Crop research school plans GM seeds, farm diversification

The International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat), Hyderabad has drawn up a new strategy to help achieve the United Nations' millennium development goal of halving the number of poor and hungry by 2015.

The plan envisages bringing about genetic improvement in crops to produce more and better food at lower cost, especially in the semi-arid tropics of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

It will also work for reducing rural poverty through agricultural diversification and by using emerging opportunities for high-value commodities and products.

According to Icrisat Director-General William Dar, the new vision and strategy involve fine-tuning the research-for-development strengths of the institute within the framework of the changing global scenario, in the coming decade.

"With Icrisat at the apex of global agricultural research for semi-arid tropics, we are sensitive to the need for delivering high-impact research products that will improve livelihoods by increasing agricultural productivity," Dar said.

Icrisat's governing board has already approved the vision and strategy document. It will be implemented through a series of medium-term plans, the first one of which has been prepared for 2007-2009.

The document envisions strengthening of Icrisat's linkages with global and national advanced research institutes, the private sector and civil society organisations.

ICRISAT will intensify innovative public-private partnerships through its Agri-Science park. Partnerships will also strengthen ICRISAT's strategy for knowledge-sharing.

It will maximise synergies among the disciplines of biotechnology, plant breeding, agronomy, agro-ecosystems and social sciences with people empowerment at its core. This will strategically position ICRISAT so it can act regionally and yet produce high-impact international public goods.