.

14)  Five Farm Laborers Missing, August, 2000

Extraordinary rainfall and flash flooding engulfed ICRISAT's huge campus near Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday August 23rd. Five temporary farm laborers stranded by the floodwaters are missing as a result of a tragic event during a rescue attempt. Three others were saved. An intensive search for the missing is underway. As of noon Friday 25 August, three bodies had been recovered from the ICRISAT lake.

On their way to their workplace, the eight laborers became stranded on a narrow bund (dike) surrounded by the rising, fast-moving water. They were located by security staff who were patrolling the fields during the late afternoon. In view of the continued heavy rainfall, rising water level, impending darkness and cold wet conditions of the laborers, urgent attempts were mounted to rescue them.

A tractor successfully forded the stream to collect the laborers, but upon its return trip the surging force of water pushed it off the causeway into the streambed. The tractor rolled over and the laborers fell into the stream.

In addition to the driver, three laborers were saved, but five others were swept downstream and have not yet been found despite intensive search efforts. The three persons who returned to the bund were provided with food and blankets over a rope stretched to the bund as they remained there overnight and as rescue efforts continued. Assistance to rescue them was provided by the Medak District Collector, the District police authorities, and the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services. They were finally rescued by an Air Force helicopter early the next morning.

ICRISAT is devastated by this tragedy and is making every effort to help the families of the missing to cope. Medical care and counseling are being provided to the survivors as well as to the families of the missing, for whom an intensive search continues. ICRISAT is working closely with State and District civil rescue agencies and police authorities in this situation. ICRISAT will provide all possible assistance and support to those affected.

15)  Developing a Road Map to the Future of the Semi-Arid Tropics, August, 2000

International Experts Convene at ICRISAT to Discuss Critical Issues of Agricultural Research

As part of a futuristic strategy, international experts have gathered together at ICRISAT, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, 10-11 August 2000, to discuss critical issues on the semi-arid tropics (dry areas of the rural tropics), relating to Asia. The brainstorming session is being held so that ICRISAT can be informed by the best judgments in this area. Eminent authorities from the National Programs of several Asian countries (India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam) have been invited. One of the main participants is Dr R S Paroda, Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, who is the Vice-Chair of the ICRISAT Governing Board.

Representatives from the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and farmers'

associations are also participating in this brainstorming exercise, the main purpose of which is to address questions, such as:

What will the semi-arid tropics, more commonly known as SAT, look like in the year 2020? Is the future bleak in view of the tremendous population explosion in these regions, which are home to the largest number of poor in the world? World experts predict that most poverty will continue to be concentrated in the rural areas in the next 20 years even though 90% of population growth will be in urban areas.

The new driving forces, such as globalization, biotechnology, information revolution, and environmental concerns will also be discussed in relation to their effect on SAT Agriculture. And finally, the participants will address the issue: What do all these factors imply for ICRISAT's partnership-based research?

The answers to these questions are critical for ICRISAT and its partners to chart the future course of action or as Dr William Dar, ICRISAT Director General put it, "the road map to the future of the semi-arid tropics".

ICRISAT's overarching aim is to reduce poverty in the SAT through science with a human face. Since the dominant activity in rural areas is agriculture, one major solution to rural poverty is through agricultural growth. ICRISAT strongly believes that new technologies can make farming more efficient and productive, accelerating that growth. However, a road map to choose the correct direction is necessary in order to achieve our common goal.

This session is part of a comprehensive strategy that includes:

regional and global consultations with key research and development institutions in the SAT of Asia and Africa;

compilation of information and projections on population, environment, economic indicators, agricultural production and productivity of the SAT;

analysis of the information in relation to poverty reduction, policy issues, and future R&D thrusts in the SAT.

Valuable inputs from this exercise and from similar ones carried out in some of ICRISAT's host countries in Africa will help in the development of a white paper on the "Future of SAT Agriculture."

ICRISAT has commissioned two external experts of international repute - Drs J G Ryan and Dunstan Spencer - to develop the white paper, which will form the basis of ICRISAT's Vision and Strategy Plan and its Medium-Term Plan.

A symposium to summarize all the global consultations and the analyses of possible SAT Future scenarios will take place on 14 November 2000 at Patancheru.

16)  Karnataka MLAs hail ICRISAT's research as

A delegation of Karnataka State Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Committee o n Public Accounts described ICRISAT's work as "wonderful" and "a boon to farmers", on their visit to the Institute on 5 August 2000. The 14-member delegation had come to Hyderabad specifically to visit ICRISAT and get a first hand-view of its research activities.

"We have come to see how ICRISAT can benefit our farmers who are the backbone of our State", said Mr Araga Jnanendra, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. Welcoming the delegation on behalf of ICRISAT Management, Dr R Ortiz, Director of ICRISAT's Genetic Resources and Enhancement Program stated, "We are very happy that you have decided to visit ICRISAT. Our aim is to improve the agricultural productivity of the semi-arid tropics, with a focus on science with a human face."

Senior ICRISAT scientists accompanied the delegation on a tour of the ICRISAT's Gene Bank and experimental fields, showing a sample of the most promising technologies developed by the Institute, some of which have been widely adopted by smallholder farmers. Appreciating the watershed

management project, the visitors said that they would urge the concerned officials in Karnataka State to get in touch with ICRISAT.

The delegation was very keen that ICRISAT's research on integrated nutrition management and integrated pest management should be widely disseminated among farmers. "These technologies will help reduce the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are polluting the atmosphere and endangering our health," said Mr Chandrakant Bellad.

17)  ICRISAT Strategizes with Partners to Reduce Aflatoxin Levels in Groundnut-based Products in India, July, 2000

A 2-day scientific meeting on "Strategies for reducing aflatoxin levels in groundnut-based foods and feeds in India - a step towards improving health of human and livestock" was held at ICRISAT-Patancheru, 26-27 July 2000. Inaugurating the meeting, Dr William Dar, ICRISAT Director General stated that ICRISAT had developed important tools to diagnose aflatoxin in groundnut and was well positioned to address the issues of reducing the aflatoxin contamination in groundnut and groundnut meal.

Aflatoxin in food and feed has been found to cause liver cancer, and is, therefore, a big health risk to both human beings and animals. The problem has badly affected groundnut exports, especially from developing countries, because most developed countries have strict laws on permissible limits of aflatoxin levels in food and feed products. Smallholder farmers, groundnut oil and livestock industries are particularly affected by the problem.

The meeting gave an opportunity to the main partners of a Project funded by the Department for International Development/Natural Resources Institute (NRI), UK, to

address the research and development aspects of the problem of aflatoxins in groundnut, which is of serious concern worldwide. Speaking about the partnership-based Project, Dr D V R Reddy, Principal Scientist, Mycotoxins and Virology Laboratory at ICRISAT, said, "We are currently investigating various options for reducing aflatoxin contamination in groundnut."

The participants included experts from the University of Reading, UK, Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, National Research Centre for Groundnut, and ICRISAT. Representatives from non-governmental organizations and development agencies such as Man and Ecology (AME) and the Society for Transformation Agriculture and Alternatives in Development (STAAD) as well as from Janaki Feeds, Hyderabad also attended.

18)  Brainstorming a Brighter Future for Dry Areas of the Rural Tropics, July, 2000

On 25 July at its Headquarters in Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, ICRISAT convened an in ternational Brainstorming Session on future development scenarios and how poverty might be reduced and food security ensured in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) of the world. As part of a global series of consultations, the discussions at

Patancheru focused on Asia and especially India, which represents the major portion of the SAT along its central and northwestern backbone, providing a home for more than 160 million extremely poor people (living on an income of less than Rs. 44 per day).

This exercise will portray ICRISAT's vision and strategy in the new millennium in a white paper on SAT Futures, which will be developed by two experts of international repute -- eminent

socio-economist and former Director General of ICRISAT, Dr. James G Ryan of Australia, and well-known Agricultural Economist, Dr. Dunstan Spencer of Sierra Leone, who were specially commissioned by the Institute for this purpose.

The event was inaugurated by ICRISAT's Director General Dr. William Dar, and attended by 90 members of the ICRISAT-Patancheru scientific community and senior members of the Administration. In his opening speech Dr. Dar reminded the staff about ICRISAT's commitment to the reduction of poverty and hunger in the semi-arid tropics of the world. He quoted authoritative global studies, which predict a doubling or more of populations in Ethiopia, Pakistan, Nigeria, and India by the year 2050. India's population alone is predicted to increase by 650 million, overtaking the population of China to become the most populous nation on earth. This could lead to increasing numbers of poor, food shortages and related calamities unless rural development keeps pace.

Dr. Ryan summarized the available information and projections and suggested a list of issues, trends, and facts to stimulate the discussions, which proved to be lively and thought-provoking. Studies by the World Bank demonstrate convincingly that economic growth in the rural sector, which is dominated by agriculture, can be a very effective tool for reducing poverty. Stimulating such growth will require many institutions working in close partnership to provide poor farmers with a wider range of technology and policy options to increase the profitability of farming. Improvements in the dissemination of technology will also be essential, for example through the use of information technology.

Dr. Ryan reminded the group that this session was only a beginning. Another brainstorming session with partner institutions from across Asia will take place in early August, and a symposium to summarize all the global consultations and the analyses of possible SAT Futures will take place in mid-November at Patancheru. The outcomes will be published and will guide ICRISAT's new Vision and Strategic Plan to be developed in 2001.

19)  ICRISAT DG Meets New Chairman of CGIAR, July, 2000

The Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is an informal association of 58 public and private members that support a network of sixteen international centers, of which ICRISAT is one. In a recent meeting in London, convened by the new Chairman of the CGIAR, Dr. Ian Johnson, ICRISAT's Director General Dr. William Dar, along with other Center Directors, met and discussed the current situation in the CGIAR and strategies for the future.

"The meeting was like a breath of fresh air for the whole CGIAR System," said Dr. Dar. Dr. Johnson, who is also a Vice President of the World Bank, pledged to mobilize more funds through a proactive resource mobilization endeavor of the CGIAR, so that the Centers will be given enough resources to do the right kind of research work, which will help to improve people's lives in the neediest areas of the world.

Dr. Johnson also emphasized the need to enhance behavioral changes in the system and the Centers. He would like to see more inter-center collaboration together with other relevant partners. He will initiate the streamlining of the secretariat and many existing committees. He sent the message that business as usual is no longer possible today and in the future, and that much work remains to be done to make the whole system more efficient and effective.

The commitment of the CGIAR Chair promises a much brighter future of CGIAR than before, and ICRISAT will be here to stay. Therefore, ICRISAT must really chart its future, create new beginnings and a new culture and to pursue work on very critical and important research issues in the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

20)  Former ICRISAT Board Chair Honored by the Queen of England, July, 2000

Professor Eric H Roberts, who was a Governing Board Member of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) from 1989 to 1996 and its Board Chairman from 1992-1996, was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) on 16 June 2000, in the UK. He received this award for services to agricultural research in the Civil Category, as part of Queen's Birthday Honors.

On behalf of ICRISAT, Director General Dr William D Dar sent a message to Professor Roberts congratulating him on this prestigious recognition.

21)  World Bank Vice President Ian Johnson to Lead CGIAR, July, 2000

Ian Johnson, World Bank Vice President for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development has been named Chairman of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). He succeeds Ismail Serageldin , who led the CGIAR from 1994 until July 10, 2000.

The CGIAR is the world's largest agricultural research network, dedicated to improving food crops, reducing hunger, and promoting the sound management of natural resources throughout the developing world. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the headquarters of which is based at Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, is one of 16 Future Harvest Centers supported by the CGIAR.

Ian Johnson is a strong environmentalist and was one of the architects of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which was established after the Rio Earth Summit to combat threats to the global environment.

"It is an honor to accept this appointment," Johnson said. "The CGIAR is one of the best examples of a successful partnership to improve agricultural development in some of the world's poorest, ecologically fragile areas."

A British national, Johnson was educated at the University of Wales, University of Sussex, and Harvard University. He joined the World Bank in 1980. Since 1998, he has been the World Bank Vice President for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development, one of the Bank's largest departments responsible for rural and social development and the environment

The World Bank serves as a CGIAR cosponsor in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Traditionally, a World Bank Vice President has served as CGIAR Chair.

Fifty eight CGIAR members - industrial and developing countries, private foundations, and regional and international organizations - provide financing, technical support, and strategic direction. A host of other public and private organizations work with the CGIAR as donors, research associates, and advisors. The work of CGIAR scientists has received global acclaim, winning the Nobel Prize (for Peace) and five World Food Prizes.

22)  ICRISAT Lead Center for ICAR Project on Natural Resources Management, July, 2000

The collaborative research proposal "Identifying systems for carbon sequestration and increased productivity in semi-arid tropical environments" with ICRISAT as the lead center, recently qualified for implementation under the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) of the Government of India. Dr S P Wani, ICRISAT Senior Scientist, will be the Prinicipal Investigator of the Project.

This Rs 17,948,250 (US$ 417,401) project will last 3 years, and will study how carbon levels can be enhanced in the nutrient-poor soils of the semi-arid tropics, by means of appropriate cropping systems, and other practices such as organic and inorganic fertilizer amendments. "We plan to conduct research with three Cooperating Centers -- Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad; Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS), Bhopal; and National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP), Nagpur", said Dr Wani, adding that, "ICRISAT will bring to bear its considerable research experience in the area of soil-fertility enhancement".

The Scientific Advisory Panel of the Agroecosystems Directorate (Rainfed Farming), NATP, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) selected this project proposal and sanctioned funding. The project is expected to begin later this year.

23)  ICRISAT Lauds ANGRAU, CRIDA, June, 2000

"We have a shared vision to help the poor farmers of the semi-arid tropics (SAT) and we are pr oud of the work we are doing with you," said Dr William D Dar, ICRISAT Director General, to Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), and Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA). Both Institutes have been long-time partners in research with ICRISAT. Dr Dar and Dr S P Wani, Coordinator, Watershed Management Program, ICRISAT, visited on 20 June these prestigious agricultural research institutes.

Welcoming Dr Dar, Dr I V Subba Rao, Vice-Chancellor, ANGRAU, said, "We have benefited immensely through the partnership research with ICRISAT in terms

of plant materials with improved traits which helped us in release of improved varieties of pigeonpea, chickpea, groundnut, and other crops. We have many collaborative programs in the area of natural resource management, and several ICRISAT scientists are serving as guides and Principal Advisors to Postgraduate students of this University." Dr Dar interacted with the University's senior faculty and officers.

At CRIDA, Director, Dr H P Singh welcomed the visitors, and said, "It is a memorable and lucky day for CRIDA that Dr Dar has taken this initiative to visit this Institute. We hope that this will further strengthen our existing partnership in the area of natural resources management and other areas also."

Dr Dar in his response said, "it is in the interest of ICRISAT to strengthen the linkages with important partners such as CRIDA and other ICAR institutes. There has been outstanding collaboration between CRIDA and ICRISAT, and my visit today gives me an opportunity to highlight our future work with partners like CRIDA. I am very much impressed with the quality and comprehensiveness of the outputs from CRIDA. We are very satisfied with our partnership research but we have to always strengthen our partnerships."

Dr Dar presented the Medium Term Plan of ICRISAT to a large gathering of CRIDA scientists. This was followed by a visit to CRIDA's laboratory facilities, and then to a research farm and Krishi Vignan Kendra, at Hayatnagar. Here, Dr Dar had first-hand knowledge of CRIDA's research in rainwater management, agroforestry, agrihorticultural, and silvipastoral systems. At the KVK, Dr Dar also interacted with women participants of a course on Integrated Pest Management. The Director General appreciated CRIDA's impressive work. He reemphasized the importance of this strategic partnership between CRIDA and ICRISAT, and concluded that "by joining hands we can together fulfill most effectively our shared vision of reducing poverty, increasing the food security, and protecting the environment in the SAT".

24)  ICRISAT Combats Desertification and Drought, June, 2000

June 17 is World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Recognizing this, Dr William Dar, ICRISAT Director General, urged the Institute to "take stock of where we stand in this battle against desertification, and rededicate our energies to solving this grave problem".

As Dr Dar told the recent ICAR-ICRISAT Brainstorming session on Desertification in Asia: "The largest degraded area of agricultural land in the world (1475 million ha) is in Asia, and this is also one of the most densely populated regions in the world. The two most populous countries of the world, India and China, figure prominently in the World Atlas of Desertification of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)." Citing various studies, Dr Dar said, "Resource poor farmers, following unsustainable practices, are overexploiting available land and water resources. In South Asia, the annual loss in productivity due to soil erosion is estimated at 36 million tons of cereal equivalent valued at US $ 5.4 billion; wind erosion accounts for a further US$ 1.8 billion. The annual economic loss due to soil fertility depletion in South Asia is an estimated US

$ 600 million for nutrient loss through erosion, and an estimated US $ 1.2 billion from soil fertility depletion according to UNEP's estimates."

Dr K P C Rao, Scientist in ICRISAT's Natural Resources Management Program, observes that "the semi-arid tropics, where ICRISAT works, are particularly vulnerable to desertification." He said, "The gravity of the problem is revealed in the recent Government of India re-classification of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, India, as a 'desert-prone area' rather than 'drought-prone area'".

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) defines desertification as "land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities". The UNCCD estimates that seventy percent of the world's drylands (excluding hyper-arid deserts), or some 3,600 million hectares, are degraded.

Desertification directly affects some 250 million people worldwide. But degraded lands have a spillover effect too, for example, downstream flooding, sedimentation in rivers and lakes, and dust storms. In all over 1 billion people are at risk because of desertification.

In the light of these facts, ICRISAT's initiatives in Africa and Asia to help the "slaves of hunger and poverty" (as the Dr Dar recently termed it) take on a new urgency. As ICRISAT Senior Scientist, Dr S P Wani says, "ICRISAT's Desert Margins Program, the long-term experiments in soil-water-nutrient management, and the integrated watershed management projects contribute significantly to finding combating desertification in the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa."

25)  Legislators Study ICRISATchr(39)s Water-Harvesting Strategies, June, 2000

"The research at ICRISAT is particularly useful to small and medium farmers. We will emphasize this in our report." So said Mr Govardhan Reddy, MLA, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Public Accounts of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, who visited ICRISAT today to study the Institute's strategies to manage watersheds. The team of 6 Telugu Desam Party MLAs and 4 Indian National Congress MLAs were accompanied by senior officials from the State Agriculture Department, and the Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad.

The visitors were welcomed by Dr William D Dar, Director General, ICRISAT, who gave them an overview of the Institute's mission of Science with a Human Face. Dr Dar focused on ICRISAT's research agenda for the "slaves of poverty and hunger" -- the 300 million people who constitute the poorest of the poor of the semi-arid tropics. After the DG's presentation the Honorable Members were given an overview of biotechnology research at ICRISAT on developing disease and drought resistance in groundnut and pearl millet. Thereafter they visited ICRISAT's Genebank which conserves and characterizes 113 500 accessions (samples) of the ICRISAT mandate

crops: sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea, and groundnut.

The visitors then got first-hand knowledge of ICRISAT's watershed management research. Dr S P Wani, Coordinator, Watershed Project, gave details of the Institute's two-decade-old experiments in integrated watershed management, including the current work in Kothapally, Ranga Reddy district, AP, in partnership with NARS and NGOs. A bullock-drawn Tropicultor was also demonstrated. The visiting dignitaries evinced keen interest in all this information.

Finally, Mr D S Bisht, Leader, Farm and Engineering Services took the distinguished visitors on a tour of a water-harvesting tank to explain how rainwater is conserved and used at ICRISAT-Patancheru. "You are doing excellent work here", Mr Govardhan Reddy concluded.

26)  OU-ICRISAT Bag AP-Netherlands Biotech Project, June, 2000

Osmania University, Hyderabad, and ICRISAT have bagged a Rs 9.05 lakh (US$ 20,500) proposal to study pest resistance in pigeonpea. The project will be funded by the AP-Netherlands Biotechnology Program, through its Coordinating Agency, Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad.

During the 3-year project, Dr D Manohar Rao, Department of Genetics, OU, and senior ICRISAT entomologist, Dr H C Sharma will investigate pest resistance in pigeonpea through inter-specific hybridization. Annual pigeonpea losses worldwide due to the podborer insect are estimated at Rs 4092 crores (US$ 927 million ). Over 90% of the world's pigeonpea is grown in India.

27)  Brainstorming Session on Desertification in Asia, June, 2000

Continuing the current momentum in natural resources management partnerships with our host country, India, ICRISAT organized a 2-day "Brainstorming Session on

Desertification in Asia" at the Patancheru campus on 8 and 9 June. Scientists from diverse Indian research institutes and ICRISAT have come together to form what Dr. Barry

Shapiro, NRMP Program Director, in his opening remarks, described as a "coalition to address the serious problem of desertification". Distinguished participants included Dr. James Morton, Director, Natural Resources Systems Programme, of the Department for International Development, UK.

Welcoming the participants, Director General Dr. William Dar introduced the gathering to the chief elements of the New CGIAR Vision and Strategy extensively discussed during the recent Mid-Term Meeting in Dresden, Germany. Dr Dar concluded by exhorting the participants that "We must win this war against desertification". Dr. Dar's address is attached to this issue of Happenings.

Dr. D P Rao, Director, National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad, also made a presentation during the inaugural session, g iving valuable statistics on the extent of the problem in India. He also gave a comprehensive overview of the role of remote sensing in assessing and combating desertification.

Dr. G B Singh, Deputy Director General (NR), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi discussed the extent of desertification in Asia and highlighted the various initiatives taken jointly under the UN Convention on Combating Desertification in Asia. He briefed the participants on thematic programs network to fight against desertification in Asia.

Dr. Shapiro detailed the objectives of this brainstorming session, and outlined the structuring of these consultations so that the meeting could achieve its dual objectives: suggest directions for joint ICAR-ICRISAT research in combating desertification in India; and provide input into a draft proposal on combating desertification in the desert margins of Asia for a Project Development Fund grant to be submitted to the Asian Development Bank.

28) Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Seeks ICRISATchr(39)s Help

Following on the momentum built by the call of the State of Andhra Pradesh for ICRISAT's help in spreading new technologies to manage the drought, the Director General met the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, the honorable Chandrababu Naidu, together with our Board member and former State Chief Secretary Mr V Anandarau on Tuesday 16 May. Drs Wani, Winslow, Mr Parthasarathy, and Mr Bisht joined the DG. The Chief Minister, globally

recognized for his pro-development policies (which attracted US President Bill Clinton to make a special stopover in Hyderabad on his recent visit to India), emphasized his interest in strengthening ties with ICRISAT. "I want to use your services in a big way for total transformation of the entire State", he told Dr Dar and the ICRISAT delegation. "We need you to help develop a future for us. Watersheds, water harvesting, IPM, productivity increases, training... we are interested in all aspects." The Chief Minister, known for his use of information technology to keep a constant finger on the pulse of activity at offices across the state, suggested immediate means of operationalizing the collaboration. "Lets monitor our progress year by year using a scientific approach, measuring changes in water tables, pesticide usage, and other milestones. We are thinking to constitute an advisory council so ICRISAT can give our state agencies targets, give expertise, and establish a tempo of progress," he said. He offered state

facilities for use as pilot programs, for example to develop a demonstration watershed for each of the State's 23 districts. Dr Dar invited the Chief Minister to be ICRISAT's Chief Guest at India-ICRISAT Day being planned during 12-14 October (final date to be determined), just before World Food Day (16 October). The CM's response? "Certainly I will come. Even before then!"

29)  "Rainwater-use efficiency can be increased up to 70 percent" -- ICRISAT, May, 2000

"Twenty-seven years of research at ICRISAT shows that rainwater-use efficiency can be increased up to 70 percent if rainwater is managed properly by adopting an integrated watershed management approach", said Dr William D Dar, Director General, ICRISAT,

at ICRISAT-Patancheru today. He was addressing a study group of senior officials and executives of the Government of India and various Public Sector Undertakings, led by Ms Lakshmi Parthasarathy, Vice-Chair, Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA), who visited the Patancheru campus to get first-hand exposure to ICRISAT's strategies for rainwater harvesting. This visit was a follow-up

action to the meeting on the Rainwater-Harvesting Mission held by the Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Chandrababu Naidu on 9 May at Jubilee Hall, Hyderabad. Distinguished members of the study group included Dr A K Goyal, Director General, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), and representatives from Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Osmania University, National Institute for Rural Development, Geological Survey of India, and NGOs.

"Our basic strategy is to conserve rainfall in community watersheds, and efficient use of natural resources such as water, soil, and vegetation in the watershed to increase the system's productivity and mitigate the adverse effects of natural calamities such as excess rains or severe droughts" Dr Dar said. He emphasized ICRISAT's mission of improving the livelihoods of the millions of resource-poor farmers who live in the semi-arid tropics, through increasing the productivity of rainfed agriculture by the development of improved, high-yielding crop varieties, and improved and efficient management of natural resources.

Ms Lakshmi Parthasarathy then gave the gathering a brief overview of the Rainwater Harvesting Mission, and the Study-group's findings so far of the measures of rainwater harvesting being undertaken by various organizations and institutes in and around Hyderabad. "These visits have proved to be a real learning experience," she said, "and we look forward to the insights we are sure to gain at ICRISAT".

The Study group toured the ICRISAT watershed, and senior scientists and staff explained the construction, structure, and function of the many water-conservation measures taken by the Institute. A seminar was held in the afternoon during which more details were given of ICRISAT's integrated watershed research.

Mr S Parthasarathy, Assistant Director General, ICRISAT, thanked all the participants of the day's events and reiterated ICRISAT's commitment to research partnerships in natural resources management.

For more details on ICRISAT's drought-research, click here.

30)  ICRISATchr(39)s Drought Research: Hope that Never Dries Up, May, 2000

Drought avoiding crops.For farmers in Gottipadu village, near Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, 1999 was a particularly harsh year: there were no rains at all after 21 October that year. In spite of this severe drought, farmers got as much as 1.7 tonnes per hectare that season. Their crop: chickpea, more precisely, chickpea varieties, Swetha (ICCV2) and Kranthi (ICCC37), short-duration varieties which mature in 85-100 days and therefore escape end-of-season drought.

In the semi-arid tropics, drought occurs roughly two out of every 5 years. And even when there is rainfall (varying from 500-1300 mm per annum), it is erratic, varying from year to year, and within seasons. Further, only 30-60% of this rainfall is used effectively for crop production; the remaining 40-70% of rainwater is lost as runoff, evaporation, and deep drainage.

It is against such a challenging background that ICRISAT has been researching for solutions for over a quarter-century now. And the combination of deep commitment and good science has given dividends. Besides, the silent chickpea revolution -- chickpea production in AP increased 9-fold in the last decade -- ICRISAT's groundnut program has distributed to national programs in Asia and Africa 45 drought resistant breeding lines. From the ICAR-ICRISAT groundnut releases in India, three varieties are tolerant of end-of-season drought, and two are tolerant of mid-season drought.

Efficient use of limited water. ICRISAT is fighting the battle against drought on a different front as well -- that of natural resource management. The basic strategy there is to conserve rainfall in community-managed watersheds. On-station and on-farm watersheds varying from 500 to 10 000 hectares are being used for the research. On-station results are very promising. Using an integrated watershed approach on deep black soils (90 cm and more), researchers at ICRISAT-Patancheru observed the following.

    Achieved 4-4.3 tonnes per hectare as compared to 900 kg per hectare of sorghum grains from conventional system. 

    Surface runoff of rainwater was reduced to 14% of rainfall as against 25% of rainfall in case of conventional system.      Water loss through bare soil evaporation and deep drainage was reduced to 19% of rainfall as against 45%. 

    Rainwater use efficiency for crop production was increased to 67% as against 30% in

case of conventional system. 

    Soil loss in case of improved system was reduced to 1.5 tonnes per ha as compared to 6.4 tonnes per ha.

In case of shallow black soils at Patancheru using integrated watershed management approach, ICRISAT researchers say:

    Soybean + chickpea sequential system produced on an average 2.5 to 2.8 tonnes per hectare of grains and soybean pigeonpea intercrop produced 2 to 2.2 tonnes per hectare over the last 4 years. 

    Improved land management decreased surface runoff by 40 mm (5 % of seasonal rainfall) and increased deep drainage of rainwater on an average by 5% as compare to the conventional system. 

    Overall rainfall use efficiency on watershed basis ranged from 50 to 100 per cent on Vertic Inceptisols.  

     In a drought year like 1999 intercropping systems performed far superior and produced 400 kg more grains per ha over the sequential system, in addition to the increased biomass production. 

    Integrated nutrient management system followed in the improved system resulted in the balanced n nutrient budget for the improved cropping system. The Glyricidia loppings from the plants planted on bunds provided 25 kg N per ha. Legumes provided 42 to 89% of their requirements from BNF. 

Based on these achievements of ICRISAT in the area of integrated watershed development, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has funded a project to evaluate this technology under farmers' conditions in India, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Evaluation through on-farm studies. For a task of this magnitude ICRISAT cannot -- and does not -- work alone. The Institute is evaluating this model in India in partnership with the farmers, non-governmental organizations (Bharatiya Agro-industries Foundation, Bhopal; MV Foundation, Hyderabad), National agricultural systems such as ICAR institutes (CRIDA; Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal), and state agricultural universities (Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalay, Indore). On-farm evaluation is being done at Kothapally in Andhra Pradesh, and Lalatora and Solsinda watersheds in Madhya Pradesh.

At Kothapally in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh during the first year of the program (1999) the rainfall received was only 480 mm. For the first time farmers grew soybean on 30 ha and harvested 400–1200 kg grains per ha depending on soil type. Improved cropping system with improved management produced 3.3 tonnes of grains in case of maize pigeonpea intercrop, and 1.5 tonnes grains in case of sorghum pigeonpea intercrop as compared to 900 kg per ha grains in case of traditional sorghum pigeonpea intercrop. The watershed committee of the villagers also undertook construction of water storage structures and gully control structures.

As ICRISAT Senior Scientist, Dr S P Wani says, "Through the community participatory

approach we aim to develop simple and affordable technological and institutional arrangements with the help of local research and community institutions for managing the natural resources in the watersheds. These empowered farmers and community members in the watersheds will be equipped better to cope with the vagaries of the rains and to mitigate the adverse effects of drought without further degradation of natural resources." With the diverse skill-sets of farmers, NGOs, and scientists all coming together, the battle against drought has seriously begun.

31)  Integrated Pest Management strategies to increase pulses production, May, 2000

A TIME honored farmers' practice of managing pigeonpea podborer has come in handy for the farmers of Hamsanapalli in Banvaspeta mandal of Mehboobnagar district, Andhra Pradesh. This cost-effective, eco-friendly method is now spreading to over 200 villages in four districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Helicoverpa armigera (gram podborer), the serious pest of pigeonpea, destroys all the pods despite intensive insecticides application. Inappropriate and indiscriminate use of insecticides has led to the development of resistance, creation of secondary pests, loss in bio- diversity, and increase in human health hazards. Besides, the chemical control was prohibitively expensive for the farmers, and it made pigeonpea cultivation unattractive. At the same time farmers cannot afford to skip this crop, as it is one of the most important legume crops, and a source of inexpensive protein in the tropics and subtropics. Pigeonpea losses due to Helicoverpa infestation ranged between 20 to 100 per cent, and many growers burnt their fingers. Some farmers who lost their crop committed suicide. The pest spelt doom for the crop.

When farmers found themselves in a tight spot, they sought the advice of an 80-year-old farmer Mr Bitchappa of Hamsanapalli in a participatory discussion organized by a non-governmental organization (NGO), which is actively working in the region. Mr Bitchappa recounted his early experiences in combating this menace. It is a simple, and effective method of mechanical shaking of the plants when the flowering and pod setting commences. This mechanical agitation dislodged 95 per cent of the larvae feeding on the flowers and tender pods.

The podborer larvae dropping off the plants are collected over a sheet, made using old woven sacks, which is dragged along the ground covering the interspace between two rows of pigeonpea. A few hens are allowed to follow this sheet, and the plump worms provided a feast for the voracious birds. They proved to be good protein source for the birds.

"This practice has been in vogue in this tract for several decades, and it was discontinued only in the Seventies when the intensive use of subsidized chemicals took over. The time-honored farmers' wisdom is now revived last year, when farmers found

that all other methods of control proved to be ineffective,'' explained Mr V Satya Bhupal Reddy, Executive Director, Research In Environment, Education and Development Society (REEDS), the NGO, which is spreading this eco-friendly technology among farmers in various districts of Andhra Pradesh.

The technology is fine-tuned and improved by the scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru near Hyderabad. "We are working with farmers, NGOs and the national agricultural systems (NARS) to include this simple indigenous cultural practice as an critical component of integrated pest management (IPM) strategy for pigeonpea,'' said Dr G V Ranga Rao, a senior entomologist at ICRISAT.

This environmentally sound cultural practice is backed up with a spray of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) after four days. The operation is repeated three times more at an interval of 15 days. "This IPM strategy worked out cheaper as low as Rs. 1000 per hectare for the four rounds of operations. It also provided a safe and immediate relief to the crop ensuring high and stable yields,'' said Mr Satya Bhupal Reddy.

Farmers spent only Rs 2,500 per hectare for cultivating pigeonpea using this IPM as compared to Rs. 7500 when they resorted to chemical pesticides, according to him. When they used the insecticides, the yield fell to 750 kg per hectare, while it has gone up to over 1.25 tonnes with the IPM, according to him.

ICRISAT's strategy to increase the pulses production is relying on participatory approach to adopt the environment friendly integrated pest management strategies. The main components of our strategy are empowering the resource poor farmers to take right decisions for following appropriate pest control measures through training of farmers in the IPM methods; to reduce the misuse of chemicals and protect the environment; make quality biocontrol agents (plant products and insect pathogens) available at village level through involvement of local non-governmental organizations; make available the seeds of improved pest tolerant high yielding varieties locally; and augmenting natural enemies (including birds), and need-based use of chemical insecticides.

The IPM activities have been organized in partnership with (i) Governmental organizations: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI); (ii) Non-Governmental organization (NGOs); (iii) State Agricultural Universities (SAG); and (iv) Farmers with financial support from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Progress

During 1997, IPM research was initiated at 10 on-farm villages, which has been expanded rapidly to 30 villages by 1999 involving more than 1000 farmers in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

ICRISAT's collaborative effort with ICAR led to the successful case study of village based IPM approach. This project produced the first IPM village, Ashta, Maharashtra, India which harvested healthy and good crops in the past two seasons. During 1999 cropping season Ashta became a model village where chemical pesticides were not used even once. However, farmers protected their crops using bio-control agents such

as nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), Trichoderma fungi as an bio-agent for seed treatment and Trichogramma release.

To meet the demand for NPV from various on-farm locations the collaborative approach has successfully launched seven village-level NPV production units to strengthen eco-friendly crop protection.

Chickpea and pigeonpea IPM farmers harvested six-fold increase in yield through better management of pests with 6-100% reduction in pesticide usage across the locations. Thus the impact of this project resulted in terms of savings in plant protection, higher yields and stability in income.

Chickpea in the Ganges Delta threatened

Millions of small holding farmers from the fertile lower Ganges delta of Nepal and Bangladesh are reluctantly abandoning chickpea due to severe pressure from botrytis gray mold (BGM) disease and the Helicoverpa pod borer. Recent surveys by ICRISAT, ICAR (India), BARI (Bangladesh), and NARC (Nepal), Indicated the availability of affordable solutions (e.g., seeds of high yielding chickpea variety, IPM techniques, better timing of sowing, optimal tillage, fertility management), but they require modest investments in inputs and more awareness among farmers. ICRISAT in partnership with NARS involved to generate and disseminate such information, bringing hope to farm families.

ICRISAT in partnership with NARC and farmers launched a large scale program on on-farm IPM of chickpea. During 1998-99 postrainy season one hundred and ten and during 1999-2000, 550 farmers from the villages of Banke, Bardia, Nawalparasi, and Sirha districts in Nepal, participated in these on-farm experiments. Avarodhi an improved chickpea cultivar from Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur, ICAR was used in these trials. Based on BGM incidence and pod borer infestation, fungicide Bavistin and insecticide Endosulfan was sprayed once to control BGM and pod borer. The incidence of disease and pest was significantly reduced. Farmers have harvested 2 to 2.5 tonnes per ha of chickpea following the IPM practices. There was 2-6 fold increase in grain weight in IPM plots over farmer's practice. This methodology of participatory research was highly appreciated by all partners, especially by farmers as it has helped them in regaining their confidence in growing a healthy crop of chickpea in areas which were left un-sown after paddy harvest.

All project partners, especially farmers were given adequate training in crop and pest management with special emphasis on on-farm IPM. Additionally six graduate students were housed in this project to generate basic information on the role of various IPM components to strengthen future activities.

Since this project has shown promising results through efficient partnerships it is envisaged to extend this technology to the needy farmers of southern Asia and eastern Africa where pigeonpea and chickpea are important, highlighting the importance of village-based IPM rather than crop or individual pest/disease-based approach. Through this participatory approach resource poor farmers in this region can increase their incomes through increased production of protein rich chickpea and pigeonpea crops on marginal lands and also contribute substantially towards the noble cause of protecting the environment for our next generations.

32) ICRISAT Inaugurates Containment Glasshouse for Transgenic Plants, April, 2000

"It is only with new science that ICRISAT can address the urgent need for more food for the poor of the world" said Dr Ragnhild Sohlberg, Chair, ICRISAT Governing Board. She was inaugurating the new Transgenic Plants Containment Glasshouse at the ICRISAT-

Patancheru Campus today. Also present were Dr R S Paroda, Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research

(ICAR), and Dr William D Dar, Director General, ICRISAT. Introducing the facility, Dr D V R Reddy, Principal Scientist (Virology) said that this US $ 40,000 containment facility for transgenic plants conforms

to P2 levels of biosafety standards (these international standards, P1 through P4 of increasing stringency,

are based on guidelines developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, USA). Features of this 1200-square-foot containment facility include: insect-proof conditions; pollen filters; decontamination chambers for personnel and equipment; negative pressure to prevent air-borne dispersal; and an effluent treatment plant to prevent soil and water-borne dispersal.

ICRISAT's Biosafety Committee includes two high-ranking officers from the Government of India. Only after the Department of Biotechnology has inspected and approved the facility will it be occupied, Dr Reddy said. Dr Sohlberg said that she was happy to note the precautions that ICRISAT is taking with regard to transgenic plants. All transactions such as the import, development and use of GMOs are cleared officially through the Government of India. Any field testing of these transgenic plants would only be attempted if permission is granted by the Government of India.

An already existing glasshouse was converted into this containment facility, only the fourth of its kind in India. The entire operation took 5 months and was done entirely in-house.

For more on this P2 facility, click here.

33) President and Prime Minister of Niger Visit ICRISATchr(39)s Display, April,

2000

The Conseil de l'Entente, a regional organization comprising five countries, sponsored a function on Saturday 8 April, at the Palais des Congres in Niamey, Niger, to present awards to the best farmers in Niger for 1999. ICRISAT and INRAN (NARS of Niger) were requested to put up stands for this event.

INRAN's stand highlighted work on sorghum hybrids and transformation of manioc. ICRISAT' exhibited pearl millet varieties, products from pearl millet grain, and two posters, including the one on ‘Science with a Human Face'.  When President Tandja Mamadou and Prime Minister Hama Amadou visited the ICRISAT stand, Site Leader Anand Kumar highlighted the collaboration with INRAN in the areas of dissemination of improved technologies, recommendations on improving soil fertility, and the work of the West African Millet Research Network (ROCAFREMI) on grain transformation.

Research Technician Ada Abarchi showed improved millet varieties.  The President and Prime Minister were presented with copies of the two volume joint INRAN-ICRISAT publication on Technologies diffusables et transférables aux producteurs'. The President, a farmer himself, indicated that he would call a meeting of the all research institutes to discuss transfer of improved technology to the farmers.

Earlier, President Tandja gave away awards to five best farmers in categories that included agriculture, livestock, fish-farming and bee keeping. It was gratifying to note that a woman farmer from Zinder, produced 230 t millet on 260 ha (twice the national average productivity of 0.39 t ha-1) using improved technologies including intercropping and rotation and was sharing her knowledge and experiences with fellow farmers in the community.

34) A role in the life of the poor, April, 2000

From his Danuman West village in the Philippines' Iloco Sur province, little William had to walk two kilometres every day to his elementary school. Since his parents could not afford to educate him further, he did odd jobs to be able to pay for his college fee. He completed his studies, thanks mainly to the scholarships he picked up.

After an illustrious career as an agricultural scientist and as an administrator, Dr William D Dar left for Patancheru in Andhra Pradesh, to guide a premier agricultural research institution. Dr Dar, director-general of the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics is revolutionising the institution.

 

At 46, he is the youngest head of any institute under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. Since the time Dar has taken over as (January, 2000) he has given Icrisat a new mantra: Science with a human face in the new millennium.

Excerpts:

What do you mean by science with a human face? It means good science. It means science that is to be used as a weapon to fight poverty and hunger. We will have a more interactive and coherent agenda for the future. It will be a demand-driven, participatory approach.

Does this mean Icrisat was not doing science with human face all this while? It was not the motif of Icrisat. Now we want to play a bigger role in the life of the poor. We want to make it better. I feel we have to introduce changes and fast.

How is easy it or rather difficult? We have just started. We have to convince our donors about the suitability of the new agenda. I believe I am succeeding in that mission.

What is the most important difficulty that you foresee in implementing your agenda? It is the attitude. The attitude of the administrators, policy-makers, scientists, researchers... We have to sell the idea that it is no longer enough working on our five mandate crops. If you want to improve the life of the poor, you have to bring additional income to their homes. To make this practical, we have to start thinking differently.

What steps are you planning to take in Icrisat? Till now our research was confined to the five mandate crops: sorghum, millet, groundnut, chickpea and pigeonpea. Now we are exploring ways to introduce more items in the agenda, without losing our focus. There are nutritious crops like the legumes that can take care of health in poor families. For instance, in some areas there are date palms. We will start working with institutions who have the expertise.

What do you think will the result be? It will be a success. When I leave, I will leave behind a changed Icrisat. My trust in my people, scientists and the donors.

You have talked about poverty. Have you seen poverty in its real form? I come from a poor family. I did all the work in that three-hectare land my family owned in the village. It was a hand-to-mouth existence for us. Hunger is not an abstract idea to me.

How did you break the barriers posed by poverty? By hardwork and determination. I was a good student. I did my BSc (Agricultural Education) and MS (agronomy) from Mountain State Agricultural college, La Trinidad, Banguet and PhD (horticulture) from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños College, Laguna.

How did you start your career? I started off as a farm management technician at an agricultural extension centre in 1973. Then I moved to teach science in a secondary school. My life with Mountain State Agricultural College started as an instructor in 1975 and ended as special assistant to the president for research, planning and development. I became a professor at the Benguet State University in 1986 and left it as vice-president for research and development services.

And then your career with the government began. Yes, I was appointed director, Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture in 1987 and continued in the post till 1994 when I was made executive director for the Philippines Council for Agriculture, Forestry and natural Resources Research and Development. I took over as Agricultural Secretary (equivalent to the Agricultural Minister in India) under President Joseph Estrada in 1998.

But you could not become a politician. I'm a scientist and at best an administrator. Never a politician.

From an instructor to a minister to being Icrisat DG, you have held posts of different hues. Which have you like most? I have enjoyed every bit of my life and my career. The job here is very challenging. However, guiding this institution to become a change agent in the lives of the poor offers me immense satisfaction.

How do you find life in India? I am getting accustomed to it. But spicy food three times a day is a bit too much!

Have you left your family behind in Philippines? My wife Beatrice is with me here. Our eldest daughter May (22) has completed her graduation and she is in Philippines. Celeste (16) and Christine (15) are doing their studies and are also in Philippines.

35)  US Under Secretary Lauds ICRISAT's

"I'm very pleased to see the linkages that you at ICRISAT are developing between science, health, nutrition, and trade." So said Dr I. Miley Gonzalez (right in the picture), Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), who visited the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on Saturday 25 March 2000. At the Institute's Patancheru campus, Dr Gonzalez, who is part of President Clinton's entourage to South Asia, received a comprehensive overview of ICRISAT's research by the Institute's Director General, Dr William D Dar, and senior scientists and administrators. Introducing Dr Gonzalez to ICRISAT's research, Dr Dar emphasized that the Institute was involved in doing "Science with a Human Face". Dr Gonzalez agreed, saying, "Research must benefit the consumer as much as it does the producer, and I can see that happening here", he said, referring to ICRISAT's research on the ergot disease in sorghum, and aflatoxin contamination of groundnut.

After the field visit, Dr Gonzalez was shown around ICRISAT's Genebank. With 113 500 accessions assembled from 130 countries, the ICRISAT genebank serves as a world repository for the germplasm of the five ICRISAT mandate crops: sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, and six small millets. Thereafter, the Under Secretary visited ICRISAT's biotechnology and genomics labs, where he was introduced to the Institute's research using these cutting-edge tools. In the brief Press Conference that followed, Dr Gonzalez touched upon and fielded

questions on a wide range of matters, from USDA's research agendas to possible areas of agricultural collaboration between USA and its partners world wide.

36)  For a food-secure future, March, 2000

THREE DECADES ago, a major food shortage which experts predicted to lead to catastrophic famines was experienced all over the world. But a group of public and private development agencies networked and averted the danger. Green revolution came paving the way to increasing the yields of the world's most important food crops and putting the farmers' innovation to use. Just as we enter the new millennium, another food crisis confronts us, much more complex and more dangerous than the first one. Some 840 million people go hungry everyday, and at least 1.3 billion live on less than US$1 (Rs. 43) per day.

The need to eradicate poverty and provide food security for the growing population presents formidable challenge to developing countries. But their capacity to respond to these challenges is often limited. Are we then to just leave it like that? Who will come to their rescue? The U.S. government has been readily answering the needs of the developing nation through its altruistic research on agriculture focused on eradicating poverty, hunger and malnutrition. The challenge of integrating scientific research into agriculture and rural development programmes have been given utmost importance in their projects in partnership with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Working hand in hand, CGIAR which has the system in place and the tools at hand, and the U.S. government providing the needed financial resources, tackles the problem and provides possible solution using scientific advances, training and capacity building towards agricultural development. The partnership grew over the years and has and still is contributing greatly to global food production with its agricultural researches which has direct bearing on poverty and food security in developing countries.

To date, the United States ranked as one of the three biggest donors of the CGIAR having contributed US$ 40.5 million or 12 per cent of its total budget. This includes US$ 4 million to the prestigious International Crops Research Institute for the Semi- Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), one of the 16 research and development centres whose main focus is on the drier rainfed areas where crops like millets and sorghum, the staple food of the poorest people in the world are grown. To alleviate poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in Asia, Africa and the world, is the main mission of ICRISAT.

With its headquarters in Patancheru near Hyderabad, ICRISAT does research on the six crops grown in the semi-arid tropics, in India and Africa - sorghum, chickpea, pearl millet, groundnut, pigeonpea and finger millet.

The United States does not only support ICRISAT financially in its research and initiatives to eradicate hunger in the world, a number of American scientists had come to work for and with ICRISAT. An American, Dr. Ralph W. Cummings, its first Director

General (1972-1977) was a key figure in the green revolution within India which helped the country avert the spectre of famine during that period.

In close collaboration and research linkages with universities in the United States, several varieties and technology has been developed and proved to make distinguished contribution to the betterment of life in regions where people have very little food to eat. USAID funds and sponsors the ICRISAT's project on convening and managing crop research networks and programmes involving national organizations in the poorest countries of West Africa for millet and Southern Africa for both sorghum and millet. ``Our new agenda is science with a human face for improving the livelihood of the 300 million poor inhabiting the semi-arid tropics (SAT) across the globe,'' this is according to Dr. William Dar, the ICRISAT Director General. A scientist and administrator, Dr. Dar believes that beyond producing quality and cutting edge science and relevant research, the work that ICRISAT does, in cooperation with its partners, must benefit most of the marginalised, the disadvantaged and the hungry.

The tripartite partnership of the United States government and its people, CGIAR and ICRISAT thrives on the premise that scientific research should serve the cause of the poor and the hungry. Thus this alliance should serve as an example for the many others who have been reluctant in devoting or sharing resources and implementing realistic agricultural research agendas which would lead to a well nourished population of the world.

Highlighting the new approaches in the beginning of the new millennium, Dr. Dar said: ``Participatory approach will be a major institutional strategy to scientific research and enhance development. We will have pro-active resource mobilisation strategy for running the institution. For this, we may have to tap non-traditional donors such as private sector and multi- national companies. We will identify new development partners and build synergy with the National Agriculture Research Systems (NARS) to achieve the goal of eradicating hunger, reducing poverty and safeguarding the environment in the African and Asian semi-arid tropics. As we fulfill this role, we shall come much closer to our common and shared dream of a prosperous, sustainable and food secure world in the semi-arid tropics.''

G. VENKATARAMANI

37)  Providing science a human face, March, 2000

By G. Venkataramani

CHENNAI, MARCH 3. ``Our new agenda is science with a human face for improving the livelihood of the 300 million poor inhabiting the semi-arid tropics (SAT) across the globe,'' said Dr. William D. Dar, new Director-General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Patancheru near Hyderabad. In an exclusive interview, the 46-year-old Filipino scientist- administrator, who took charge in mid-January, said that beyond producing quality and cutting-edge science or relevant research, the work the ICRISAT did in cooperation with its partners must benefit

the marginalised, the disadvantaged, and the hungry. ``This is the human face of the science and agricultural research we do. This will be the over-arching theme of our efforts, the paramount motive of our endeavours,'' he said.

The ICRISAT has generated a lot of important technologies in the past 27 years, and with this comparative advantage it can catalyse application, working with the national agricultural research systems (NARS) and other partner agencies, to improve agricultural productivity and reduce poverty.

Highlighting the new paradigms in the new millennium, Dr. Dar said the ICRISAT was uniquely placed to act as bridge, broker and catalyst. With the advantage of a neutral, publicly- funded international centre with scientific excellence, it can act as a bridge between Asia and Africa. It will use its international character to act as a trusted broker between NARS and various other stakeholders in dealing with technology transfers to find win-win solutions.

Referring to the use of new science, particularly applied genomics for crop improvement, Dr. Dar said the institute will look for traits, in crops it is working with to help solve problems such as physiological factors, poor soil and unpredictable rainfall.

With the largest collection of over 113,000 accessions of its mandate crops, the ICRISAT is the world's largest repository of food crop germplasm. This collection is held in public trust on behalf of the Food and Agricultural Organisation following the global Convention on Biodiversity.

As germplasm becomes increasingly entwined with issues of intellectual property rights protection, ICRISAT's holdings assure the security of the germplasm heritage of SAT, and ensure free access to this genetic wealth among nations.

Dwelling on the recently formulated ``ICRISAT's Africa Agenda'', Dr. Dar said he saw more opportunities in the region. ``We have to convert the challenges into opportunities.'' While some are pessimistic about trends in Africa, the ICRISAT views the continent as one with enormous potential while admitting that the challenges are far from trivial. The Africa Agenda is formulated through participatory approach, and it has identified major research issues for Africa. ``This initiative will enhance Africa-Asia cooperation. It will help in cutting time and making necessary adjustments. It will serve as a platform for bringing in more resources to accelerate research and development in Africa.

It will also provide opportunities to create partnership between various development agencies,'' he said.

38)  Legislators Praise ICRISAT, February, 2000

"We are very glad to note the good work that you at ICRISAT are doing", declared one Honorable Member of the group of 23 Members of State Legislative Assemblies who visited ICRISAT-Patancheru on 16 Feb 2000. The group included Mr

Om Shyrmong, Hon'ble Minister for Rural Development from Meghalaya. They were attending a Workshop on Planning and Management of Rural Development Programmes at the National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad.

The legislators met ICRISAT scientists in a discussion of ICRISAT's work in India. Drs P Pathak (Natural Resources Management), K N Rai (Pearl Millet), Jagdish Kumar (Chickpea), K B Saxena (Pigeonpea), B V S Reddy (Sorghum), and S N Nigam (Groundnut) presented brief profiles of ICRISAT's research contributions and partnerships in their respective areas. Each presentation was followed by a lively discussion with incisive questions from the visitors. Dr Nigam moderated the session and Acting Director General, Mr D S Bisht chaired the discussion.

Earlier, Mr Bisht welcomed the legislators from Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Orissa, and West Bengal, and

gave them an overview of the Institute and its mission and mandate.

After the discussion, the Honorable Members visited the ICRISAT genebank to see some of the 113 500 accessions of germplasm preserved there.

39)  CGIAR at the World Book Fair, New Delhi, India -- 5-13 February 2000

Inaugurating the World Book Fair in New Delhi at Pragati Maidan the Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vaj payee said “Books will survive the cyber age”. (Picture courtesy: Press Trust of India)

Among the various dignitaries participated in this inaugural function were Professor Milton Israel, reputed historian from Canada. The Consultative Group on International

Agricultural Research (CGIAR) secretariat and its 5 Centers -- ICRISAT, IPGRI, ISNAR, IWMI, and

WARDA -- displayed some of their major research publications at the World Book Fair.

Despite the bad weather a large number of book lovers visited the CGIAR Centers display. Dr Bruno Dorin,

on his visit to the CGIAR stall on the inauguration day, said, “The CGIAR Center at the International Book Fair at New Delhi permits a person to understand at a single glance the importance of their mission in the world and the quality of their work and publications”. Dr Bruno Dorin is presently the Head of Economic Department, French Centre for Human Sciences (CSH) in New Delhi.

A 13-year old student, Apoorva Shukla, said, “The CGIAR Centers' display is very good. There are many books which gives information to farmers and help them to increase their production”. Purnima Joshi, Editor at Tulika Publishers said, “The range, quality, and number of publications brought out by the CGIAR Centers is very impressive”.

More than 1200 publishers have displayed their books in this Fair. Foreign participants from Colombia, France, Israel, Japan, and other countries are also participating. To coincide with the Fair, a number of seminars and literary programs are being organized by the National Book Trust of India.

40)  CGIAR at the World Book Fair, February, 2000

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is all set to show case some of their significant research work, conducted across its world-wide network, at the World Book Fair that will start in N ew Delhi in Pragati Maidan from 5 February.

Joining the show are five CGIAR Centers that include:

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India

International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), Rome, Italy

International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR), The Hague, The Netherlands

International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA), Bouake, Cote d'Ivoire

CGIAR's mission is to contribute to food security and poverty eradication in developing countries through research, partnership, capacity building, and policy support, promoting sustainable agricultural development based on the environmentally sound management of natural resources.

As its Chairman Dr Ismail Serageldin says, "The CGIAR is the one international organizations sufficiently capable, flexible, well trusted, and well positioned to keep public-domain science on a socially beneficial and ecologically sustainable course. It is the largest scientific network of its kind."

Today 16 CGIAR Centers around the world are harnessing cutting-edge knowledge to help meet the world's enormous food needs - it is a steadfast allegiance to scientific excellence and the public welfare. All of the benefits of CGIAR research are kept within the public domain, new production and natural resource management technologies and plant varieties are available free to interested parties through the world.

To provide an overview of their agenda, various research activities, and results obtained, the Centers participating in this event will display some of their major publications at the Agriculture Pavilion, International Hall, Stall No. 8 and 9 (near Gate no. 1).

41)  ICRISAT Releases Handbook on Environment-friendly Control of Pulse Pests, January, 2000

A handbook on integrated pest management (IPM) that can help to minimize the excessive use of chemicals by pulse farmers in Asia, was released by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru on 13 January 2000.

Titled Identification and Management of Pigeonpea and Chickpea Insect Pests in Asia, the book is a product of the IPM project carried out by ICRISAT and funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The book provides descriptions with color photographs of the major species of pigeonpea and chickpea insect pests in Asia. Control measures are suggested with an emphasis on IPM and reduced reliance on insecticides.

"The handbook will be shortly available in Telugu, Marathi, and Kannada," said Dr G V Ranga Rao, the Project Coordinator, who has authored the book with Dr T G Shanower. "Within 3 years of the Project implementation, the yields obtained by IPM farmers have increased by up to six times, with 6-93% reduction in pesticide use across locations. The impact of this Project has resulted in savings in plant protection, higher yields, and income stability. The Project which began with 10 locations in 1997 has expanded rapidly to 30 locations involving more than 500 farmers in South Asia," Dr Ranga Rao added.

Mr S Mathur, Grants Coordinator, IFAD, who was on a visit to ICRISAT, released the book and presented copies of it to ICRISAT Director General Dr William Dar and other Project partners. Mr Mathur has played a pivotal role in the funding process of current IFAD-funded ICRISAT projects.

42) ICRISATchr(39)s First Director General of the New Millennium Emphasizes the Human Face of Agricultural Research, January, 2000

Dr William D Dar, the new Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), urged the Institute to keep in mind that its real mission goes far beyond that of "producing quality and cutting-edge science. Its work must benefit most the marginalised, the disadvantaged, and the hungry of the semi-arid tropics."

Addressing the ICRISAT staff soon after he joined the Institute, Dr Dar underlined the value of the "human face of agricultural research". His speech was aptly titled "Serving with a heart", capturing the essence of his vision for the Institute's role in the new millennium.

Dr Dar said that he and his family were looking forward to settle in India as part of his new work. He thanked the Governing Board for putting their trust in him and also Dr L D Swindale who served as the Interim Director General of ICRISAT during the last 3 months.

Emphasizing the strength of ICRISAT as a family and a community, he said that despite the difficult challenges that are ahead of the Institute, he had confidence in the staff.

In addition to the present research projects, Dr Dar mentioned that ICRISAT will continue to focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and that it is actively participating with other institutes in the formulation of a research strategy for Africa.

Coinciding with the dawning of the new millennium, Dr Dar joined ICRISAT on 11 January 2000. At 46 years, he is the youngest Director General of the Institute. He is no stranger to ICRISAT, having served as a member of the ICRISAT Governing Board from 1997 to 1999. He is also well-known in the international agricultural research community. Before joining ICRISAT, Dr Dar was the Presidential Advisor on Rural Development in the Philippines.

On behalf of all the ICRISAT staff, Mr S Parthasarathy, Acting Director General, warmly welcomed the new Director General. Conveying the feeling of hope among the staff, he remarked, "It is entirely appropriate that we should make a new beginning in the new millennium."

Dr Ragnhild Sohlberg, Chair, ICRISAT Governing Board, also sent her best wishes to Dr Dar and wrote, "The Governing Board is looking very much forward to cooperate with and support you in the years ahead!"