News
Medium duration and pest tolerant Pigeonpea cultivar: MPPV 4 (ICEAP 01551)
For robust and responsive global to national breeding systems producing and delivering novel varieties and allied innovations at appropriate scale and scope What is the profile of medium duration and pest tolerant pigeonpea cultivar: MPPV 4(ICEAP 01551)? Climate...
read moreSorghum Cultivar: ICSV 1361063 (SAMBONI)
ariety and hybrid development for robust, responsive global to national breeding systems producing and delivering novel varieties and allied innovations at appropriate scale and scope What is the profile of Sorghum variety 12KNICSV-188 (IMPROVED DEKO)? Samboni or ICSV...
read moreImprovement of Pearl millet Hybrid Parents under Public-Private Sector Partnership
For robust and responsive global to national breeding systems producing and delivering novel varieties and allied innovations at appropriate scale and scope At any point of time, India cultivates about 70 to 80 pearl millet hybrids on about 5 million ha (about 70% of...
read moreSnapping trait for reducing labor burden on women and children
For reduced market barriers, diversified enterprise and livelihood opportunities, and increased availability of diverse nutrient-rich foods How is a pearl millet cultivar with a “snapping trait” reducing the labor burden on women and children in ESA? Finger millet is...
read moreSorghum variety 12KNICSV-188 (IMPROVED DEKO)
For robust and responsive global to national breeding systems producing and delivering novel varieties and allied innovations at appropriate scale and scope What is the profile of Sorghum variety 12KNICSV-188 (Improved Deko)? Sorghum plays an important role in the...
read moreMicronutrient-rich sorghum cultivar: ICSR 14001 (Parbhani Shakti)
For robust and responsive global to national breeding systems producing and delivering novel varieties and allied innovations at appropriate scale and scope What is the profile of micronutrient-rich sorghum cultivar: ICSR 14001 (Parbhani Shakti)? Sorghum is an...
read moreCommunity Seed Banks – A seed delivery approach for under-invested crops
For reduced market barriers, diversified enterprise, livelihood opportunities, and increased availability of nutrient-rich foods What are Community Seed Banks (CSBs)? Smallholder agriculture is often characterized by low productivity and production, driven mostly by...
read moreChakti: Iron biofortified Pearl Millet
For reduced market barriers, diversified enterprise and livelihood opportunities, and increased availability of diverse nutrient-rich foods What is iron biofortified Pearl Millet (IPM)? Pearl millet is an important staple food in drier regions of Sub-Saharan Africa,...
read moreWomen empowerment through bean flour
For reduced market barriers, diversified enterprise and livelihood opportunities, and increased availability of diverse nutrient-rich foods How are bean flours empowering women in the African region? When the country plunged into a crisis due to political unrest that...
read moreTowards more effective and resilient seed value chains for grain legumes and dryland cereals
Background: a search for more effective and resilient seed value chains What does it take to produce and make available to farmers good quality seed of diverse grain legume and dryland cereal crops, in a timely manner and for a reasonable price? What are the...
read moreGender book launch: A significant shift in the drive towards gender equality
The past decade has seen a renewed and more comprehensive interest in gender equality and women’s empowerment in agricultural development. This drive has created a unique opportunity to advance gender equality and institutionalize gender research within agricultural...
read moreDryland Intercropping of Lentil and Quinoa is Sustainable and Profitable
A factsheet detailing ICARDA's success at relay-cropping lentil and quinoa crops in Morocco has been added to the World Overview of Conservation Approach and Technologies (WOCAT), which database compiles over 1500 sustainable land management practices. For this...
read moreScientific evidence shows eating millets leads to better growth in children
Researchers examining the nutritional benefits of millets have found that these “smart foods” can boost growth in children and adolescents by 26 – 39% when they replace rice in standard meals. The results suggest that millets can significantly contribute to overcoming...
read moreFarmers in southern Mali dial ‘S’ for success
Sènèkèla/Sandji mobile-based services make climate and agro-advisory information available to farmers under the CSAT project to significantly aid crucial on-farm decisions so that smallholders get more from their farms. A group of farmers in Mali’s Sikasso region...
read moreImproved varieties sow a better future in Mali’s groundnut hubs
Improved varieties are helping increase groundnut production, farm incomes, improving lives and empowering women in Mali’s major groundnut producing hubs of Kayes and Sikasso, where lack of access to such varieties had contributed to low yields of less than 1 ton/ha,...
read moreNew climate-smart sorghum and millet varieties improve nutrition and incomes of Malian farmers
High-yielding sorghum with grain yield between 1.8 to 2 t/ha and dry fodder yield of 7 to 12t/ha and biofortified pearl millet with yield potential of up to 1.2 to 1.5 t/ha captured the attention of farmers and seed producers from six villages at a farmers’ field day...
read moreGuidelines for genetic purity testing in high oleic groundnut variety seed production
The national release of high oleic groundnut varieties Girnar 4 (ICGV 15083) and Girnar 5 (ICGV 15090) in India in 2020 generated interest among public and private seed producing agencies, leading to its quick uptake. To ensure production of seed with the highest...
read moreHands-on training in genomic tools for crop research organized in Mali
To train the next generation of researchers in the use of genomic tools for enhancing crop productivity and climate resilience in Mali, a training program on quantitative genetics and its application to selection was recently organized at ICRISAT’s Samanko research...
read moreShowcasing improved varieties and hybrids performance to seed growers for better nutrition, climate resilience and livelihoods in Mali
An open field day at our research station in Samanko, Mali, introduced local private seed companies and project partners to new crop varieties and hybrids that are high-yielding, climate-resilient and nutritious. The major aim of the event was greater visibility of...
read moreAfrica RISING: Technology parks herald a new beginning in Mali’s farms
The Africa RISING project draws to a close in June 2022 On 11 and 12 November 2021, Africa RISING project partners, farmers and stakeholders in Mali convened at the technology parks in Bougouni and Koutiala regions for the last farmer’s field day of the project as it...
read moreDelivering scalable, sustainable fall armyworm technology to TAAT beneficiaries
Fall Armyworm (FAW) is a highly damaging pest to maize. However, in the past five years, it has become a source of concern to smallholder farmers in Africa, who have to devise ways of controlling the pest using chemicals they can hardly afford. The Technologies for...
read more“Disease nursery” trials established in disease hotspots to test soybean varieties for resistance
Soybean diseases such as soybean rust, red leaf blotch (RLB), and frogeye leaf spot (FELS) are major threats to the crop’s yield and production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). IITA is working with Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL) to identify the most resistant or tolerant...
read moreThe Alliance joins Africa Agricultural Extension Week
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, jointly with other CGIAR institutions (AfricaRice, IITA, ILRI, CIP) actively participated in the 5th Africa Agricultural Extension Week (AAEW) held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala Uganda between 14-20th November...
read morePan Africa Bean Research Alliance launches the Bean Atlas Version 2.0
Two decades after the Bean Atlas’ first publication, a new digital version has arrived. The Team behind this edition explains how it evolved to meet current needs and knowledge gaps on bean research. The original “one-stop shop” The first edition of the Bean Atlas was...
read moreMaking peanuts safe
Aflatoxin in peanuts remains an unsolved problem for people with a small food budget, and a private sector partner is providing solutions Contamination of peanuts and peanut products by aflatoxins pose serious health challenges for all populations. Consumed in high...
read moreHarnessing the potential of rural youth for sustainability of agriculture
Insight from Northern Nigeria Active involvement of youth in all agri-food value chains is necessary for the sustainability of agriculture Agriculture contributes significantly to the livelihood of Sub-Saharan countries in Africa and is a viable engine for welfare and...
read moreIdentity marker nuances in adoption of tandem technologies
Beer, barley, livestock, and milk: who adopts agricultural innovations in rural Rajasthan? Learnings emanating from the Green Revolution in India indicate that the ability of development intervention recipients to reap more of the economic and social benefits from new...
read moreGetting youth back to agriculture as service providers
For reduced market barriers, diversified enterprise and livelihood opportunities. How are youth being gainfully employed as mechanization service providers in the African region? About one-third of Africa’s nearly 500 million youth aged 15-35 are unemployed. The high...
read moreAdvancing multi-criteria analysis of sustainable intensification
Sustainable intensification (SI) is widely regarded as a key concept to increase yields while reducing the impact on the environment especially in the context of smallholder farming. SI revolves around identifying the major factors limiting agricultural production and...
read moreA new publication in Nature Reports on a toolkit for improved chickpea varieties
Nature Reports published an open-access paper on a big plant-genome sequencing study conducted by ICARDA and ICRISAT scientists which will facilitate the breeding of more climate-smart, disease-tolerant chickpea crop varieties for better food security. Food legumes...
read moreImproving groundnut farming with early maturing resilient varieties
To accelerate the development of improved groundnut varieties, ICRISAT’s groundnut breeding team is gearing up to provide seed to research partners for multi-environment testing (MET) during the 2022 rainy season. Two product profiles are being targeted by the team....
read moreBean Business Innovation Platforms
For reduced market barriers, diversified enterprise and livelihood opportunities, and increased availability of diverse nutrient-rich foods What are Bean Business Innovation Platforms? Bean Business Platforms are vehicles designed to implement program interventions by...
read moreLargest plant genome sequencing effort yields a pan-genome for chickpea, sets it up for a breeding revolution
An international team of researchers from 41 organizations has assembled chickpea’s (chana) pan-genome by sequencing the genomes of 3,366 chickpea lines from 60 countries. Led by the ICRISAT, the team identified 29,870 genes that includes 1,582 previously unreported...
read moreTraining ‘nutriprenuers’ to start up in Mali
To help aspiring entrepreneurs in Mali kick-start their food ventures, a five-day Smart Food workshop was recently conducted in the country’s Diola region. Women and men were trained in all aspects of producing value-added foods from sorghum, millet, groundnut and...
read moreImproved millet varieties, production technologies and pearl millet recipes go on display in Nigeria
ICRISAT in Nigeria organized a field day to demonstrate pearl millet research and introduce millet varieties to Nigerian farmers, partners and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector. The event attracted stakeholders and national partners in the pearl millet...
read moreBuilding capacity in modelling for robust, resilient crop systems in West Africa
To enhance skills in modelling of crop systems by the agricultural research community in West Africa, a five-day workshop was recently conducted. The workshop trained researchers in the use of the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) platform. The...
read morePolicymakers witness landscape and livelihood transformation in India’s Bundelkhand region
A group of policymakers and officials from across India recently experienced ICRISAT’s sustainable research-for-development practices being implemented in the country’s Bundelkhand region which are benefitting 30,000 families reliant on farming. A travel...
read moreResearch and development partnerships to strengthen inclusive and demand driven bean value chain in Rwanda
In Rwanda, beans are the main staple food providing households with 32% of required calories and 65% of protein across the country. Rwandans have the highest per capita bean consumption in the world, with an estimated per capita bean consumption of around 164...
read moreJoin the PABRA Parallel session at Africa Plant Breeders Conference 2021
The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA-Africa) is a great example of a successful CGIAR-NARES partnership model that has resulted in great impacts on the livelihoods of millions of people in Africa. PABRA focuses on common beans and is coordinated by the...
read moreNew climate-resilient, disease-resistant chickpea varieties coming farmers’ way
Developed through genomics-assisted breeding by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and ICRISAT. Three new chickpea varieties, with enhanced drought tolerance, disease resistance and increased yield, are set to become available to the Indian farmers....
read moreYoung farm entrepreneurs look at high-biomass sorghum and pearl millet for biofuel feedstock
The Government of India’s concerted efforts to replace 20% fossil fuels with ethanol blends by 2025 is attracting agricultural entrepreneurs to invest in renewable energy. This week, Mr Lalit Jhawar and Mr Mayank Gupta, two young IIT graduates running a profitable...
read moreNutrient-rich bean varieties and market linkages changing fortunes for farmers in Bomet County
I was stranded and did not know where to get school fees for my children. Luckily, I had grown some Nyota beans on my one-acre land. When I harvested the beans, I took part of it to Abosi Cooperative. I’m happy the Cooperative came to my aid and bought the beans. I...
read morePromoting sustainable food production by upscaling best performing varieties of finger millet and bean through seed and product value chains: experiences from Hoima, Uganda
Background Food and nutritional security of resource poor farmers globally is increasingly under threat due to climate change. In Uganda, agricultural production rates are low, exacerbated by frequent erratic rainfall and droughts. The loss of genetic diversity in...
read moreDrought-proofing Bundelkhand: Reviving rainwater harvesting traditions
How is Bundelkhand drought-proofed? ICRISAT has developed an innovative landscape management approach of rainwater harvesting through a large-scale field bunding (~2,800 ha) along with masonry structures with about 3.0 million cubic meter (MCM) storage capacity which...
read moreScaling groundnut and sorghum seed in Eastern Africa (Tanzania)
The Innovation Fund from the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (CRP-GLDC) supported the scaling of improved seed in Tanzania by engaging and strengthening of eleven seed enterprises from public and private sectors for the production and...
read moreTransforming agri-food systems for rural prosperity through scaling an innovative ‘Seed Consortium’ towards higher adoption and impacts
Background: Grown on 4.0 M ha, postrainy sorghum is the lifeline of dryland farmers in Maharashtra state of India. The grain is highly valued for its food use and its stover is highly preferred for animal feed. The crop is grown purely on residual soil moisture with...
read moreWhat can international agricultural research for development learn from the Andhra Pradesh chickpea revolution?
This blog highlights findings from a recently published articled by Glover, D., Mausch, K., Conti, C. and Hall, A., which can be accessed here. Developing new crop varieties that respond to consumer and market demand should help better target international plant...
read moreNew drought-tolerant varieties rekindle hopes of food security in drought-prone Makueni County
Hoping against hope of decent harvests, farmers in the semi-arid and arid regions of eastern Kenya have always planted their traditional and favourite food crops – pigeonpea, green gram, sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, cowpea, and maize – at the onset of long or...
read moreAgroecological transformation for sustainable food systems
The urgency of agroecological transformation of agrifood systems linked to SDGs will be one of the game changers discussed at the UN World Food Systems Summit this year. Clearly the diversity of agriculture on this planet heralds the way to a variety of agroecological...
read moreRapidGen Platform: A Revolutionary Crop Breeding Platform from ICRISAT
What is RapidGen Platform? RapidGen Platform is a state-of-the-art facility that contributes to enhancing genetic gains through speed breeding and modernizing crop breeding by substantially lowering the time and cost of crop varietal development. This is achieved...
read moreICRISAT’s plant health researchers mine genes to defend chickpea against a deadly pathogen
In their battle against dry root rot (DRR) of chickpea, a devastating fungal disease emerging as a major threat in India, researchers at ICRISAT have recently zeroed in on a few promising set of genes that play a key role in the plant’s defense. The team led by Dr...
read moreA monk’s souvenir that became pigeonpea’s crown jewel
ICP 7035, a landrace of pigeonpea from India is a rare line with resistance to multiple diseases, is hardy and a consumer’s delight. Found by chance under unusual circumstances, the landrace has shown the importance of conserving biodiversity. Though It has proved to...
read moreUnderstanding consumption preferences for sorghum and millets globally
In support of the objectives of the International Year of Millets (2023), a global study, “Prioritizing Regular Intake of Sorghum and Millets (PRISM)”, is being conducted to understand the potential drivers of sorghum and millets consumption. PRISM is a collaborative...
read moreStudy shows millets can reduce risk of developing cardiovascular disease
The consumption of millets can reduce total cholesterol, triacylglycerols (commonly known as triglycerides) and BMI according to a new study analyzing the data of 19 studies, with nearly 900 people. The study was undertaken by five organizations and led by the...
read moreMillet consumption survey provides largest baseline for India
Consumer survey about millets The results of the first ever large-scale survey on millet consumption in India has been published, offering government, central and states and the private sector valuable insights into consumer trends to help further mainstream these...
read moreThe benefits of investment in genomics research are manifold
The return on investment in crop genomics research is manifold but to realize the full potential and reap optimum benefits from it, there is a need for enhanced strategic investment in upstream research and enabling an environment for adoption of these technologies at...
read moreHow can migration-induced feminization of agriculture empower women in the dry areas?
Key messages: Increasing migration of people out of the world’s dryland areas affects women’s roles in agriculture and related activities, which in turn affects their productivity and gender equity. Women are performing more farm labor in agrarian societies due to the...
read moreGroundnut variety tolerant to drought and foliar fungal disease with superior haulm quality released in Odisha, India
After a gap of 14 years, Odisha state in India officially released a new groundnut variety ‘Kalinga Groundnut-101’ as an alternative to ‘Devi’, the ruling variety. Both the varieties are of ICRISAT origin. The new variety has a pod yield and kernel yield advantage of...
read moreImproving farmers’ livelihoods through upscaling best performing sorghum varieties for seed production and commercial products in western Kenya
Farmers in Nyando, Kakamega and Vihiga, Western Kenya, are benefiting from the interventions of two seed system focused projects. The first project, Promoting open source seed systems for climate change adaptation in Kenyan, Uganda and Tanzania, led by the Alliance of...
read moreSustainable food production and agriculture key to better nutrition and incomes in Africa
The conventional approaches of agriculture, with industrial systems of production, specialization in few commodities, mechanization and economies of scale, may not necessarily work for Africa due to its unique settings and contexts. Experts in African agriculture...
read moreGenomics and breeding innovations in agriculture
Celebrating 75 years of India’s Independence: Bharat Ka Amrut Mahotsav - ICAR Lecture Series. Our scientists should work on short-duration, multiple stress-tolerant, nutritionally rich crop varieties that are suitable for mechanical harvesting,” Mr Narendra Modi,...
read moreInclusion, a key ingredient to Gender-Responsive Participatory Varietal Selection
Getting the right traits and the suitable variety for different clients is never easy. Did you know that farmer’s approval for a variety to be released is very critical? To breed common bean varieties preferred by men, women, and youth, farmers, consumers, traders and...
read moreFirst high oleic groundnut cultivars commercialized in India
There is a demand for high-oleic groundnut varieties particularly by the food processing industry for its enhanced shelf-life benefits and by consumers for health benefits. To contribute to the CGIAR sub-IDO “Increased availability of diverse nutrient-rich foods”, a...
read moreCRP-GLDC Golden Eggs contribute to ‘healthy diets’, ‘management tools and ‘scaling methods’
What are Golden Eggs? The R4D “products” developed during 10 years of CGIAR’s Research Programs/Platform, including breakthrough tools, technologies, prototypes, practices, policy options, networks and methods that are at a stage of application are considered as the...
read moreCereal-legume value chain stakeholders in WCA meet to develop demand-driven and gender-responsive product profiles
Under the AVISA project funded by the Gates Foundation and USAID, supported by CRP-GLDC ICRISAT’s Gender Research Program recently brought together breeders, value chain stakeholders and social scientists from Mali, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Nigeria to define priority...
read moreICRISAT-led nutrition enhancement program to reach more vulnerable groups
Giri Poshana for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) launched. Over 16,000 children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers from tribal communities are set to benefit from a nutrition intervention in Telangana, India. ICRISAT’s Agribusiness...
read moreScaling up innovation and partnerships to modernize African food systems
Pearl millet and sorghum are the staple food crops in Sahelian countries with 80% of cultivated area and more than 49% of food consumption needs being covered by these crops. “Putting the required tools and technologies in the hands of farmers to achieve food security...
read moreMonitoring and evaluation key steps for food system transformations
Monitoring and tracking of the key drivers as well as the outcomes of food systems transformation is critical for the transformation to be sustainable and inclusive. Due to close linkages among sectors, the risk levels on both supply and consumption sides also need to...
read moreTechniques to enhance the genetic gain in crop breeding programs
As the climate crisis intensifies, populations grow, disease and pest proliferate, and natural resources diminish, genetic improvement of crops within holistic breeding programs is crucial to reaching global food security. For over 40 years, ICARDA scientists, under a...
read moreResolving tensions between global development goals and local aspirations
The Sustainable Development Goals – a set of 17 globally agreed-upon targets for the year 2030 – are clearly listed and appear to be easy to subscribe to. However, development planning and the implementation of development projects are never straightforward....
read moreNew high-yielding pigeonpea variety set for release in India, more to come
TDRG 59, a high-yielding variety of pigeonpea resistant to Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic diseases, has been identified for cultivation in India’s south zone. The new variety produced 23.13% higher yield than the national check in three-year trials conducted by...
read moreHaveli cultivation turns desolated landscape into paradise: Case study of Poora Birdha village, Lalitpur district
Highlights 200-year-old traditional rainwater harvesting system brought back into practice Construction of haveli structures enhanced surface and groundwater availability Migration from villages stopped; villagers return home from cities Talbehat (Lalitpur): Water is...
read moreModernizing crop breeding to safeguard tomorrow’s populations
When designing our research, the most significant variable that crop breeders like me consider is how to sustainably increase the productivity and nutritional quality of ICARDA's new varieties to cover the needs of a growing population. In the Middle East and North...
read moreWomen in Burundi supported to save time and improve children’s nutrition
Malnutrition is a public health concern in Burundi, with the highest level of hunger among all 76 countries in the 2014 Global Hunger Index. Forty-nine percent of children under five in Burundi suffer from chronic malnutrition, with severe levels of anaemia (56%),...
read moreFood System Transformation Needs to Work for All: Why Youth in the Semi-Arid Drylands are Underserved in Agriculture
Opportunities and challenges facing African youth especially in the semi-arid drylands have recently become major public policy and research discourses due to the attention stakeholders including researchers, governments, and development partners have given to youth...
read moreICRISAT optimizes seed-chip genotyping in groundnut
Chips away time and cost from groundnut breeding. Researchers at ICRISAT have established seed-chip genotyping for groundnut as a significantly faster and cheaper method for genotyping than the oft-used leaf-disc technique. In a recent research publication, they have...
read moreFarmer preferred, market demanded and highly nutritious beans to boost Rwanda’s household diets and wealth
Rwanda has one of the highest per capita consumption in the world, confirming that beans are a key crop for food security in the country. Common bean is an important food crop for Rwandese. It is often referred to as the meat of the poor. On 24 June 2021, the Rwanda...
read moreA new dawn for agriculture with the reintroduction of 4K Clubs in Kenyan schools
The average age of a Kenyan farmer is approximately 60 years. With a growing human population, the demand for food is subsequently increasing. There is a need to have an informed, passionate, and energetic generation to drive the agriculture sector to ensure the...
read moreCan India sustain high growth of pulses production?
India has made remarkable progress in enhancing production of pulses during the past 15 years. During 2005-06, the total production of pulses in India was 13.38 million MT, which increased to 25.58 million MT during 2020-21. This shows an impressive growth of 91% or a...
read moreBean threshers transforming post-harvest and food safety handling in Kenya
Boaz Waswa, Josey Kamanda, Justin Mabeya, Eileen Nchanji, David Karanja, Patricia Onyango, Owen Kimani She wonders why she has to go through the tedious ritual of hitting the bean harvest using sticks to put food on her family’s table! “My hands are hard and blistered...
read moreIn Mali, ICRISAT will develop new crop varieties that meet the requirements of the population
The International Crops Research Institute of the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) held a four-day workshop, which began on Monday, June 21, with the aim of defining a plan for the development of crop varieties that take into account priority needs. Malian and...
read moreIITA signs Aflasafe manufacturing and distribution agreement in Mozambique
Food safety took a step forward in Mozambique as IITA signed a Technology Transfer and Licensing Agreement (TTLA) with AflaLivre Moçambique S.A. (AflaLivre) to manufacture and distribute Aflasafe in the country. The renewable agreement, signed on 7 May, defines the...
read moreWhy are aspirations of farming communities important to know in developing economies?
A systematic literature review of studies from 14 low and middle income countries in Asia and Africa has suggested that aspirations of rural poor are strongly associated with agricultural development and can be viable predictors of rural household trajectories....
read moreWork on a ‘forgotten foods’ manifesto begins in Africa
To trigger research and value chain actions as well as advocacy and promotion of indigenous and forgotten foods in Africa, an extensive consultation with all stakeholders in food systems is expected to result in a continent level manifesto. This manifesto on forgotten...
read moreMighty millets super grains of power
The United Nations General Assembly adopted an India-sponsored resolution to mark 2023 as the international year of millets. We delve into India’s millet production, their nutritional value and how the Indian government is promoting millets and its cultivation....
read morePartnering for nutrition sensitive agriculture in Sudan
Promoting improved crop varieties, strengthening seed systems and nutrition sensitive agriculture were identified areas of intervention that can help Sudan transform its food and agro-pastoral systems. Representatives of IFAD, WFP and ICRISAT, during a recent...
read moreResearchers recommend integrated pest management for fall armyworm
A new policy brief on the dreaded pest lays out the case for using agroecological approaches. Solutions to the massively destructive pest, fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), are urgently needed. In Sub-Saharan Africa, governments have spent huge sums purchasing...
read moreImproved tropical forages: A low-emissions livestock diet
In the soil just below the hooves of livestock live the Earth’s life support system—as plants decompose, trillions of bacteria, fungi and other soil microorganisms can either turn it into carbon or nitrogen that stays in the soil or into the world’s most powerful...
read moreStories of change: Analyzing aspirations of rural women and men
Looking into the aspirations of rural people provides insights into how they earn, invest, make decisions within the household, hold government accountable, make technology choices, and engage in other future-oriented behaviors. While aspirations-based theories in...
read moreBurkina Faso releases its first pearl millet hybrid
High-yieldng, downy mildew-resistant and suitable for food and fodder. Developed by ICRISATand evaluated by INERA Burkina Faso recently approved the commercial use of its first pearl millet hybrid called Nafagnon. With the approval, the single-cross hybrid also became...
read moreMillets prove tasty solution to climate and food security challenges
A renewed focus on boosting the production of millets and highlighting their benefits, is critical to reducing over-reliance on more commonly grown crops, boosting diverse diets, and food security. That’s especially true during periods of natural disaster when food...
read moreA manifesto on Forgotten Foods for Asia-Pacific with farmers in focus
Farmer collectives, research, policy and advocacy institutions in Central Asia and Asia-Pacific region called for an urgent change to the prevailing yield-for-immediate-profit structure of agriculture. Their proposal of a multi-functional diversified agri-food...
read moreCold- and Disease-Tolerant Winter-Sown Chickpea Varieties
ICARDA scientists developed packages of improved winter-sown chickpea varieties and better production practices for improved farmer incomes. Chickpea is a staple crop that brings major economic advantages to smallholder family-farm households across Central, West...
read moreQuick-maturing legumes for fallow land in South Asia
ICARDA scientists introduced early-maturing legume varieties that grow within short rice fallow seasons in South Asia, combating regional nutritional deficiencies and increasing farmers’ incomes. South Asian diets rely heavily on legumes, yet demand outstrips...
read moreExtra early biofortified lentils for South Asia
ICARDA biofortified lentil varieties can mature quickly within the short fallow season and are a rich source of protein, iron, and zinc, helping fight regional deficiencies. Every year in South Asia, vast tracts of land lie idle (fallow) between harvests of crops...
read moreTAAT and partners highlight bean production and marketing for improved nutrition and income
On the undulating landscape of Omobirona village, in Western Kenya, is a healthy bean crop planted to showcase the newly released high iron and zinc bean varieties; Angaza, Faida and Nyota. Farmers with a thirst for knowledge are trickling in for a field day to learn...
read moreCultural expectations in women’s economic empowerment: Case of women and men farmers in Uganda
Common beans are a valuable crop across sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to food nutrition security and income for smallholder farmers. It was considered a subsistent crop mainly grown by women for food; with the excess sold to get money for other household needs. In...
read moreCRP-GLDC Updates its Theory of Change
The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals, 'CRP-GLDC' is a complex undertaking. Scientists in seven CGIAR centers (ICRISAT, IITA, ICARDA, ICRAF, ILRI and the Alliance of Bioversity International and the CIAT) and three non-CGIAR centers (CIRAD,...
read moreDryland crop technology to rescue drought-hit crop-livestock farmers in Zimbabwe
Climate change-induced droughts in Zimbabwe over the last two decades has hit resource-poor farmers the most. Many watched their valuable livestock die during the dry season due to fodder shortages and their inability to buy expensive commercial feed. The impact of...
read moreIt’s not just about Wheat – How Diversified Cropping Systems help family farmers – and the planet.
To support dryland farmers’ livelihoods, income, and nutritional security as well as biological diversity and environmental sustainability, ICARDA, alongside its national and international partners and donors, promotes Diversified Cropping Systems (DCS) across Africa,...
read moreHow small-scale farmers jumped commercialisation hurdles in Ethiopia
Chickpea farmers have adopted new varieties to achieve commercialisation, say scientists The use of improved crop varieties has created a credible pathway to commercialization for subsistence farmers in Ethiopia. Researchers from World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and...
read moreGender and Nutrition considerations in Demand Led Breeding: Experiences from Rwanda
Participatory plant breeding is not new in Rwanda. Its history can be traced between 1988 to 1990 when local experts drawn from the pool of older women carried out the process (Sperling 1992; Sperling et al. 1993). On-farm results demonstrated farmers’ ability to...
read moreNew common bean varieties to benefit African women and children
Good progress has been made in the first 12 months of an innovative project linking The UWA Institute of Agriculture researchers and east African partners to breed new, fast-cooking common bean (Phaseolus spp) varieties biofortified with iron and zinc. This Australian...
read moreBenin joins PABRA to introduce sustainable bean research for development in West Africa
Did you know that almost 80 percent of Benin’s 11.2 million people earn a living from agriculture, the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) states? Despite being a subsistence sector, agriculture contributes about 34 percent to this west...
read morePublic and private sector scientists pick pearl millet material for their breeding programs
Public and private sector scientists visited 20,000 pearl millet breeding plots at ICRISAT this week to select material for their breeding programs. The plots displayed promising hybrid parental lines (both seed and restorer parents) bred for different traits and...
read moreFarmers’ Hubs for quality seed and input supply and market linkage launched in Nigeria
The Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) launched 13 Farmers’ Hubs to service 13,000 sorghum and cowpea farmers in Kano and Jigawa States. The initiative was in response to survey findings on low farm yields attributed to difficult access to quality...
read moreWhy youth here aspire to be farmers, the case of Burkina Faso
Jobs that are intellectually satisfying, economically rewarding and low on drudgery are the biggest draw for youth anywhere in the world. This is exactly what is drawing youngsters to farming in Burkina Faso, contrary to the trend in many developing countries. The...
read moreSmallscale composting can help put the brakes on youth immigration in Niger
A small group of youth from Niger learned a fast-paced composting technique. Their learnings are not only helping return profits but are also helping sustainably improve agriculture in their villages. More importantly, the composting business has allowed the members...
read moreResearchers lobby for seed banks to ensure diversity, food security
Researchers are advocating the use of seed banks to promote diversity and food security. International research organisations, seed breeders and farmers in four East African countries have been carrying out intensive research on hardy indigenous and high-value crops...
read moreA good pearl millet hybrid gets even better
A team of researchers in India has bettered an immensely popular pearl millet hybrid, HHB 67 Improved, endowing it with 58% higher resistance to downy mildew (DM) disease. The latest improvement has also increased the hybrid’s blast resistance by 12%, grain yield by...
read moreLittle millet that are big on nutrition and yield identified at ICRISAT
A team of researchers has zeroed in on little millet germplasm with high nutrients, high yield and biomass potential following analysis of the crop’s 200 landraces conserved at ICRISAT’s Genebank in India. These landraces hold the key to developing nutritious and...
read moreThe Use of Business Platform Approach Boosts Access to High Iron Beans in Zimbabwe
The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) High Iron Bean (HIB) Project is implemented using the novel bean corridor approach, developed and fronted by CIAT’s Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA). The approach operationalised through...
read moreBetter beans for Africa
Insufficient iron in diets is a leading cause of anemia, a condition that particularly affects pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children under the age of five. Through collaborative plant breeding efforts with farmers and other partners, CGIAR scientists...
read moreHigh-iron pearl millet for better health
Pearl millet is a nutritious and affordable staple crop in parts of India, relied on by many resource-poor farming families and rural communities. Yet overall dietary health remains poor – 59% of children under the age of five in India are anemic, generally due to a...
read moreCowpea variety IT89KD-288: A dry-season grain and fodder legume
The value added of new cowpea variety The IT89KD-288 dual-purpose cowpea variety, producing grain and fodder for animal and human consumption is increasingly considered attractive, thanks to increased income per household improving livelihoods. Since the development...
read moreGhana farmers’ group raises groundnut yield five-fold with improved varieties, breaks three-decade productivity barrier
Two improved groundnut varieties have helped a group of farmers in Ghana increase their yields five-fold, breaking a three-decade stranglehold on the crop’s productivity. The improved varieties, SARINUT 1 and SARINUT 2, are also combating devastating afflictions of...
read moreDemand – led Breeding through a Gender lens: Experiences from Zimbabwe
Discussions on gender integration in conventional breeding are not new. These talks started in the 1980s when women farmers were integrated into on-station and on-farm breeding activities (Sperling, Loevinsohn, & Ntabomvura, 2008). Currently, gender integration...
read moreMalian farmers garner benefits of breeding initiatives, despite pandemic
EU-APSAN-Mali project makes great strides in first year. More than 80,000 farmers, seed and grain producers, agro dealers and processors in Mali were reached through radio and TV messaging during 2020. This complemented 145 demonstrations of new varieties of sorghum,...
read moreBuilding seed business hubs around women and youth in Tanzania
Working with private seed companies, ICRISAT is helping integrate more women and youth into seed production enterprises in Tanzania. Recently we supported the efforts of the seed company Mbozi Highlands (MHEG), to enhance the production, promotion, marketing and...
read moreUpscaling Climate Smart and Nutrition Sensitive Beans and Finger Millet in Uganda
In East Africa, climate change and variability has increasingly aggravated the challenges associated with agricultural livelihoods, making farmers to struggle with food insecurity and loss of agricultural biodiversity. In the past 10 years, farmers in Hoima continued...
read moreFarmers reaping big benefits from climate information services in Rwanda
With a per capita consumption of more than 150g per person per day, beans are the most consumed and important source of protein and essential micro-nutrients in Rwanda. Its Eastern Province is particularly prone to climate risks for bean production because of long dry...
read moreUnlocking the potential of bean production and marketing for improved nutrition and income in Kenya
On the undulating landscape of Omobirona village, Nyansiongo Ward, Nyamira County, in Kenya, is a healthy bean crop planted to showcase the newly released high iron and zinc bean varieties; Angaza, Faida and Nyota. Thirsty for knowledge, farmers are seen trickling in...
read moreSorghum scientists from public and private sectors across India gather to share insights on modern breeding technologies
Continuing a long-standing partnership with sorghum scientists across institutes in India, a long-overdue field day showcases elite breeding lines, varieties, hybrids and hybrid show cased parental lines of sorghum at ICRISAT Hyderabad. Proceeding with all necessary...
read moreCreating a team of young scientists equipped with tech tools to fight pests and diseases
A recent workshop on pest and disease modeling for crops was conducted for young scientists from various parts of India, by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, and ICRISAT. The program included training on use of novel methods, data science and machine...
read moreSpecial training sessions initiated for young women and hearing-impaired youth in Ghana
To unlock the potential of youth in agriculture, we need targeted, inclusive interventions that appeal to specific and diverse groups of youth, especially female and differently-abled youth. Towards this goal, customized training sessions for young women, and...
read moreTargeting and investing in the most vulnerable is crucial for meeting the SDGs
The prospects and promise of expanding markets and increased demand for food products from a growing global population would suggest more incentives to engage in farming, making the sector attractive for the current and next generations. However, along with this is...
read moreInvesting in rural women farmers narrows the gender gap in agriculture
The glaring inequality between men and women farmers in the African agricultural sector is alarming evidence that calls for fair, inclusive and sustainable development. Gender productivity gaps vary across and even within countries, but recent studies suggest that...
read moreRevival of groundnut production continues to change lives of smallholder farmers in Northern Nigeria
In a remarkable turnaround, farmers in Northern Nigeria organized themselves into innovation platforms, and with support from the Tropical Legumes (TL) project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, turned into successful groundnut seed producers in 2011....
read moreHow male outmigration affects women’s roles in dryland agriculture
In a recent literature review focusing on agrarian societies in the drylands, ICARDA scientist Dina Najjar and Ph.D. student Jemima Baada at Western University in Canada investigate how outmigration of men affect women's roles in agriculture, as well as the wider...
read moreMali Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries keen on stronger research partnerships to benefit farmers nationwide
This is something we needed to know about, support, promote and make better known at the national level in order to benefit to the maximum,” said Minister Mohamed Ould Mahmoud while on a visit to the ICRISAT research station in Samanko with a group of high-level...
read moreNew study fills critical gap in understanding pandemic impact on food value chains and offers solutions
In a new paper in the journal Sustainability, ICRISAT researchers analyzed the double burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on farmers in a leading groundnut producing state in South India.
read moreLegumes: a climate-smart option to address Africa’s dependence on costly food imports
The economics of hunger and agriculture in Africa. According to the United Nations, the Covid-19 pandemic has the potential to double (to an estimated 265 million) the number of people without access to nutritious food, heightening the risk of malnutrition, hunger and...
read moreBetter beans for Africa
Insufficient iron in diets is a leading cause of anemia, a condition that particularly affects pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children under the age of five. Through collaborative plant breeding efforts with farmers and other partners, CGIAR scientists have developed and scaled up hundreds of varieties of iron-biofortified beans in an effort to address the problem.
read moreScaling agricultural innovations to strengthen Africa’s food systems, food safety and nutrition
Africa’s food systems are at an inflection point. Food demand in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to at least double between 2015 and 2050. Moreover, income growth and urbanization are driving significant changes in consumer demand, including for more varied,...
read moreAn agri-food system innovation in Kenya? Will smallholders be the winners?
Major food policy changes are underway in Kenya that could mean that sorghum and millets finally get to give maize a run for its money. Starting in 2018, the Kenyan government has signalled its intent to implement a national flour blending initiative to increase the...
read moreBuild trust, build lives…
“Farmers thought we were coming to steal their money!” Microfinance specialist Lamine Sountoura remembers the first time he tried convincing farmers in Mali to warehouse their produce a decade ago. Sountoura and his colleagues from Soroyiriwaso Microfinance Institute were trekking through villages and hamlets in Sikasso region on a mission…
read moreMillets are good for us, good for the planet and good for the farmer too
Covid-19 turned the spotlight on healthy eating. So, are diets changing to impact the mass market, farms and well-being of our planet? The increased attention does not seem to be towing commensurate change. Not yet. However, change in the form of diet diversification...
read moreWell-designed strategy drives pearl millet mainstreaming nutrition initiative
A well-designed strategy currently being implemented to develop pearl millet lines that are both high-yielding and high in iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) was appreciated by donors and partners at a virtual review meeting attended by the leadership of HarvestPlus. Strategic...
read moreAfrican project highlights importance of legume crops on World Pulses Day
Could legumes be the key to food production sustainability and climate change resilience? They consume less than half the non-renewable energy of traditional cereals, they can survive harsh conditions like drought and they improve soil health by fixing nitrogen. On...
read moreClimate-smart pigeonpea sparks phenomenal expansion across Malawi
A whopping 49% increase in cropping area, 153 % increase in production and 68 % increase in productivity since 2000 – these numbers show the phenomenal expansion of pigeonpea in Malawi sparked by wilt-resistant medium-duration varieties developed by ICRISAT...
read moreCelebrating a fruitful partnership that spurred a millet movement in India
If millets are regaining their lost place in Indian menus, considered as top contenders for biofuel production and validated as nutritious fodder for cattle, the partnership with the ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research since ICRISAT’s inception in 1972 has...
read moreBuilding capacity in crop modeling today for a better tomorrow
Young Malawian researchers are being trained in crop modeling to tackle land, water and climate related challenges facing agriculture and smallholder farmers. During a recently-held training program, 11 researchers from Malawi’s national research organizations learned...
read moreEnsuring the safety of our seeds
With the recent shipment of 3702 accessions, 91% of ICRISAT’s genebank collection has been safety duplicated at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. The shipment included 2041 accessions of sorghum, 969 of pearl millet, 39 of pigeonpea, 221 of finger millet, 80 of...
read moreGraduate scaling great heights growing climbing bean in Uganda
Fresh pod beans are becoming a popular source of protein among urban dwellers in Uganda. They are considered highly nutritious and cook faster compared to dry beans. Depending on the variety planted, the expected yield is between 100 -150 bags per season from a...
read moreReviving the pulse in food security
World Pulses Day, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, raises awareness about the nutritional benefits of a global wonder food: pulses. CGIAR, the world's largest global agricultural innovation network, is working hard with FAO...
read moreTwo women-led food processing units opened in India
ICRISAT’s training and capacity building program empowers women from tribal communities of Telangana state to start their entrepreneurial ventures. Ms Satyavathi Rathod, Minister for Scheduled Tribes, Women and Child Welfare of India’s Telangana state, recently...
read moreHigher quality seeds can help beat Africa’s ‘hunger pandemic’
Vaccination efforts across the globe encourage hope of an imminent end to the COVID-19 health crisis. But the food security crisis that the pandemic has deepened cannot be alleviated quickly and will require lasting solutions. Well-adapted and nutrient-dense crops...
read moreBreaking barriers to uptake of improved sorghum in Burkina Faso, one social media post at a time
A small number of farmers pioneering seed production of a novel sorghum variety in Burkina Faso are also breaking new ground on social media. Turning the spotlight on Soubatimi, the new sorghum variety that the AVISA Project is disseminating, they have shown a way...
read morePublishing metrics and agricultural science
Having achieved an H-index of 100, Dr Rajeev Varshney explains what the metric means in scientific publishing and why it is a milestone, especially in an agricultural scientist’s life. H-index is an author-level metric that measures both productivity and citation...
read moreCues to making crop improvement in Africa gender responsive
A cluster of activities are helping make The Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA) Project’s crop improvement efforts gender-responsive. The activities include: Gender responsiveness in product profiling, Youth...
read moreZiziphus agroforestry: a yield and income ladder for millet farmers in Niger
A long term experiment at ICRISAT’s Sadore research station with Ziziphus mauritania (Pomme du Sahel) trees showed pearl millet yields rising by up to 41% in low input conditions. The observations led researchers to recommend ziziphus trees at 80 plants per hectare...
read moreTowards sustainable seed systems in Eastern and Southern Africa
The AVISA project has rolled out its seed systems strategy in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda with an aim to increase ESA’s varietal turnover rate and boost adoption of improved varieties. Digital seed roadmaps, increasing private seed sector and community seed producer...
read more‘Unless consumers demand food produced in ways good for the environment, farmers have little incentive to adopt technologies’
Covid-19 has highlighted opportunities for improved agri-food systems – digital extension systems, increased farm mechanization, decentralized markets and improved farmgate procurement…
read moreDoes improving food market access improve rural household nutritional outcome in developing countries?
Diversification of farms is often advocated for bringing diet diversity to rural households and improving nutrition, but how does it compare to market access? This blog traverses an extensive review…
read moreGiving Africa’s new crop varieties a data boost digitally
To increase adoption of new improved varieties in Africa, a webinar was recently organized under the aegis of the AVISA project to familiarize seed system stakeholders with SEEDx, a mobile application developed by ICRISAT that facilitates data-driven decision making....
read moreDelivering livelihood resilience in 2021
Between COVID-19 and the intensifying impact of the climate crisis, farmers face unprecedented threats and challenges to their livelihoods, particularly in vulnerable dry regions. ICARDA’s mission to provide vital livelihoods resilience through innovative agricultural science is more urgent than ever.
read moreYouth agri-entrepreneur transforming his community through job creation in Tanzania – case of Pastory Tarasisi
According to the UN report on Youth 2015, Africa constitutes 19% of the global youth population with 60% of the entire continent aged below 25, making it the youngest continent in the world. In Tanzania, youth unemployment stands at 11.5 %, despite the high economic...
read moreYoung Malian researchers gear up for grand challenges with crop modeling
UE-APSAN Mali project trains next generation of modeling experts Budding agricultural researchers are being trained in crop modeling to take on pressing and ever-present challenges of land, climate and food security. In a recent training program at ICRISAT-Mali, eight...
read moreVideo: How Iron Beans Gained Ground in Rwanda
“We eat these beans at home. I saw change in my child, who became healthier and weighed very well,” says Jaqueline Mushimiyimana, a farmer in Nyanza District in southern Rwanda. She stands proudly in front her bean field, hoe in hand. Mushimiyimana and her family...
read moreAgriculture remains preferred occupation in rural Nigeria despite pandemic-related challenges
A survey in rural parts of Northern Nigeria shows that in spite of problems in accessing quality seeds and other inputs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of respondents still want to take up…
read more10 new chickpea varieties released in 2020 in collaboration with NARS
Market-driven chickpea innovations record many firsts in Africa and Asia. To meet the growing global market demand for protein-rich chickpea, scientists have created new varieties that would contribute to greater nutrition security, health and climate resilience and...
read moreStrategizing on a national seed system in Kenya with special focus on climate-resilient crops
A national seed systems strategy with special focus on drought tolerant crops such as sorghum and millets is in the making in Kenya. The strategy will leverage existing government initiatives, capitalize on agri-science innovations and use digital technologies for...
read moreHistorical socio-economic data critical for research and policy making, say agricultural economists
ICRISAT’s socio-economic data sets for India at the district and village levels, collated over several decades, are vital for researchers, institutions and policy makers, agreed experts in a recent conference. These data sets continue to have great potential to...
read moreChickpea scientists pool their knowhow to train younger scientists in disease management
With newer diseases affecting chickpea crops, it is increasingly important to detect and manage them on time. With a view to develop and disseminate standardized protocols for detection, phenotyping and management of chickpea diseases, a group of chickpea experts came...
read moreGLDC Newsletter 2020
It has been a year of both tremendous challenge and growth. Amid a global pandemic COVID-19, there has been creative innovation, adaptation, and more inclusive research. CRP-GLDC was able to innovate and leverage science to achieve outcomes benefitting millions of...
read moreNew sorghum hybrid with preferred market traits developed in partnership with Zimbabwean seed company
A new disease-resistant sorghum hybrid with 23-34% higher yield, best suited for brewing, food and forage and adaptable to diverse agro-ecologies in Zimbabwe and southern Africa was developed in partnership with Seed Co, a private seed company. The development and use...
read moreGenomics-assisted breeding delivers high-yielding, wilt resistant chickpea for commercial cultivation in central India
A high-yielding and wilt resistant variety with a yield potential double to that of existing varieties* was developed through genomics-assisted breeding and released for cultivation in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra by the Central Varietal...
read moreBrainstorming sessions on groundnut value chain innovations
Groundnut innovations with large kernels and high oleic content preferred by the confectionery industry in Bangladesh being developed in partnership with the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute was discussed during a training program that deliberated on...
read moreOrphan crops are the key to better diets in Africa: but how to promote them?
Neglected or overlooked local food crops could well be making a comeback into markets in Africa thanks to the work of a consortium of scientists. ‘Orphan’ crops, which include a range of neglected or overlooked plants producing fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains and...
read moreThe Dreamers: Scaling seeds of success
Members of the Dreamers Group in Zambezia province, Northern Mozambique, were smiling all the way to the bank in the just ended farming season, 2019/2020. This year they generated more than 2,277,000 MZN (US$31,625) from the production and sale of soybean and common...
read moreIITA-CSAT scaling activity flourishes; welcomes Norwegian Ambassador to Mali
The IITA-Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies (CSAT) project continues to advance with activities in Mali and Niger. CSAT Mali and CSAT Niger are working to scale climate-smart technologies in Sahelian regions and provide farmers with options for better adaptation...
read moreSorghum and millet grow money for the Mariko family
Use of improved seed triples yields, credit through warrantage system leads to big gains. Access to fertilizer is a serious constraint in Sola Bougouda, Mali. Farmers looking for hardy and resilient crops that need less fertilizer than maize have shifted to sorghum...
read moreEstablishing guidelines and engaging stakeholders to promote high-oleic peanut value chain in India
Demand for peanut oil in India is increasing and a dependable supply of quality seed of varieties that combine both high oil and high oleic traits are highly desirable for increased shelf life and consumer health benefits, said Mr Tushar Tumar from Kedut Foods and...
read moreFresh bean grain business in Tanzania; a new hope for youth and women
Beans are a staple food in most rural households in Tanzania. They are both a food and income-generating crop in most households. Kagera region is one of the leading producers of common beans in Tanzania. The most popular traditional dish in the area is beans mixed...
read moreUse of scientific evidence for greater partnerships and better policies
Discussion sessions with Nigerian Agriculture Minister “Concrete outcomes of research are indispensable tools in sourcing funds for agricultural research”, – Mr Manir Babba Dan’agundi, Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture Colleges and Institutions....
read moreNewly launched millet food finder shows a revolution is underway
Millets have sometimes been hailed as the next quinoa but researchers collating a global database of millet products have found this ancient grain to be orchestrating a silent food revolution that could see quinoa outstripped. The “Millet Finder”, launched today,...
read morePrivate sector engagement: Way forward for African Agriculture
A webinar was organized on 5 November to connect partners and deliberate on ways to increase private sector engagement in African agriculture. The webinar, a collaborative activity of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) with Grow...
read moreTrade-offs along food value-chains: anticipate the unintended for better food and nutrition security
How to achieve Sustainable Development Goal no. 2, Zero Hunger, by 2030 Ambitious food value-chain initiatives pursue multiple development objectives of reducing poverty, malnutrition and environmental footprint by increasing smallholders’ productivity and incomes...
read morePABRA mentors award winning scientist on Improving smallholder farmers’ food security through disease resistant common beans
Bean researchers are almost always cooped up in the laboratory and farm trials looking into various ways of improving production and productivity. They spend months and even years looking at solutions that will maximize bean yields to ensure food and nutrition...
read moreMore vigilance, regional cooperation needed to check emerging plant health threats
Locusts, Fall armyworm, wheat blast, banana Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 and UG99 - a virulent strain of wheat stem rust, are some of the emerging crop health threats that require to be addressed efficiently to safeguard food security. This was emphasized by...
read moreGross Margin Analysis – A tool for better farm management
A training session for farmers in Niger. In order to guide farmers in Niger to make better informed decisions about their farming activities, a training on Gross Margin Analysis was organized to empower them with necessary skills to determine their farms’...
read moreShining a Brighter Light on Adoption and Diffusion of CGIAR-Related Innovations in Ethiopia
Taking a Country-Level Approach to Documenting Diffusion of Agricultural Innovations in Ethiopia Shining a Brighter Light: Comprehensive Evidence on Adoption and Diffusion of CGIAR-Related Innovations in Ethiopia is a new report that focuses on the success of...
read moreFarmers in Mali endorse climate-resilient and high-yielding crop varieties
Farmers in Mali, who volunteered to grow climate-resilient and locally adapted varieties of sorghum, pearl millet, groundnut and cowpea crops under the UE-APSAN-Mali project, demonstrated the superior features of their crops during a field visit by other farmers, seed...
read moreResearch Fellow – CRP-GLDC Capacity Development Data
The International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) invites applications for a twelve-month research fellowship for the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) activities of the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals...
read moreTechnology-driven modernisation of African Agriculture: what role for the Private Sector?
Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) and Grow Africa Partnership will be hosting a webinar on the 5th of November 2020 between 14h00-16h00 (WAT). With the theme “Technology-driven modernisation of African Agriculture – what role for the private...
read moreTAAT facilitates access to quality High Iron Bean Seed in Malawi
In Malawi, children under five years suffer malnutrition, with the national prevalence of under-five stunting at about 37%. Additionally, about 34% of women of reproductive age are suffering from anaemia. High iron bean varieties could help address these micronutrient...
read moreUpdated CGIAR feed database provides best-cost livestock feed rations for sub-Saharan Africa
An updated CGIAR livestock feeds database for sub-Saharan Africa is now available. Containing the nutritive values of over 44,000 forage and fodder samples, the updated database can be accessed by researchers, development agents and agricultural extension workers in...
read moreLittle spaces promise more food and nutrition security for households in Kenya
Did you know that with just a small space you can set up a kitchen garden with various crops including beans? Increasing land scarcity especially in urban and peri-urban areas calls for fresh ideas for ensuring a regular supply of fresh food. Kitchen gardens offer a...
read moreBundling inputs and agricultural extension services in a gender equitable manner to increases bean production in the lower Rift of Kenya
Across Africa, farmers’ access to agricultural advisory services is limited due to the weak extension systems. This is even worse with the COVID-19 pandemic where there have been restrictions on travel and gatherings. To close this gap, the Cereal Growers...
read morePutting digital agro-climatic services in the hands of bean value chain actors
Virtual trainings through the Digital AgroClimate Advisory (DACA) was greatly appreciated by trainees as a novel and useful tool in decision making in bean crop production. Participants shared that DACA helped them to expand their understanding of how to make an...
read moreCommon Beans: The Greener Pasture for Northern Tanzania Pastoralists
For the longest time when one mentions Maasai, the image that comes to mind is of young men—warriors—living in the wilderness, moving their livestock from one seasonal pasture to another, coping with the vagaries of nature and the dangers of attack from wild animals....
read moreEnvironment Minister launches women-owned food processing unit in Telangana
ICRISAT-led project transforms tribal women into first-generation entrepreneurs by helping them produce healthy, nutritious foods from dryland crops. Mr Allola Indrakaran Reddy, Minister for Endowment, Law, Forest and Environment, Telangana, recently inaugurated a...
read moreAflatoxin rapid detection technology wins Big Data Inspire Challenge 2020
A little box that can predict the amount of harmful aflatoxin contained in a handful of sample groundnuts… sounds like a far-fetched notion? Not anymore. A collaboration between Pure Scan AI and ICRISAT to create a portable aflatoxin detector has won the Inspire...
read moreCSIR-SARI introduces high yielding groundnut varieties to farmers
The Savanah Agriculture Research Institute of the Council for Scientific Industrial Research (CSRI-SARI), has introduced high yielding groundnut varieties to farmers in the Pusiga District of the Upper East Region. The groundnut varieties, SARINUT 1 and SARINUT 2,...
read moreCommon Beans: The Greener Pasture for Northern Tanzania Pastoralists
For the longest time when one mentions Maasai, the image that comes to mind is of young men—warriors—living in the wilderness, moving their livestock from one seasonal pasture to another, coping with the vagaries of nature and the dangers of attack from wild animals....
read moreYoung people in Niger explore different forms of agriculture for a better future
Over 150 rural youth in Niger joined an entrepreneur incubation program, participating in their first practical training in integrated pest management (e.g. insect rearing), market gardening, fruit tree nurseries and smart compost production. Equipped with these...
read moreFodder chopping machines lead to a thriving livestock feed enterprise in rural Niger
Fodder chopping machines are proving to be a great help to livestock farmers in rural Niger, by providing suitable feed to their animals while saving their time and effort. In five villages, groups of farmers are making the most of an initiative to provide these...
read moreCelebrating four decades of collaborative research on groundnut in India
To achieve the full genetic potential and higher profits for smallholder farmers, modern crop improvement programs, strong seed delivery system, better market access, support of national and local government agencies and a conducive policy environment is a must. These...
read moreDiet diversification program for tribal women and children to be scaled up in South India
Enthused by positive nutritional outcomes among children and women in its first phase, activities of the Giri Poshana diet diversification program in Telangana, India, are set to be scaled up to benefit more of the state’s tribal population. Two years after it began,...
read moreRapid, Low-Cost Aflatoxin detection using AI
Aflatoxin is carcinogenic mycotoxin that cripples the immune system. It is widely present in our food and is one of the major natural toxins that humans consume. Yet, there is no easy way to monitor & limit its occurrence in our supply chain. Current detection...
read moreIndian PM Narendra Modi dedicates two ‘healthy oil’ groundnut varieties on World Food Day
Two groundnut varieties with high oleic acid content, developed by ICRISAT together with the Indian Counci l of Agricultural Research-Directorate of Groundnut Research, are among the 17 biofortified varieties of eight crops that Indian Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi...
read moreResilient rural women of the drylands
Special Feature: International Day of Rural Women – October 15 Long before COVID constraints crept in, ‘resilience’ was and is the operative word for agri-food systems research in the semi-arid tropics. And when the pandemic happened, all we did was factor it into...
read moreCGIAR focus on gene editing crops for a food and income secure future
“The vision of CGIAR breeding is to have world-class breeding programs to have CGIAR-and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) breeding networks that generate genetic gains above 1.5% per annum. And the average area-weighted age of varieties in farmers’ fields...
read moreICRISAT among 11 global ‘Hubs’ to accelerate the use of natural genetic diversity to advance crop improvement
Using chickpea as the case species, one of the proposed 11 hubs of DivSeek International will develop and refine tools to accelerate the use of its natural genetic diversity to advance crop improvement. Scientists in this hub will be studying the genetic determinants...
read moreRealtime Rice-fallow Intensification System (rRIS)
Large tracts of arable land are left fallow due to the lack of real-time in-season and replanting site-specific information. This project aims to bridge that information gap to enable the utilization of fallow land for crop diversification, a key pillar of agriculture...
read moreTransforming agri-food systems for the Sustainable Development Goals requires honest discussion on trade-offs
Researchers argue that trade-offs in value-chain interventions need to be explicitly recognized within the wider agri-food system to achieve the Goals, suggesting a ‘do no harm’ agenda. Managing trade-offs in agri-food systems for outcomes that ‘do no harm’ is central...
read moreDryArc – Time to Grow, Nourish, Sustain, Together
World Food Day is an opportunity to reflect on how we can join forces to support vulnerable communities who struggle to put food on their table every day. DryArc, a CGIAR initiative targeting water-scarce regions, embraces the new ways of thinking, digitization of...
read moreThe rural woman – a powerful force that can drive global progress
IITA joins the rest of the world to spotlight the people who feed the world—women. We can recognize a rural woman from a distance. Her clothing is usually different from the urban woman’s; it is loose-fitting, mismatched, and often, this woman carries a baby with a...
read moreYouth or Young mothers? the paradox of transitions in the rural women’s lives
2020 is a unique year. We have spent most of it ‘surprised’ by the turn of events. In early 2020, we found ourselves in a global health pandemic. We started by learning that we could not travel from one country to another. At first, we thought it will be a few weeks,...
read moreIn Africa, poor soils and limited fertilizer use mask the impacts of climate change on crops
What is the potential impact of climate change on cereal production, and in particular on maize, one of the most sensitive tropical crops to heat and water stress? A study coordinated by CIRAD and published in Global Change Biology assesses the impact of temperature...
read moreCameroon’s “Bean Sharer”
After learning about the benefits of improved bean varieties, one woman has singlehandedly taken up the challenge of distributing beans across her community. Magdalene Atungsiri is a farmer and retired research technician with Cameroon’s Agricultural Research...
read moreDistributing high-iron and zinc bean varieties to women farmers during COVID-19
Achieving food and nutritional security and economic prosperity is possible within an equitable system where structural barriers are removed and traditional gender norms and stereotypes are broken. With additional stress on food security caused by social and economic...
read moreOn a mission to nurture hunger-free drylands
The 95th Governing Board meeting, held virtually, affirmed ICRISAT’s commitment to a hunger-free world and its readiness in transitioning to the One CGIAR and operating efficiently despite COVID constraints. The ICRISAT Strategy 2021-25 that was approved by the Board,...
read moreICARDA Gets Quality Legume Seeds to Lebanon
As part of the ICARDA/LARI joint capacity development project funded by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), ICARDA provided the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) with 722 Kg of quality legume seeds. This activity was encouraged by...
read moreA new digital hub to consolidate learnings from global food legume initiatives
To enable crop researchers and policymakers access information on the three Tropical Legumes projects under one roof, a digital hub has been developed to capture learnings and impacts of crop varietal development and distribution initiatives taken up under the...
read moreWhy We Save Seeds in Uganda
Saving seeds, safeguarding agro-biodiversity Seed remains the most vital input in food production and consequently, access to seeds is crucial in ensuring farmers’ food security and livelihoods. Farmers in Africa have engaged in seed saving practices for millennia...
read moreIITA and regional grains body to work towards producing aflatoxin-free grain for health and trade
CGIAR-IITA and the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together to tackle aflatoxin contamination of grain in the region. Achieving this will ensure that grains are safe for human and livestock consumption and...
read moreSeven villages, 700 women, one story: Plant nurseries in Niger are changing lives
A group of women across four regions of south-western Niger have grown 84,000 trees to earn US$ 20,400 (CFA 11,200,000) in just three months. Their entrepreneurial quest, an example of besting odds in harsh environs, has seen the women bond over fruit trees while...
read moreBuilding gender and youth research capacities for agriculture and development
Aspiring researchers who attended ICRISAT’s capacity building programs in gender and youth research in East and Southern Africa say their learnings from the programs involving extensive field work have given them a strong orientation in these areas vis-à-vis...
read moreStriding towards streamlined crop improvement programs
To better accomplish its mission by providing improved crop varieties to smallholder farmers, ICRISAT is overhauling its breeding program with regional crop improvement hubs, improved inventory processes, new facilities and capacity building to make them more rapid,...
read moreFood from fallows: capitalizing on idle land for better food security in South Asia
Every year after the rice harvest in South Asia, a vast area of over 15 million hectares lies idle (fallow) until the next rice planting season several months later. The region’s food needs are fast accelerating along with burgeoning populations, so scientists in...
read moreSeed consortium to bring improved sorghum to Indian farmers post rains
To make quality seeds of improved sorghum easily accessible, a consortium of institutions is taking up 3000 tons of seed production this year to supply more than 10% of India’s farmers, who are often deterred from cultivating improved sorghum owing to non-availability...
read moreWhat rising CO2 does to one of world’s most important protein sources
In their effort to ensure food and nutrition security in the face of rising carbon dioxide levels and climate change, researchers at ICRISAT, in a first of its kind study, have demonstrated what elevated CO2 does to chickpea and have uncovered the molecular basis for...
read moreIncreased funding support to AVISA to accelerate crop improvement and improve seed delivery systems
One year after it began, Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA) project is being strengthened to magnify its impact potential with a two-year supplementary grant from USAID…
read moreAgroecological management of fall armyworm: Africa, South Asia and South America
When fall armyworm first arrived on the African continent in 2016, the potential loss of crops was estimated to potentially cost farmers over USD 13 billion per year throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, threatening the livelihoods of millions. Native to the Americas, fall...
read moreGenetic molecular markers to accelerate genetic gains in crops
Dr Rajeev Varshney from the Center of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, ICRISAT, sheds light on his recent research in an interview with BioTechniques, a MEDLINE peer-reviewed, open access journal. Please can you give us a short summary of your article,...
read moreRising fodder shortage prompts release of two pearl millet varieties with superior and higher forage in south India
Two pearl millet varieties with 7.0% and 5.4% higher green forage yields as compared to national check Giant Bajra, were released for cultivation in five south India states…
read moreFive-year plan for driving Grain Legume and Dryland Cereals seed delivery systems through commodity value chains
For those seeking to create a win-win for farmers, marketers and consumers of grain legumes and dryland cereals, this handy 15-pager has valuable information. Covering a five-year period starting 2020, this booklet aims to guide policy makers, development partners,...
read moreDiscussions on propelling India towards biofuel sees calls for more R&D
ICRISAT’s efforts in feedstocks development appreciated on World Biofuel Day India has made good progress in blending bioethanol with gasoline (petrol) and biodiesel with diesel, said Dr Ashok Kumar Are, Principal Scientist, ICRISAT, while pointing out the need for...
read moreDouble harvest for half the effort
Peter Mwangofi is a pigeonpea farmer from Karonga district in Malawi. He relies on the crop for both food and income. Over the past few years, Mwangofi has seen a decline in pigeonpea produce, mainly due to land pressure, as he now has a smaller landholding than he...
read moreBigger, bolder, high-yielding confectionery groundnut variety released in Karnataka, India
A superior export-quality confectionery groundnut variety that comes with a higher cost benefit ratio compared to local checks was released for cultivation in the Northern Transitional Agro-climatic Zone of Karnataka, India. The variety ICGV 06189 comes with superior...
read moreLegumes grow money: Success script of seed systems in Malawi
An estimated US$ 40 million per annum, up from US$ 17 million in 2009, was infused into Malawi’s economy during Phase-I from legume export states a 2016 impact report of the Malawi Seed Industry Development Project. Project investments on increased adoption of...
read moreSoil-borne pathogen new to chickpea growing regions in India detected
A soil-borne pathogen, new to chickpea growing regions in India, was detected during a real-time survey being conducted regularly to study the spike in soil-borne diseases. After intensive morphological and molecular characterization, the pathogen was identified as...
read moreEngaging Kenyan youth in bean business to boost income
For Ms. Grace Wambui getting into agriculture did not come as her first option. A chance encounter got her here. After school, she started a small business selling motorbikes spare parts and operated a mobile money kiosk at the growing Kiambogo Shopping centre in...
read moreNo such thing as waste: full-purpose crops a double boon for people and livestock
The dry, gravelly red-hued soils of drought-prone Anantapur, in the heart of Southern India, might seem an unlikely spot for the largest peanut-growing district in the world. But the profitable, resilient crop, known locally as groundnut, stretches over upwards of...
read moreNew ICRISAT groundnut varieties to be available from the next season
Two new groundnut varieties with high oleic acid content developed by ICRISAT in association with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Directorate of Groundnut Research would be made available to the farming community in Telangana from the next season. This was...
read moreMalawi officially releases its first improved chickpea and finger millet varieties
High-yielding chickpea and finger millet varieties with yield potential of up to 3 tons per hectare had their first-ever official release in Malawi. The release aligns well with the government’s crop diversification agenda for food and income security and the funding...
read moreAdding value to smallholder farming in Malawi
Smallholder farmers in Malawi, with support from a seed development project and government initiatives, have successfully set up a groundnut oil producing enterprise, thereby boosting incomes and opening up market opportunities. They formed a cooperative of 118...
read moreNew project aims to improve food and nutrition security for 120,000 households in West and Central Africa
A recently launched project, with a focus on iron- and zinc-fortified hybrids and open-pollinated varieties of sorghum and pearl millet, anticipates improved food and nutrition security for 120,000 smallholder households in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The three-year...
read moreEnabling Niger farmers to turn seed producers
An intensive training workshop for aspiring seed producers in Niger equipped them with necessary knowhow and techniques to scientifically produce groundnut, cowpea, pearl millet and sorghum seeds in Zinder region. A formal partnership with a seed company was also...
read moreBetter dietary options for healthier children
In rural Malawi, over 16,000 people, including young children, have benefited from 'Care Groups' that train people to prepare nutritious meals using local produce. A 2018 integrated survey by the National Statistical Office of Malawi listed Dedza district among those...
read moreNew groundnut variety with high oil, high pod yields released in Central India
A new groundnut variety, with 28% higher yields of oil and pods compared to zonal checks, has been released in Chhattisgarh state, India. This variety, Chhattisgarh Mungfali-1 (CGM-1), is the first ever groundnut variety released by Indira Gandhi Krishi...
read moreFarmer cooperatives across West and Central Africa help expand access to improved seeds, boosting yields
A farmers’ cooperative in Mali has experienced a significant increase in production of quality seeds, setting an example for other farmer organizations in Mali and neighboring countries. They are using both rainy season and dry season varieties to enhance their yields...
read moreLegume farmer fab labs design seeds that work for family farms, women and the market.
Protein and micronutrient-packed legumes like cowpea, groundnut, beans or chickpea are important crops for small farmers in developing countries to improve family diets and soils. Yet for years, legume cultivation has been hampered by poor yields and returns. Engaging...
read moreMalian farmer sets an example as a successful seed producer
Farmer field schools in Mali are not only training local farmers in best practices for optimum crop yields, they’re also providing improved variety seeds to them, encouraging them to become seed producers themselves. Africa RISING’s large-scale Diffusion of...
read moreNew chickpea varieties on the way
Three new improved varieties of chickpea – adapted to local conditions – have been identified for release in Malawi, following farmer participatory research, by the Malawi Seed Industry Development Project (MSIDP). Chickpea is an important cash crop grown mostly in...
read moreAfrica is facing a food crisis due to COVID-19. These seeds could help prevent it
Seed demand is expected to outstrip supply by nearly twice in the coming seasons, based on expert opinions from seven African countries compiled by the AVISA research project. Sub-Saharan Africa is facing one of its biggest farming crises in living memory. COVID-19 is...
read moreNew highly productive sorghum varieties released
Three improved sorghum varieties with a yield potential of approximately 4 tons per hectare and tolerant to grey leaf spot, rust and other common diseases were released in Malawi early this year. These new varieties replace two varieties released in 1993, and have...
read moreWe have talented farmers!
Innovator, champion and change leader Oumar Koné is not only a seed producer and a farmer, he is an innovator. When Koné joined USAID’s Feed the Future-funded Farmers’ Field School he put all his energy and ability into learning. Very focused and detail-oriented, Koné...
read moreSecret to on-off fertility discovered in pigeonpea
New study reveals how in some lines male sterility can be reversed to produce hybrids faster and cheaper Researchers have identified how temperature controls male fertility in some lines of pigeonpea and have unraveled the phenomenon’s molecular mechanism in a...
read moreWest Africa | 40 000 producers will benefit from a new European plant breeding project
Plant breeding is a key challenge for resilience to climate change among agricultural producers. A new far-reaching project is aimed at strengthening networks and institutional capacities in this field in three West African countries. With almost 9 million euros of...
read moreDoes the smallholder farmer have access to quality inputs?
With the onset of kharif (monsoon) in the southern states of India, the majority of farmers have started procurement of inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. Amidst COVID-19 induced disruptions in input production and distribution, the state governments...
read moreGovernment and research bodies expand seeds support to over 10,000 Nigerian smallholders to shield agriculture from COVID-19
Farmers in 13 states of Nigeria will receive improved seeds of sorghum, pearl millet, cowpea and rice as a part of an initiative to cushion the pandemic’s impact on food…
read moreCOVID-19 recovery is a chance to improve the African food system
The World Food Programme has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could cause one of the worst food crises since World War II. It predicts a doubling of the number of people going hungry – more than half of them in sub-Saharan Africa. While wealthier people stay...
read moreMeasuring farm households’ vulnerability and resilience to climate shocks now possible, new research shows
Measurement can improve interventions and help smallholder farmers adapt better A household’s vulnerability to climate shocks and its resilience to recover can now be measured, suggests a recently published study. The study’s authors have turned their measurement...
read morePost-Covid agri reforms: Odisha could be frontrunner
Many reforms in the Indian agricultural sector were long due for want of enabling rules in States or differences between State and Central Governments. Covid-19, it appears, is ironing out those creases, paving the way for major reforms. As the pandemic hit during...
read moreNew partnership inked with AGRA to boost improved technology uptake in Africa’s agriculture
ICRISAT-led AVISA project is partnering with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to enhance uptake of modern technologies, including improved crop varieties. The new partnership will utilize AGRA’s extensive networks to bridge gaps in market access...
read moreHow dryland crops are helping Telangana’s tribal households meet nutritional requirements during lockdown
To ensure nutrition sufficiency in children, pregnant women and lactating mothers of tribal communities in Telangana, India, during times of lockdown, ready-to-eat foods containing millets, sorghum and pulses produced by ICRISAT are being provided at their doorstep....
read moreReviving the farm economy
The return of migrant workers to their villages offers an opportunity to give agribusiness a leg-up. For the first time in years, amidst the Covid-19 crisis, the general population in India seem to have become increasingly aware of the importance of the migrant...
read moreCovid crisis has shown India’s food policy must have buffer stocks at community level too
Easing of lockdown restrictions to revive Indian economy may suggest end of Covid-19 ordeal for agriculture. But gaps in food value chains show fight is far from over. Accustomed to healthy demand, India’s vegetable and fruit growers were in for a rude shock when the...
read morePulse champions and smart seed innovations boost farmers’ incomes and resilience
Cowpea and groundnut are considered ‘golden grains’ for many women farmers in West Africa, as they make decent money processing these pulse grains into oil or popular snacks, while the leaves are good fodder for their animals. Yet legume cultivation has been limited...
read moreClimate risk, vulnerability and resilience: Supporting livelihood of smallholders in semiarid India
This paper uses smallholder households panel data from 2006 to 2014 in three semiarid regions India, makes a key contribution to literature on drought resilience. Understanding why are some farmers able to respond to drought but others are not? How can smallholders...
read moreILRI feed technology research platform makes more fodder available to developing-world livestock keepers
Located at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)campus in Patancheru, India, the feed technology research platform of the Feed and Forage Development Program of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) provides...
read moreBetter seeds and best practices enhance incomes for smallholder farmers in Mali
Farmers in Mali are improving their incomes , earning better livelihoods and enjoying more fulfilling lives through interventions that provide improved varieties of sorghum as well as training in good agriculture practices. Particularly encouraging are the case...
read moreAccess to improved varieties and warrantage services helps Malian farmers save for children’s schooling
Double yields from improved varieties, access to storage facilities and timely credit through the warrantage system has kept sorghum farmers in Mali from selling their harvest at throwaway prices during a glut, helping them earn 50% more income. Farmers are now able...
read moreNurturing innovation by protecting its architects
ICARDA has long committed to Open Data & Open Access of research by applying approaches that maximize access to science and innovation that work towards a greener future. Open access offers several benefits such as improving access to research, increasing...
read moreIndia groundnut farmers’ seed business debut yields big profits
A group of Indian farmers who made their entrepreneurial debut last year increased their income by as much as US$ 982 (₹ 75,000) per hectare with good quality seed of high-yielding groundnut varieties and improved technology. Handholding by ICRISAT in pre-production...
read moreEating well: If instructions won’t work, perhaps music and dance do
Information alone does not change eating habits. Together with the Billian Music Family in Mathare, we experiment with trend-setting music. You probably place a lot of faith and trust in information – depending on the source. As a scientist, I do the same. In the...
read moreCovid-19 and food security | India and its jobs crisis
India is the country with the highest economic growth rate, albeit at a cost of growing unemployment, underemployment and job insecurity. With the arrival of the SARS-Cov2 coronavirus, the country faces not just a health crisis but also a social one, highlighted by...
read moreWest Africa is threatened by a desert locust invasion
East Africa is continuing to be invaded by desert locusts. A group of researchers from CIRAD recently conducted several simulations to assess the risk of locusts spreading to Chad. In four out of five cases, swarms were predicted to arrive in Chad by mid-June 2020,...
read moreLockdown: Centre, States Helped Agricultural Sector, But A Lot Yet To Be Done To Ensure Growth
While these measures will begin to help, the impact witnessed by farm sector and other vulnerable groups requires more intervention, Shalander Kumar and Arabinda K Padhee. The disruptions on rural livelihoods and food supplies from COVID-19 lockdown have worried all...
read moreContaining COVID19 impacts on Indian Agriculture
The ongoing health crisis around COVID19 has affected all walks of life. Protecting lives of people suffering from the disease as well as frontline health responders have been the priority of nations. Governments have swung into actions since the Corona virus attack...
read moreVouchers instead of food
COVID-19: How citizen-led social protection could help to cushion food systems in informal settlements. One week ago, private food deliveries by Kenyan citizens were pouring into informal settlements in Nairobi, where 60-70% of residents live. These donations were...
read moreHow we can use the COVID-19 disruption to improve food systems and address the climate emergency
At first glance, the COVID-19 crisis appears to have nothing to do with the climate emergency. Over the last month, COVID-19 has eclipsed climate change and many other global challenges as the most pressing issue we face worldwide. Between learning to manage life on...
read moreCOVID-19 lockdown: What can the government do to ease the situation for farmers
To fight the pandemic, it is clear that regular markets must be suspended temporarily. These are places where large groups of people gather and spread the virus; maintaining social distance in such places is very difficult so closure is the only option. But there must...
read moreBiocontrol reduces Maruca pod borer population by 85%
Scientists based at CGIAR-IITA’s climate change station in Benin are happy with the results of the just-concluded experimental release of wasps. These wasps, which are natural enemies of the Maruca pod borer, were released two years ago to go after the destructive...
read moreA rich harvest of not just legumes but of changed destinies and better nutrition
Charting the 12 year course of the Tropical Legumes project An engaging read while in lockdown Sowing Legume Seeds, Reaping Cash: A Renaissance within Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa (A Springer Open publication)…
read moreRising market pull for dryland crops prompts move for setting up efficient seed delivery systems
Increasing market demand for dryland crops in Kenya and Tanzania owing to IFAD-funded project interventions across the agriculture value chain for three years has led to last mile delivery plans…
read moreCertified seed fetches twice the market rate: Farmers hitch onto seed production
Growing certified improved seed of millets and legumes is a profitable business enterprise for farmer cooperatives in Mali. Improved seed summon twice the market rate and the turnover is so high that existing storage facilities can accommodate only a quarter of the...
read morePromoting better agricultural practices of drought-tolerant crops in farming communities
Makueni Agribusiness Ventures is a ten-member farmer group that participated in an AVCD funded good agricultural practices (GAPs) and modern farming training lead by ICRISAT. ICRISAT provided foundation seed for community seed for the short rain season. Through the...
read moreFirst Lady of Niger leads millet movement
Niger recently celebrated the second annual International Millet Festival (FESTIMIL), aimed at enhancing the production, processing and consumption of millets, so as to create wellbeing and better dietary diversity. The festival is led by the First Lady, Dr Lalla...
read moreFarmers in Eastern Kenya reap big profits from improved varieties of drought-tolerant crops
Farmers in Eastern Kenya are seeing an increase in yield from their crops and earning better incomes than before. Over 144,000 farming households have been provided with 1,000 tons of improved high-quality seeds of drought-tolerant cereals and legumes, resulting in...
read moreIITA launches IYPH website
By now, we know that 2020 is the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). Throughout the year, partners and stakeholders in agriculture shall increase awareness among the public and policymakers on the importance of healthy plants and the necessity to protect them...
read moreWhy measuring youths’ aspirations is key to sustainable and inclusive rural development
Especially for young people, diverse portfolios for rural populations should be the core part of a well-thought out rural investment strategy, say researchers. The first results of the Kenyan census conducted in 2019 reveal a gradual demographic transition towards...
read moreCOVID-19-measures, daily laborers and their nutrition
Containing COVID-19 is indispensable. But without social safety nets, the effects on daily laborer in Africa could be disastrous. Drive along any major road connecting an African city with the hinterland early in the morning before sunrise. Each city has its distinct...
read moreBarren shelves: COVID-19 and panic buying of food
People rush to supermarkets and buy what they can carry. Comprehensible, but unnecessary. To cut a long story short: COVID-19 has not affected the food availability in countries. Yet, when Ryan Buckley who prepares for field research with us at ICRISAT reaches his...
read moreBrokering research crucial for climate-proofing drylands
Of the 12 interventions identified for agriculture by the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) in its September report, ‘Adapt Now: A Global Call for Leadership on Climate Resilience’, research and development has a role to play in nine interventions. That is just...
read moreICRISAT and local seed companies to build a seed industry for supply of high performing hybrids to small holder farmers
Demand for sorghum and pearl millet as major food, feed and fodder crop continues to increase globally. However, in the last 50 years, these grains have largely been abandoned in favor of the more popular maize, wheat, rice and soya beans. This is because of...
read moreNot just farmers: understanding rural aspirations is key to Kenya’s future
About 8.3 million people living in Kenya’s rural areas farm to feed themselves. They typically have just a few acres of land and depend on rain to grow their crops. This makes them extremely vulnerable to changes in the weather. Many already struggle. As with other...
read moreWeathering the storm or storming the norms: Can climate-smart agriculture produce gender equality?
As Nitya Rao and colleagues show, a lot is known about the effects of climate change on women. Most research focuses on women’s vulnerability as a result of reliance on natural resources, lower access to resources and information, and gender and social norms that...
read moreOpen data to boost Groundnut breeding initiatives
Groundnut is among the key grain legumes playing a vital role in enhancing human nutrition and farm biophysical features. Groundnut provides opportunities for smallholder and women farmers and boosts economies at the household and macro levels. However, agricultural...
read moreIndian farmers reap profits from machine harvestable chickpea
Machine-harvestable chickpea variety ‘Phule Vikram’, which was launched two years ago in India, is helping farmers circumvent labor shortage during harvest in major chickpea producing states like Maharashtra. Besides reducing cost, Vikram is also proving highly...
read moreYouth Transitions in the drylands: gendered rights in land access and control
In 2019, the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (CRP-GLDC) initiated a study to understand ‘youth realities, youth aspirations and youth opportunity structures’ in the drylands of East Africa[1] for a background paper to support the designing...
read moreFirst public research facility to put agriculture on fast-forward launched at ICRISAT
Hyderabad, 14 February 2020: Efforts to modernize crop breeding took a giant leap today with the unveiling of ICRISAT’s new facility, which is projected to significantly lower time and cost of crop varietal development. The state-of-the-art facility is a first for any...
read moreWhen science and industry synergize to develop better crops
Setting priorities for research in hybrid pearl millet, sorghum and pigeonpea in India Over 70 participants from 40 public and private sector institutions recently discussed and selected the highest research priorities to develop hybrid parents and hybrids of sorghum,...
read moreSpotlight on pearl millet – biofortification and drought tolerance
Biofortification Pearl millet scientists discussed the 'Future micronutrient breeding strategy in pearl millet', and agreed that phenotyping for micronutrient trait was the most important component needed to strengthen and mainstream biofortification activity in pearl...
read moreEmpowering young scientists with new skills to develop genomic-assisted climate-resilient crops
A recent training course sought to enable young scientists, professors and breeders in the area of genomics-assisted crop breeding for climate-resilient agriculture. The participants were from partner institutes both from the public and private sector. “It is the need...
read moreFeeding the future: Millet and sorghum grains make big gains in Mali
USAID delegation visited Mali to see impacts from projects undertaken by three CGIAR institutions A recent study revealed that sorghum and millet yields increased up to 51% and 72% respectively during the period 2014-2019 in Mali. This was achieved by enhancing...
read moreLaunch of the Seed Revolving Fund, Youth Engagement and Gender Inclusion Initiative in Tanzania
A Seed Revolving Fund initiative for sorghum and groundnut value chains has been launched in Tanzania to tackle the challenge of limited access of quality seeds of improved varieties in rural regions. The ‘Seed Revolving Fund, Youth Engagement and Gender Inclusion’...
read moreCowpea receives more research support
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), also known as black eyed pea or niebé, is a legume crop grown by peasant farmers in the dry savannah areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Because of the high protein content in its grains, cowpea is commonly regarded as poor man’s meat. This hardy...
read moreIndo-Australia genomics project for chickpea drought tolerance gains momentum
India and Australia have joined hands in a multi-institutional project to enhance drought tolerance in chickpea. The project, ‘Functional Genomics of Chickpea to enhance drought tolerance’, will see The University of Western Australia (UWA), ICAR-Indian Agricultural...
read moreAfrican farmers helping to grow quality seed for ‘neglected’ crops
Though Uganda has some of the lowest agricultural productivity in the world, efforts to bring smallholder farmer groups into the seed production process are helping to reverse that dismal standing. In the process, some farming regions have been transformed from hungry, poverty-stricken outposts to vibrant communities.
read moreFacilitating training programs for improving crop-livestock systems in Niger
Training programs on silage making, animal health and laboratory management were held in Niger for researchers, extension service workers and farmers to improve crop-livestock systems in the region. Silage making to improve utilization of stover A study conducted in...
read moreInterdisciplinary research key to making India’s Green Revolution sustainable
Around a hundred scientists from varied disciplines, who gathered to discuss an India-UK joint research program, called for more interdisciplinary research to make Indian agriculture sustainable in a changing world and to ensure food security. The first General...
read moreSorghum goes pop: Success stories from a Nigerian initiative
Have you heard of ‘pop’ sorghum or ‘diet’ sorghum flour? If you haven’t, you are missing updates on an ancient grain that is gaining popularity in Nigerian markets and in nearby regions as well. Industries with guidance from researchers have picked up suitable...
read moreIndustry plans to reach consumers with high oleic groundnut oil in 2-3 years
Salient features: High oleic and high-yielding varieties Contain 53% oil More than 78% oleic acid Oleic to linoleic acid ratio of 17 Produce more than 3 tons of pods per hectare in the rainy (kharif) season Where and when to cultivate: Recommended for cultivation in...
read moreEight food processing units to target malnutrition and poverty in South India’s hinterlands
The facilities aim to create sustainable business opportunities around nutritious diets for tribal farmers in Telangana In a bid to boost nutrition and income, farmers from tribal communities in the South Indian state of Telangana will shortly take to...
read moreHow Uganda’s millet drink ‘bushera’ saw a revival and India’s peanut ‘chikki’ went to Zambia
If school children in Uganda have taken to a super-nutritious traditional fermented millet drink called bushera and if an India-inspired peanut bar is a popular item in Zambian supermarkets, a training initiative in partnership with the India-Africa Forum Summit...
read moreHand-holding outgrowers to produce certified seed in drought-stricken Ghana – a model to emulate
Access to quality seed remains a big challenge for farmers in Africa. With increasing drought situations and deteriorating soil quality, especially in the Sudanian and Sahelian zones, improving access to seed of climate-smart varieties is part of the solution. Spurred...
read moreDiet crisis in Africa’s low income urban zones but transition to nutritious foods possible
CGIAR, the world’s largest global agricultural research network, has traditionally focused on rural areas. But now cities are attracting its gaze. There are two compelling reasons for this shift. First, urban dwellers in Africa often have higher rates of malnutrition...
read moreDynamic modelling to help improve farm output
ICRISAT and ICAR scientists developing System Dynamics Modelling for Indian agriculture Can policy makers ‘see’ the outcomes of their decisions even before implementing them? Researchers at the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and...
read morePre-breeding efforts for better traits in pigeonpea
Annual Review Meeting of GCDT-ICRISAT collaborative research project and participation in Pigeonpea Field Day With a view to using new and diverse sources of genetic variations in pigeonpea, the Pre-breeding Theme at ICRISAT is leading the drive to use wild Cajanus...
read moreShort and mid-early pigeonpea varieties steal the show
Pigeonpea Network Group (Asia) Workshop-cum-Field Day 2019 Pigeonpea researchers from across Asia hailed a short and mid-early variety of pigeonpea that is also high-yielding and disease-resistant, at a recent brainstorming session to benchmark region-specific...
read moreUnderstanding food systems transitions is key to achieve nutritional outcomes
Food systems can be effectively transformed by identifying drivers of food choice and factors influencing personal food environments, thereby enabling effective strategies to link agriculture and nutrition. This was one of the key messages at the recent conference of...
read moreGroundnut breeding program in Burkina Faso gets a boost with seven new improved groundnut varieties
More than 20 years after the last groundnut seed variety was registered in the seed catalog, the groundnut breeding program in West and Central Africa is set to be enhanced through the registration of seven improved groundnut varieties in Burkina Faso. The...
read moreSetting the stage for hybrid pearl millet research consortium in West Africa
Exciting times ahead as public and private institutions come together to promote millets Seed research stakeholders and representatives of private seed companies from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, met with scientists, millet breeders and seed systems...
read moreCan African smallholders farm themselves out of poverty?
A great deal of research on agriculture in Africa is organised around the premise that intensification can take smallholder farmers out of poverty. The emphasis in programming often focuses on technologies that increase farm productivity and management practices that...
read more‘Science of Discovery to Science of Delivery’ discussed at University of Cambridge
Partnerships are key to deliver on ICRISAT’s mission of ‘Science of Discovery to Science of Delivery’. To discuss several of ICRISAT’s ongoing collaborative programs including CINTRIN, TIGR2ESS, MillNET_i, Dr Rajeev Gupta, Principal Scientist and Theme Leader,...
read moreCRP-GLDC team and the partners visit the Plant Transformation Laboratory (PTL) at Kenyatta University, in Nairobi
Workshop on gene editing held at ICRISAT
Twenty crop scientists from Asia and Africa were trained for two weeks at ICRISAT on gene-editing tools, including the increasingly popular CRISPR/Cas technology. From trait selection to validation of edited plants, specific sessions were conducted on designing...
read moreNew dual-purpose pearl millet shows promise as excellent fodder in Niger
Two varieties of dual-purpose (food and fodder) pearl millet were shown to increase weight and overall growth in sheep, according to a study conducted in Niger. These two varieties could be considered as good quality fodder for crop-livestock systems in the country....
read moreAfrican Plant Breeders Association launched in Ghana
The African Plant Breeders Association (APBA) was launched recently to bring together plant breeders from several African nations to work towards achieving food security in Africa through breeding. Dr Sagri Bambangi, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in Ghana,...
read moreRethinking poverty eradication and food security through agriculture in Africa
Agriculture in Africa is expected to meet the dual objectives of providing food and helping people to escape poverty but, in practice, this is rarely possible on the small farms that cover the vast majority of the continent’s agricultural landscapes.
read morePutting new-age agronomy to test in Indian farms
A group of farmers in India’s Telangana state is breaking new ground in their farms with recently learnt scientific agronomic practices to improve crop productivity. The group of 36, from five villages in Warangal Rural district,
read moreNew chickpea breeding protocol promises to bring down varietal development time from 12 years to 6 years
ICRISAT’s chickpea researchers have developed a breeding protocol that holds the potential to create new varieties of chickpea in half-time.
read moreWant to ensure food security? Outsmart climate change to protect crops from pests, diseases and weeds
Climate change makes the challenge of crop protection highly formidable, said Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), even as he called for a “global plan” for “global pests” like Fall armyworm at the inaugural...
read moreConsolidated efforts to modernize crop improvement in Ghana
A Regional Coordinated Trial (RCT) is helping Cowpea Improvement Program in Ghana, thanks to Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA) and Bayer projects in West Africa. The regional trials involve genetic materials...
read moreLaying the ground for drone-based technologies to support development of climate-ready crops
Globally, agriculture is witnessing significant technological advancement, best exemplified by the Agriculture 4.0 movement. India, one of the world’s largest food producers and consumers, has to stay abreast of the growth. Remote-sensing imaging for monitoring crop...
read moreMobile-based monitoring tool rolled out for national partners in 7 African countries
“The MLE [Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation] tool MEASURE (Monitoring and Evaluation of Agri-Science Uptake in Research & Extension) is not just for survey/data collection, but also a management, insights and reporting tool. On the platform, activity owners can...
read moreModernizing NARS crop breeding programs for improved genetic gains in 14 countries
A course designed to modernize National Agricultural Research System (NARS) breeding programs for improving genetic gains of 9 dryland cereals and grain legumes and to strengthen seed systems in 14 African and Asian countries was held recently in Arusha, Tanzania. The...
read moreSorghum flour with high shelf life hits Nigerian markets
In a first-of-its-kind enterprise in Nigeria, a large-scale flour mill has come up with processed sorghum flour with a shelf life as high as 6 months. Typically, sorghum flour has a short shelf life of less than 3 months. This innovative product is opening new...
read moreInvesting in education, research and innovation for climate-smart crops in India
To strengthen the competencies of Indian scientists in climate change-related topics and to foster a generation of high-level teachers in India, 30 scientists/assistant professors and 16 students were selected for undergoing training in European partner institutes at...
read moreNARS partners in Asia pick up advanced groundnut breeding lines with market traits for their national trials
Advanced breeding lines which included high-oleic groundnut and those with market-preferred kernel size, shape and color were selected for further trials by National Agricultural Research System (NARS) partners from Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Laos PDR and Vietnam....
read moreLaunch of CRP-GLDC Newsletter “Gender Research in the Drylands”
On Rural Women’s Day, 15 October 2019, CRP-GLDC launches its newsletter “Gender Research in the Drylands”, celebrating the indomitable spirit, resilience and conviction of smallholder rural women. Its rich content delves into the dynamics that goes into empowering rural women.and how access and intersectionality enable that, together with capacity building.
read moreBrisk promotion of improved groundnut and sorghum varieties to take adoption to the next level
Five improved varieties of groundnut and three of sorghum with the best market traits were selected for active promotion in Tanzania after discussions with AVISA project partners and all stakeholders along the value chain. This is to build on the adoption to date of...
read moreSteering the seed revolving fund initiative to meet growing farmers’ demand for certified seed
Adoption of new varieties can never be successful until efficient seed delivery systems are in place. To increase the efficacy and impact of the existing ‘seed revolving fund initiative’ for groundnut and sorghum crops a decision to form a steering committee was taken...
read moreEquipping researchers with tools for geospatial and remote sensing data analysis
A recent capacity-building exercise conducted in Nigeria trained a multidisciplinary team of researchers in the use of remote sensing in their respective areas of work. Remote sensing technology – a rapid and efficient approach to estimate croplands…
read moreForage sorghum hybrid hailed as a landmark cultivar in India
A new sorghum hybrid developed using ICRISAT breeding material was recently given special recognition as the Outstanding Forage Hybrid 2019 for revolutionizing forage sorghum production in India. This is significant considering that currently, India – the world’s...
read more12 years of Tropical Legumes: 25 million smallholder farmers now grow improved varieties
Over a period of 12 years (2007-2019), the Tropical Legumes projects led to the development of 266 improved legume varieties and production of about 497,901 tons of certified seeds of the target legume crops. These seeds have been planted on about 5.0 million ha by...
read moreBreeding future-ready crops: selecting priority traits in breeding programs via product profiles
Developing crop varieties that meet the needs of all stakeholders, with farmers, value chain actors and end-use consumers having specific needs for attributes of breeds or varieties, is a challenging task. Defining, communicating and….
read moreFirst ever high-yielding chickpea variety developed using marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) released in Ethiopia
In a first, the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) of Ethiopia, announced the release of a high-yielding chickpea variety developed in collaboration with ICRISAT using marker assisted backcrossing (MABC)….
read moreTraining an army of giants for the biological control of Fall Armyworm
Scouting for natural enemies of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (FAW) in both Asia and Africa, and establishing mass-rearing facilities will aid the biological control program in the fight against the voracious pest. A five-day workshop, organized by...
read moreTransforming sorghum and millet cropping systems through diffusion of quality seed and best bet agronomic practices
Eight months of the year was the most farmer Seydou Yolo’s harvest would last to feed his family of two wives and fifteen children. From then on, cattle would have to be sold to feed the family for the following four months…
read moreKnowledge + passion: Women’s recipe in millet and sorghum production in Mali
Two women’s associations in Sikasso, Mali are changing the status of pearl millet and sorghum, using these crops to diversify and improve food and nutrition security. Sikasso is one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in southern Mali, where farming is...
read moreMulti-location evaluation of six pigeonpea pre-breeding lines through India’s national program
Developed at ICRISAT, these lines have been selected by the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Pigeonpea Six high-yielding pigeonpea pre-breeding lines derived from wild Cajanus species with an average yield potential ranging from 1,400- 3,000 kg/ha,...
read moreHelping groundnut retain its place in Nigeria through the Tropical Legumes Project
Alhaji Sani Usman remembers what being a groundnut farmer in Nigeria’s Kano state entailed a few decades ago – prosperity, respect and global admiration, manifest in the fabled pyramids of groundnut stacks that reached for the skies following harvest. “The groundnut...
read moreThe birth of an impatient and optimistic breed of community seed producers in Mali
Jean Goita has come a long way since his days as a grain producer in his hometown of Yorosso. Today he is a respected seed producer covering nine communes of Yorosso district in Sikasso region of Southern Mali. Goita and 10 other members of his district were trained...
read moreThe Seed of the Technology: ISTA conference generates interest in concerns of the drylands
Discussions at the recently concluded congress of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) reflected the seed community’s focus on seed production in a changing environment, the association’s Secretary-General Dr Andreas Wais said. “The attendance we had at...
read moreBiological Control of the Fall Armyworm (FAW) in Africa and Asia
Training Workshop on Biological Control of the Fall Armyworm (FAW) in Africa and Asia: Scouting for Parasitoids, Mass Rearing of Egg Parasitoids, and Augmentative Release Techniques Organizers: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)...
read moreSeeding entrepreneurship in groundnut farmers of south India
ICRISAT and PJTSAU partner to set up Seed Business Ventures in Telangana Groundnut cultivation in Telangana, India, could soon make gigantic leaps of improvement as a recently-launched entrepreneurship initiative is set to amplify the reach of enhanced seed varieties....
read moreDecadal experiences in harnessing chickpea value chain in Ethiopia
Over 6 million households benefit through the years of the Tropical Legumes Project In early 1970s, a journey to improve Ethiopia’s chickpea production started in a bid to mitigate low productivity of landraces, poor farming practices, biotic and abiotic stresses,...
read moreFarmers in Tanzania urged to embrace drought tolerant crops
Against the backdrop of changing climatic conditions in Africa, scientists, administrators and seed enterprises have urged the farming community in Tanzania to adopt hardy crops like sorghum. “Farmers, mainly those in low rainfall areas, can embrace sorghum which is...
read moreConference on Advances in Classical Breeding and Application of Modern Breeding Tools for Food and Nutrition Security in Africa
Plant breeding provides sustainable options to increase domestic food supply and dietary diversity in Africa. Knowledge…
read moreIndia set to release its first ‘high oleic’ groundnut variety
The first trait-specific high oleic groundnut varietal trial conducted under the All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Groundnut (AICRP-G) in 2017 has paved the way for the testing and release of high oleic groundnut varieties in India. High oleic groundnuts are...
read moreNew groundnut varieties for improved resilience and market competitiveness
Sayilesi Gwizima, 59, from Mchinij district, central Malawi, grows CG 7 groundnut variety. Not unlike many farmers, Gwizima fell for the variety’s large seed size and high fat content, which makes for high returns at the market…
read moreWebinar on culture, choice and action in legume seeds systems in East and North Uganda
The CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research hosted a webinar on ‘Culture, choice and action in legume seed systems in East and North Uganda‘ on 10 May 2019. The webinar was organized in collaboration with the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and...
read moreHands-on training program on aflatoxin detection
To check for aflatoxin contamination in their products, groundnut value chain stakeholders in Bangladesh attended a hands-on training program. Participants learnt to use the ELISA kit and were informed of the dangers of aflatoxin contamination. Forty participants...
read moreRepresentatives from Eight Asian Countries Meet to Tackle Fall Armyworm
Over 100 participants from eight South and South-East Asian countries attended the “Regional Workshop on Fall Armyworm Management in Asia” organized in Hyderabad. The Fall Armyworm (FAW) is one of the most destructive crop pests and has invaded crops in India and...
read moreCRP-GLDC Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Internship
The International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) invites applications for a six-month internship for the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) activities of the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (CRP-GLDC). The...
read moreThe stories of ‘sorghum’ Agatha and ‘seed’ Mary
Why linking with the private sector is important for the AVISA project writes Jayashree Balasubramanian, Lead Communications, ICRISAT Passion can be a very tasty ingredient. It is with a large dose of this passion that Ms Agatha, an unusual food processor in Tanzania,...
read moreImprove soya bean yield
SOYA bean has a high potential for income generation particularly for smallholder farmers who can improve their yields, says International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Soybean breeder Godfree Chigeza. Mr Chigeza said the current soya bean yields of one...
read moreSeed companies in West Africa eye pearl millet hybrid with 70% higher yield potential
A newly developed pearl millet hybrid, with 70% yield-gain potential and high disease resistance, has caught the attention of private seed companies in Niger. A delegation of seed manufacturers visiting ICRISAT’s research station in Sadoré
read moreChapatis of pearl millet for a changing climate
Original post on: Crop Wild Relatives The people of rural India love their bajra chapatis. These flatbreads made of pearl millet flour are a highly nutritious staple in the diet of millions of Indians. And farmers love pearl millet because it will grow where other...
read moreDiet diversification program aims to improve health of 13,000 tribal people in South India
Energy-dense foods made from millets, sorghum and pulses are being provided to tribal communities in parts of India’s Telangana state to combat malnutrition. ICRISAT launched the diet diversification project, Giri Poshana, in collaboration with governments of India...
read moreClimate-smart technologies to build resilience in agriculture of Niger, Mali
Two projects were recently launched to adopt climate-smart agricultural technologies in Niger and Mali for increasing food security and improving rural livelihoods. The projects, ‘Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies
read moreLand restoration for GLDC crops production and food and nutrition security
The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals Agri-food Systems (GLDC) held a session at the Beating Famine Sahel conference, which ran from 26th February to 28th February 2019, in Bamako (Mali). During this conference organised by the World...
read moreLivestock value chain strengthening essential for improving production and food security in Niger, say scientists
Can Niger claim its rightful place on the food production charts? A group of scientists working with smallholder crop-livestock farmers believe strong market linkages may be the missing ingredient. Researchers from ICRISAT, International Livestock Research Institute...
read moreBridging the knowledge gap among crop breeders in SSA and SA
A new training model has shown how NARS can move ahead in deploying new tools and technologies to accelerate genetic gains and enhance operational efficiency of breeding and pipelines. This was demonstrated at an international training course tailored to bridge the...
read moreOptima Soy Africa launched to scale up production and commercialization of industrial soybean varieties
Heralding a significant milestone for soybean research in Africa, the recent launch of the Optima Soy Africa (OSA) platform harnesses partnerships to ensure the development of market-driven soybean varieties and technologies and their dissemination. The platform is...
read moreStakeholders meet discusses solutions to unshackle Myanmar’s groundnut value chain
Why does an ageing variety command 20% of land under groundnut cultivation? How can existing seed systems be strengthened? What type of varieties do industries need? These and other key issues facing Myanmar’s groundnut farming were discussed recently at a...
read moreWomen in sorghum and millet production innovate for change, turning challenges into opportunities
Development practitioners are increasingly interested in examining the distributional impacts of technical change and innovations in agriculture. The general expectation should be that equal chance and opportunities are accorded to everyone regardless of class, caste,...
read moreHealthier and prosperous Africa: ‘AVISA’ project launched for faster agriculture gains in seven countries
Tanzanian Minister for Agriculture calls for more public-private collaboration Greater yields, higher incomes and improved livelihoods – these will be the results farmers in seven countries across Africa could get with the launch of the Accelerated Varietal...
read moreThe genetic improvement of cowpea: Develop high-yielding varieties
CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals is working on genetic improvement of the important crop cowpea to develop high-yielding varieties with resistance to diseases and pests and to increase its production and consumption, as this article from The...
read moreLentil farming and gender norms in Ethiopia
Although lentils are a critical source of income in parts of Ethiopia, not enough attention has been paid to farmers’ limited access to reliable information and improved seed varieties. Furthermore, the gender aspects of lentil production are rarely studied; gender...
read moreNow, get critical seed data in one click
A modern digital seed ‘catalog’ and seed ‘roadmap’ tool is now available for information about the quality and availability of seeds in one click. This innovative tool will ultimately enable farmers in several African countries to access seed varietal information quickly and help them plan seed production over a long period.
read moreThree new farmer-preferred sorghum varieties released in Malawi
Three new improved sorghum varieties have been released in Malawi after extensive trials. Pilira 3, Pilira 4 and Pilira 5 have been released by the Agricultural Technology Clearing Committee (ATTC), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food...
read moreImproved varieties and quality seed boost yields and profits for Myanmar farmers
The adoption of improved, high-yielding varieties of pigeonpea, groundnut and chickpea has resulted in over 40% higher grain yields and significant profitability gains for farmers in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar. This is the key conclusion of an impact assessment...
read moreNew high-oil variant draws farmers to groundnut production in western India
On the scenic slopes of Western Ghats, fondly called ‘Sahyadris’ or the benevolent mountains in the state of Maharashtra, the groundnut is attempting a comeback. A new variant, locally referred to as ‘tees taintalis’, could herald its return. Starting in 2011, the...
read moreBoosting confidence in farm innovations – Simulating impact with systems modelling tools
Can farm earnings be estimated before doing anything on the ground? A new tool promises to do just that. Researchers from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia (https://www.csiro.au/) demonstrated the use of Crop Livestock Enterprise...
read moreSignificant progress in pearl millet pre-breeding to develop drought- and blast-resistant varieties
Efforts to develop pearl millet with improved resistance to drought and blast disease recently got a major boost. The identification of promising introgression lines after multi-location trials, will help accelerate development of new varieties and increase pearl...
read moreJakunbe: New sorghum variety making a difference in lives of Burkina Faso farmers
Simba is a village located about 170 km east of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. On 3 October 2018, Mr Kossima Kaboré was the first producer in the village to harvest the improved sorghum variety named Jakunbe. This former gold miner rejoices on his discovery: “I sowed at...
read moreTackling barriers to women’s participation in soybean value chains
In Mozambique and Malawi, the agriculture sector offers huge potential to improve the lives of rural households, which make up a signficiant share of the local population and depend mainly on farming for their livelihoods. Estimates suggest that agriculture employs up...
read moreLegumes beckon, children of soil return to roots in Africa
It was a gamble that 30-year-old Fuseini Zaanyeya realizes was worth taking. For, quality healthcare and primary education are well within reach since he returned to agriculture under the third phase of Tropical Legumes Project. TL III aims to boost legume production...
read moreWilder and stronger: India-Myanmar pigeonpea program gets new research boost
Pre-breeding utilizes wild species with tolerance to climate change, diseases and pests Hyderabad, 25 October 2018: The largest producer of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) in the world, India could increase its production three times, provided there are varieties resistant...
read moreNigerian Agriculture Minister endorses groundnut thresher
A motorized groundnut thresher is reducing drudgery for women farmers in rural Nigeria. Introduced in 2015, over 50 threshers have already been distributed to farmer groups and cooperatives. Recently at the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) fair, Chief Audu...
read moreFocus on partnerships and innovation at CRP GLDC meetings
A renewed focus on innovation and establishing new partnerships was high on the agenda at the recent joint meeting of the Research Management Committee (RMC) and the Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) of the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Drylands...
read moreCommitted to Alleviating Malnutrition, India Declares Minimum Levels for Iron and Zinc in Pearl Millet
India leads in prioritizing nutrition in breeding The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established minimum levels of iron and zinc to be bred into national varieties of pearl millet. The news comes during the National Year of Millets and as the...
read moreLessons from an early adopter of sorghum technologies in Kitui, Eastern Kenya
Gender Conversations from East Africa with Esther Njuguna-Mungai, Nairobi, Kenya. As a gender researcher working in dryland agricultural research, one of the outcomes we strive for is equity in improvement of farm level outcomes for men and women farmers. This is...
read moreFlagship Program 3 reviews progress, strategizes for 2019
Creating complementarities and synergies and harmonizing approaches were the key takeaways from the meeting of the GLDC’s Flagship Program 3 on Integrated farm and household management held in Nairobi, Kenya on 1-2 October. Sixteen scientists from IITA, SLU,...
read moreTraining on digital seed roadmap use enables delivery of quality seeds to smallholder farmers
Timely access to quality seeds by smallholder farmers is a major enabler for agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Farmers with the appropriate variety of seeds and related packages can reap substantial rewards in terms of improving food security and reducing...
read moreEmpowering women farmers through Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) in Northern Ghana
A study in Northern Ghana revealed that lack of access to finance often hinders productivity in women-run farms. To correct this, several Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) have been formed in the region,
read moreFast-tracking of new chickpea varieties for Malawi’s growing export market
Researchers in Malawi are optimistic of proposing the release of three new high-yielding and stress-resistant chickpea varieties next year. The aim is to cater to the needs of farmers in the southeastern districts who are increasingly growing chickpea for its high...
read moreTalking nutrition with adolescents in tribal regions of Telangana
India’s tribal population is generally at risk of malnutrition owing to its dependence on primitive agricultural practices, poverty, illiteracy, and poor personal and environmental hygienic practices.
read more3 sorghum varieties released in Nigeria
Nigeria’s National Committee on Variety Naming, Registration and Release on 26 July 2018, approved the registration and release of two medium-maturing sorghum varieties, SAMSORG 47 as ZAUNA-INUWA, SAMSORG 48 as KAURA BORNU, and an early medium-maturing variety,...
read moreIncreasing Youth Engagement in Feed the Future
A key goal of Feed the Future is to increase youth empowerment and livelihoods, because supporting and empowering youth can help to sustainably reduce global hunger, malnutrition and poverty. With one third of the total population — about 2.3 billion people —between...
read moreA thriving community of women seed producers
By Agathe Diama, Head-Regional Information – WCA, West & Central Africa Program It started with just three women farmers who were part of a pilot from Pagou village, Burkina Faso, who were trained on improved groundnut seed production in 2015. The three women...
read moreFeeling the pulse: Towards better self-sufficiency in pulses in India
A multi-pronged approach including quality seed availability and increased profitability for farmers can help India bridge the demand-supply gap in pulses, says a team of scientists. The 12-point recommendations made in the paper, ‘Leveraging Policies for Self...
read moreMechanized: Transforming Africa’s Agriculture Value Chains
The report — Mechanized: Transforming Africa’s Agriculture Value Chains — summarizes the findings of a systematic analysis of what countries at the forefront of progress in mechanization have done right. It analyzes which policy decisions were taken and which...
read moreBolstering NARS Partners with Systems Modeling Training
The use of systems modeling tools and decision support systems can be of great advantage to farmers by helping them plan their farming activities based on weather predictions.
read moreEmpowered Women and an Enriched Community: The Groundnut Story of Northern Nigeria
Mrs Hadja Talatu Idrissa of Bunkure, near Kano, Nigeria, is the leader of a 25-women group in groundnut production and processing.
read moreMedia Releases
Burkina Faso releases its first pearl millet hybrid
High-yieldng, downy mildew-resistant and suitable for food and fodder. Developed by ICRISATand evaluated by INERA Burkina Faso recently approved the commercial use of its first pearl millet hybrid called Nafagnon. With the approval, the single-cross hybrid also became...
First public research facility to put agriculture on fast-forward launched at ICRISAT
Hyderabad, 14 February 2020: Efforts to modernize crop breeding took a giant leap today with the unveiling of ICRISAT’s new facility, which is projected to significantly lower time and cost of crop varietal development. The state-of-the-art facility is a first for any...
Rethinking poverty eradication and food security through agriculture in Africa
Agriculture in Africa is expected to meet the dual objectives of providing food and helping people to escape poverty but, in practice, this is rarely possible on the small farms that cover the vast majority of the continent’s agricultural landscapes.
Mobile-based monitoring tool rolled out for national partners in 7 African countries
“The MLE [Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation] tool MEASURE (Monitoring and Evaluation of Agri-Science Uptake in Research & Extension) is not just for survey/data collection, but also a management, insights and reporting tool. On the platform, activity owners can...
India gets its first biofortified sorghum
India’s first biofortified sorghum (jowar), with significantly higher iron and zinc than regular sorghum, was formally launched today.
Africa’s first biofortified pearl millet variety aims to combat anaemia
For millions of women and children in Africa anaemia is a significant public health concern—and diets deficient in iron are often to blame. But consuming a new variety of pearl millet called chakti—with an additional 20% of the estimated average requirement of iron
Partnering to effectively strengthen whole value chains: Key focus at the launch of a global program for grain legumes and dryland cereals
Over 150 participants from 25 countries met to identify better models for partnering as part of the launch meeting of the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC).
CGIAR Launches Program to Improve Rural Economies and Nutrition through Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals
The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals Agri-food Systems (CRP GLDC) launched focused on increasing the productivity, profitability, resilience and marketability of critical and nutritious grain legume and cereal crops grown in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia.