Icrisat In the cause of poor

First Person

Endowed with all the three soil types of black, red and latrite soils, it carries out research work needed for arid zones in Asia and Africa. It strives for better environment and food security in the semi-arid tropics in Asia and Africa.

It has the largest genetic wealth of 1,14,000 accessions, built over the last 27 years, for use by small farmers. It was recently rumoured to be shifting to Africa. It denied the reports, stating that it would continue to stay in India, and at the same time step up research and enhance visibility in Africa.

William D Dar, the director-general of Icrisat, speaks to K Balaram Reddy on the new focus areas for the premier organisation such as partnerships and genomic research.
Excerpts.

Why was Icrisat proposed to be shifted to Africa?
One of the recommendations made in the biennial evaluation of Icrisat was to shift the headquarters of Icrisat out of India to any place in the sub-Saharan Africa. It was felt there was more development need in terms of intervention for any work of any international centre to help Sub-Saharan Africa.

However, the consensus arrived at the CGIAR meet in Nairobi in October was to go for programmatic improvement rather than disturbing the organisation's stability in terms of transferring the headquarters to Sub-Saharan Africa. CGIAR also agreed to Icrisat's proposal to set up a task force to recommend ways to enhance its research programmes both in Asia as well as Africa.

Is there any change in the mandate?
No. The mandate for improving the five crops "" sorghum, pearlet, peanut, chickepea and pigeonpea "" continues to be the same. It would only be strengthened further. We're carrying out science with a human face "" that's our mantra. We are also looking at other commodities that are important to the production system for the SATs.

In Western Africa, for example, we are looking at introduction of datepalms into the production system. In Asia what we think important for dryland farming is cotton. Even soyabean is another important commodity.

Since you took charge as DG in January 2000, what major developments have taken place?
Major change has been the way we look at our causes, how Icrisat is still relevant. Our overarching goals are alleviation of poverty, hunger and environment degradation. How we translate them into reality is the way we connect the research we do here to the problems of the poor and environment.

This apart, we have taken up other important activities. Our research in genomics is at a rapid pace. We have now two transgenic products being tested here "" Groundnut against the Indian Peanut Clump Virus in India and against Rosette disease in Africa; and pigeon pea against insect pod borer "" Helicoverpa armigera in India.

Similar work is being taken up for other crops like chicken pea, pigeon pea and sorgham, and these products may be commercialised in another five years time.

Is funding a problem area?
There has been more stability in funding for the last three years at an average of $ 23 million a year. To highlight a point, the special project funding in 1999 was $ 5 million. Now it has doubled. The annual decline in core funding from the government and the public institutional funding is being made up with private sector funding.

Now, the ratio is 50:50. We need to grow more; so we need more money. I understand that the Government of India during the 10th plan would substantially increase its funding for CGIAR institutions. Being the only CGIAR institution in the country, we hope to get major chunk of the funding. In 2002 the grant income from India was $ 300,000.

What new areas are being explored?
We'll use biotechnology to the maximum. Another new area explored is use of information technology (ICT). We have set up a Virtual Academy for Semi-Arid Tropics (VASAT) to network with universities and institutions. VASAT is already working in India. We will extend it to other regions in Asia and Africa, to provide right information at right time.

Explain the agri business incubator system at Icrisat
We have an agri business incubator system to help new enterprises commercialise their products of research. For this we have secured funding from the Government of India to the extent of $ 6,00,000 for the next six years.

We will also have an agri biotech park as part of the Genome Valley project of Andhra Pradesh. (Icrisat will sign an MoU with AP govt on Wednesday for the agri biotech park). This will enable private agri companies to carry out research and trials on our fields. We've already one such organisation working on the campus.

How do you involve private sector?
Over the last three-and-half-a-years, partnership with private companies is progressing. They make use of our facilities here and also fund our programmes. The fruitfulness is borne by the fact that the companies in India have agreed to double their contribution. They were paying $ 5,000 per crop.

Now, they will pay $ 10,000 per crop, and there are over 20 such companies willing to take part for three crops. That makes up $ 600,000 which will greatly ease the financial burden on us. Then there are contributions from the consortium on hybrid parental research. This is something new at Icrisat, something new even in India in this aspect.

How is AP benefiting from Icrisat?
We have a very good partnership with Andhra Pradesh government. We promoted the kabuli variety of chickpea here over the last decade, which contributed around $ 57 million to the gross state domestic product. Another important joint venture with Andhra Pradesh is watershed programme.

Our pilot project at Kothapalli was successful and contributed to four-fold rise in productivity, diversity and water availability. We have also developed an aflatoxin testing kit for the state. Before I came there was no funding from AP. Now we are getting it for rural livelihood programme and drought-prone area development programme.

What is your unfinished agenda?
I have succeeded in getting stable funding for the organisation, and helped consolidate its programmes. I would like to see it grow more in terms of getting funds and expand its programmes as well as the reach.