321181_WB_cgNews_P1 3/9/05 23:57 Page 1 cgiarNews w w w . c g i a r . o r g M a r c h 2 0 0 5 33147 Nourishing the future through scientific excellence In this Issue Centers Respond to Asian Tsunami Tsunami response 1 Following the tsunami disaster in the Message from Chairman Indian Ocean region, the Future Harvest and Director 2 Centers of the CGIAR moved quickly to New Director General for IRRI 3 lend their expertise to ongoing efforts Announcements 3 focusing on relief, assessment, and rebuild- Assuring Excellence in ing of livelihoods. CGIAR Centers 4 Centers close to the disaster areas, espe- Accessing Expertise 4 cially IWMI and WorldFish Center joined Biofortified wheat, one step United Nations and local consortia in help- closer to reality 5 ing assess the damage. IWMI geographic From Science Council Chair 6 information system (GIS) experts joined UN relief mapping experts, while researchers More fish, more food 7 from WorldFish collaborated with a con- Club del Moko 8 sortium of UN and regional agencies to Slow Rusting 10 rapidly assess the tsunami's devastating New IRRI-CIMMYT alliance 10 impacts on fishing communities, fishing, and coral reefs. Immediate rehabilitation Local farmers join hands with CIP 11 actions were also taken by IRRI which sent experts to Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri New CGIAR Web Site 12 Lanka to assess problems in saline, coastal soils where rice is grown. IRRI's `Rice CGIAR Performance Measurement Knowledge Bank,' has been updated to provide essential information on growing System 12 rice in tsunami-affected areas. New Forage Grass benefits The CGIAR Centers are working collectively to assess needs and develop partner- from Public-Private Partnership 13 ships projects. The first phase involves analyzing the situation and assessing needs IFPRI Unveils State of Biotech Crop to better target relief efforts. The second phase will have more comprehensive part- Research in Developing Countries 13 nership projects. IWMI and WorldFish, with assistance from World Agroforestry Japan-CGIAR Fellowship Program 14 Centre, CIFOR and ICRISAT will serve as the lead Centers in South Asia and Southeast Asia. A tsunami listserv has been set up to facilitate information-sharing, Controlling Sunn Pest in Wheat 15 and websites of participating Centers carry information about mitigation activities. Fighting a mighty foe 16 Pork and sweetpotato, please 17 Centers moved swiftly to work in areas where they have had long-term commitments. Paying People to Protect the · IWMI conducted a livelihoods-focused rapid needs assessment in the worst hit areas Environment? 18 of Hambantota district, where it has been actively working for 15 years through the Fighting Drought with Information 19 Ruhuna Benchmark River Basin research activities. IWMI is also planning to assess groundwater salinity in three regions on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka · IPGRI has adopted Dodanduwa, Sri Lanka, a village that bore the brunt of the Please mark tsunami and site of their long-term research on coconuts. Working with a local your calendars NGO and the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka, IPGRI will help by bringing The Government of lost equipment and assist womens' groups with coconut-based livelihood activities Morocco is Hosting CGIAR's Annual General ICRISAT will support a long-term relief and rehabilitation effort in a cluster of 30 villages Meeting in Marrakech on the southeastern coast of India (Tamilnadu and Pondicherry) where nearly 8,000 lives during December were lost. In an area identified by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), 5­8, 2005 CGIAR Continued on page 14 C O N S U L T A T I V E G R O U P O N I N T E R N A T I O N A L A G R I C U L T U R A L R E S E A R C H 321181_WB_cgNews_P2 3/9/05 23:58 Page 2 Message from the Chairman CGIAR Chairman Ian Johnson CGIAR Director and Director Francisco Reifschneider CGIAR Members African Development Bank Dear Colleague: Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development Asian Development Bank We are pleased to present the March 2005 edition of "CGIAR News." An e-version Australia is available at www.cgiar.org Austria Bangladesh Belgium It is clear that 2005 will be the Year for Development. The upcoming U.N. General Brazil Assembly will focus on the Millennium Development Goals and call for more con- Canada certed actions to achieve them. The UK is leading a major effort for putting devel- China Colombia opment issues--including Africa, aid, trade, and debt relief--at the center of its Commission of the European Community agenda for its presidency of the Group of Eight in 2005. In March, the Commission Côte d'Ivoire on Africa is expected to release its report. This international focus on development Denmark Arab Republic of Egypt offers an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of agricultural research, Finland strong national and international agricultural research systems, and efficient delivery Food and Agriculture Organization mechanisms. Under the aegis of the U.N. Millennium Project, Professor Jeffrey Sachs of the United Nations Ford Foundation new report, "Investing in Development" has already highlighted this most effective- France ly, and asks the world community to increase support to agricultural research. Germany Gulf Cooperation Council Inside the CGIAR, our reform program continues. The Science Council is hard at India Indonesia work on system research priorities. And the Sub-Saharan Africa Task Force will soon Inter-American Development Bank present its recommendations on ways in which to improve structural and program- International Development Research Centre matic alignment. All these activities bode well for the CGIAR as it progresses toward International Fund for Agricultural Development Islamic Republic of Iran the next phase of reforms. Agriculture is central to development; hence, agricultural Ireland issues will likely remain at the front and center of the development agenda and dis- Israel course. Italy Japan Kellogg Foundation This edition covers a range of stories, notably research highlights and impacts Kenya achieved by CGIAR Centers. We are pleased to welcome Bob Ziegler, Director Republic of Korea General-designate, IRRI. We are especially pleased that Kanayo Nwanze and col- Luxembourg Malaysia leagues at Africa Rice Center (WARDA) have regrouped and re-launched research Mexico activities in Cotonou, Benin. In particular, we thank the Governments of Benin and Morocco Mali for their strong support to the CGIAR. Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria On the service delivery side, a new CGIAR contacts database will ensure easier Norway access to expertise and help revamp the process of placing CGIAR nominees on OPEC Fund for International Development Center Boards. A pilot performance management system will serve as a tool for Pakistan Peru improved decision-making and managing performance for impact. And the new Philippines content and look of the CGIAR website is receiving good reviews, and over 50,000 Portugal visitors now browse the website monthly. Rockefeller Foundation Romania Russian Federation Finally, plans for Annual General Meeting 2005 are proceeding well. The South Africa Government of Morocco, Hamid Narjisse and colleagues at INRA are looking for- Spain ward to hosting the meeting in Marrakech, December 5­8, 2005. Sweden Switzerland Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture Please share this newsletter with interested colleagues--they can receive their own Syrian Arab Republic copies (print and e-version) by signing up on the CGIAR website. As always, we Thailand welcome comments at cgiar@cgiar.org Turkey Uganda United Kingdom Cordially, United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme United States of America Ian Johnson Francisco Reifschneider World Bank CGIAR Chairman CGIAR Director 2 cgiarNews 321181_WB_cgNews_P3 3/9/05 23:58 Page 3 New Director General for IRRI Dr. Robert (Bob) Zeigler has been appoint- Director of the Plant Biotechnology Center ed Director General of IRRI. Dr. Zeigler, a at Kansas State University, before working US national, is an eminent plant patholo- as Director of the CGIAR Generation gist with more than 20 years experience in Challenge Program based in CIMMYT, agricultural research in the developing Mexico. He starts on April 1, 2005. world. No stranger to the CGIAR system, he led CIAT's rice program, and was head "I am especially pleased to be able to of IRRI's lowland rice research program. appoint as Director General someone who has worked here so successfully," said Dr. More recently, Dr. Ziegler was head of the Keijiro Otsuka, Chairman, IRRI Board of Department of Plant Pathology and Trustees. Robert (Bob) Zeigler Announcements · B.B. Singh, IITA, was recognized as a Fellow of the Welcome to New Center Board Chairs: American Society of Agronomy during a ceremony held on November 2, 2004. He was also honored · Uwe Werblow, ILRI, succeeding John Vercoe with The Tech Museum Award Trophy for 2004 for · Trond Bjorndal, WorldFish, succeeding Robert applying innovative technologies to improve the Kearney human condition. Welcome to New Board Members: · Julio Solis, CIP, won the Award for Scientific Investigation from the National Council of Science · Ralph Anthony Fischer, Ermerlinda R. Roman, and and Technology, Lima. Elizabeth Jean Woods join IRRI Board of Trustees. Farewells: Honors and Awards: · Emmy Simmons retired in February 2005 after 30 · Robert E. Kearney, former Board Chair of WorldFish years of public service at USAID Center, was awarded the Member of the Order of · John Monyo, Assistant Director General for Australia (AM) for his contribution to the sustainable Sustainable Development, FAO and Member, CGIAR management of fisheries resources and to the devel- Executive Council, retired in February 2005. opment of national and international research pro- grams and policies. In Memoriam: · Stephen J. Hall, Director General of WorldFish · Mervat El-Badawi, CGIAR representative from the Center, was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, for outstanding public service when he served as passed away in December 2004. Dr. El-Badawi will be Director of the Australian Institute of Marine Science missed by her colleagues at ICARDA and in the (AIMS). CGIAR. March 2005 3 321181_WB_cgNews_P4 3/9/05 23:58 Page 4 News & Views Assuring Excellence in CGIAR Centers The Committee of Board Chairs (CBC) continues to support the members as well as Directors-General attend these orientation training of Center Board Members in board responsibility and programs. We are grateful to Franklin Moore, USAID for governance mechanisms. reviewing the orientation programs held in Mexico. I invite and urge all Board Members who have not registered for the 2005 In partnership with the London, UK-based Institute of Directors programs to please contact your Center Board Secretary to and the CGIAR Secretariat, four orientation programs are enroll. planned for early 2005, two each to be held at the Addis cam- pus of ILRI and WorldFish Center in Penang. In 2004, three ori- The Annual General Meeting in Mexico adopted the first entation programs were conducted. When completed, over 70 CGIAR Charter. The CBC is proud to have been a full partner in Board Members will have benefited from this professional train- the drafting of the Charter. The Committee is also actively ing opportunity. involved in the development of performance indicators. For the CGIAR stakeholders and investors, the adoption of creditable Feedback provided by participants and external reviewers has performance indicators represents a laudable milestone for the helped to continuously improve the content of the programs. CGIAR. CBC strongly recommends that both current and new board Uzo Mokwunye, CBC Chair Accessing Expertise: New CGIAR "Contacts" Database Makes it Easier In a continuing effort to provide effective, streamlined service, etc.), and nominee type (new candidate or an existing con- the CGIAR Secretariat unveiled a new "Contacts" database. tact in the database). Click on the drop-down arrow to see if Now, contact information on the CGIAR roster of experts is only the person you want to nominate is already in the database.) a mouse-click away at Click 'Proceed.' http://cgsec2.cgnet.com/ cgiarcontacts/default.htm. 3. Fill in all of required fields (marked with an aster- The database serves as a portal for accessing expertise and isk). You may also suggest additional references and receiving nominations for appointment to Center Boards, exter- attach CVs or other documents to the form. Please note nal review panels, and other system-level positions. The data- that only persons authorized to review potential candi- base is designed to facilitate the new process of selecting dates for Board positions will be able to view confidential CGIAR nominees to serve on Center Boards, and is set up to information. The candidate's name and contact informa- receive nominations year-round. tion will be the only information available to regular users. Click 'Submit.' CGIAR Members and other interested parties are invited to help 4. A nominee can enter his/her own information in the populate the database by entering names for Center Boards database. He/she will simply need to register as a user of and other system-level positions. the database and then enter the nomination. Nominations: A quick primer 5. If you have problems submitting a nomination or have questions, please send an email to contacts-nomina- 1. From the home page of the database, click on tions@cgiar.org. You may also send information on a nomi- "Nominations." You will be prompted to log into the data- nee to this email address and the information will be entered base. (If you have not registered, follow the link "register on your behalf. here" on the log in page.) 2. From the Nominations page, choose the nomination Feedback or questions about the database can be sent to type (Center Board, Management or Program review panel, contacts-nominations@cgiar.org 4 cgiarNews 321181_WB_cgNews_P5 3/13/05 23:07 Page 5 Biofortified wheat, one step closer to reality CGIAR's HarvestPlus Challenge Program is working to reduce micronutrient malnutrition by har- nessing the powers of agriculture and nutrition research to breed nutrient dense staple foods. The pathway to success requires researchers to pass four significant milestones: first, when the crop is developed with high levels of nutrients; second, when the varieties have been adapted for the environments where the malnourished reside; third, when the nutrients contained in the crops are `bioavailable,' that is proven to be effective in reducing human malnutrition, and finally, when the crops are accepted and eaten by those in need. CIMMYT and the HarvestPlus alliance have successfully achieved the first goal by using conventional plant breeding techniques to biofortify agronomically superior wheat with 100% more zinc and 35% more iron than other popular modern varieties. "We strong- ly felt that in order to make biofortified wheat attractive to farm- ers, we needed to breed micronutrients into our latest rust resist- ant varieties being developed for our target region," said Ivan Ortiz-Monasterio, CIMMYT Agronomist and HarvestPlus Wheat Crop Leader. "We have added micronutrient density to the exist- ing breeding strategy and have biofortified disease resistant wheat in multi-location testing in order to identify potential candi- dates for release in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. We intend to have modern, disease resistant varieties be the vehicle for getting more micronutrients in the diets of people," Ortiz-Monasterio adds. It is estimated that over 1.3 billion people in South Asia are at risk for zinc deficiency. For iron, the numbers are similar, so research in this area has great potential. "We have successfully reached the first of many milestones for biofortified wheat," says Howarth Bouis, Director of HarvestPlus. "CIMMYT is to be commended for deciding to add biofortification to the rust resistant breeding strat- egy that was well underway for the region. Now that they have moved the biofortified wheat out of the experimental fields in Mexico and into the hands of our partners in India and Pakistan for testing, we are one step closer to bringing biofortified wheat to farmers. We have crossed the first hurdle," he emphasized. In 2005, CIMMYT and HarvestPlus will move to the next phase of development. Further testing involves seeing how the genes associated with enhanced zinc and iron are expressed in differ- ent environments, and checking bioavailability of nutrients in the advanced wheat using stable isotopes in controlled nutrition laboratory trials. Indian farmers with PBW343: target variety for replacement with For more information, www.harvestplus.org disease resistant biofortified varieties March 2005 5 321181_WB_cgNews_P6 3/13/05 23:08 Page 6 From the Science Council Chair Monitoring, reviewing, and evaluating tions and, to be effective, the EPMRs the quality and relevance of the research must either be based on credible results done by the Future Harvest Centers was from a cohesive set of more limited an important part of TAC's and the inter- reviews of specific parts of the Center's im Science Council's responsibilities. work or take more time than the most Independent assessments are important qualified panel members would be able to promote accountability and trans- to put into the effort. parency and they will continue to play an Fourth, since the Board of Trustees is fully important role in the work of the Science responsible for a Center's performance, it CGIAR Science Council Chair, Council. However, we are proposing sig- should take a greater responsibility for the Per Pinstrup-Andersen nificant changes in the way they are assessment of the relevance and quality of undertaken to deal with the shortcom- the research done by the Center. This is · Board-commissioned external reviews ings in the present system. These short- not something the board can simply dele- that would follow guidelines developed comings include the following: gate to the EPMR and the Science by the Science Council to assist Center First, while External Program and Council. Only if Center boards and man- management and governance and to Management Reviews (EPMRs) of individ- agements and the Science Council work provide more useful input into future ual Centers have been very useful, they together, will we assure the research rele- EPMRs. have taken too long, cost too much, and vance and quality we all want. Every five years the Science Council would they have been done too infrequently. It is Fifth, the Science Council is in the process commission an EPMR jointly organized by not uncommon that an EPMR would take of strengthening the Center Medium-Term the Science Council and the CGIAR two years from the time the Center begins Plans (MTPs), the related logframe project Secretariat. The EPMR would be based pri- its preparations until the results of the descriptions, and the performance meas- marily on the results of the Center's self- EPMR are considered by the CGIAR. This is urement approach to better monitor per- assessment and the Board-commissioned very disruptive for the Center's work and formance and relevance of the completed external reviews with regard to the assess- can have a negative effect on the Center's and proposed research within the context ment processes followed, the quality and research output. Although the past rule of the new system priorities. One of the relevance of the science undertaken by the was that an EPMR would be undertaken changes in the way the Science Council Center, its contributions to the achievement every five years (in fact the EPMRs used to handles MTPs is that we are more specific of the goals of the system priority research, be called "quinquennial reviews"), recent and forthright (constructively critical) about and selected governance and management practice has been to do them every 6­7 problems and suggestions for change. I aspects. By building on results from high- years. This is not frequent enough to fol- hope future EPMR teams will adopt the quality self-assessments and CCERs that low a Center's development and detect same approach in the reports so that the meet certain standards for credibility, such potential problems in a timely manner. reader does not have to read between the EPMRs would be more strategic, take less Second, there has been little monitoring of lines to get the message. Confusing polite- time and be less disruptive for the Centers, action taken or not taken by Centers to ness with deliberate fuzziness is not helpful. while providing the kind of strategic advice implement recommendations by the EPMRs. needed by donors, Centers, and other Taking these factors into account, the Typically the Center makes a response to stakeholders of the CGIAR. Science Council is proposing that more the recommendations and is only asked to emphasis be placed on self-assessment by I hope that by strengthening the monitor- report on the action taken, in preparation the boards and managements of the ing and evaluation process, individual for the next EPMR several years later. Centers through: donors and other stakeholders will have Third, although Center-commissioned less of a need to do their own assessments External Reviews (CCERs) of specific · Board-endorsed MTPs and logframe of Centers and projects. A more cohesive aspects of the Center's work were project descriptions that clearly identify approach with fewer ad hoc evaluations encouraged in the past, they tended to goals, timelines, output targets, and will lead to savings in staff time and finan- be ad hoc and their quality and utility relationship to system priorities cial resources, which, together with higher varied greatly. In most cases, they have · Annual reporting of Center self-assess- quality and more relevant research, can be not provided the input into the EPMRs ments and accomplishments relative to converted into more and better research that was necessary to assure an effective output targets for the benefit of poor people. external review in a reasonable time · Reporting of action taken in response frame. The Centers are complex institu- to EPMR recommendations, and Per Pinstrup-Andersen 6 cgiarNews 321181_WB_cgNews_P7 3/9/05 23:58 Page 7 More fish, more food A major reason for the project's success has been its inclusive and participatory approach. Instead of using a "top-down" approach to technology dissemination, the project engaged directly with farmers, utilizing their resource base and recogniz- ing the various constraints they faced. The return on investment is a handsome 15 percent. These results from Malawi are extremely positive, and aquacul- ture is well on the way to reaching its potential here. The new IAA technologies are being adopted by Cameroon, Mozambique and Zambia. More fish = more food and higher incomes for poor people. In Africa, fish are a vital source of protein for more than 200 million people. But fish catches have been declining while demand continues to increase--so per capita consumption has fallen. Aquaculture has been touted as the Holy Grail of sustain- able fish production, but its effectiveness in terms of both yield and farming efficiency had not been conclusive--until now! WorldFish Center researchers have pioneered the use of Integrated Aquaculture-Agriculture (IAA) technologies, systems of farming that support the recycling of nutrients by growing fish alongside conventional cropping regimes. In Malawi, WorldFish has been undertaking the basic field research and helping to implement these IAA technologies since the mid- 1980s in cooperation with Department of Fisheries. When WorldFish began its research and on-farm trials in 1986, the total number of fish farmers in the country was only 400. Today there are more than 4,000. The spread of IAA technology has seen the country's aquaculture production increase by 22% a year from 1996 to 2001. On a national level, total annual fish production from all fish- ponds combined has increased more than ten times, from 90 to more than 1,000 tons per year. The impact at community level has been just as promising. Results are impressive. Farm produc- tivity in Malawi has increased by 10 percent, farm income rose by 28 percent, technical efficiency of farming improved by almost 50 percent and per capita fish consumption increased 160 percent. It has also improved the sustainability and health of farms by reducing nitrogen losses. Fish farmers in Malawi March 2005 7 321181_WB_cgNews_P8 3/9/05 23:58 Page 8 Club del Moko: A campaign to save plantain Smallholder farmers in Colombia Club del Collaborative have been working side by side with international and national agricultur- Moko Research: al scientists and extension agents for the past three years to save their CIAT's Role FEDEPLATANO is one of several plantain stands from bacterial wilt-- public and private stakeholder a collaborative campaign against groups that form the Club del Elizabeth Alvarez, a CIAT plant moko, a plantain disease. Moko, a broad alliance working on pathologist with long experience in R. solanacearum diagnostics and the farmer participatory research, sketch- Among the more promising weapons design and testing of disease-control es the background of CIAT's involve- in the emerging moko-management measures. Other key alliance mem- ment. "In the hope of finding a solu- arsenal is a biopesticide that does bers include CIAT, the Colombian tion to the moko epidemic, the farm- double duty as an organic fertilizer. Institute for Agriculture and Livestock ers decided to approach CIAT for The liquid, called a "lixivium," is pro- (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario, help. The reason they didn't come to duced inexpensively on-farm by com- ICA), the Colombian Corporation for us earlier was that they thought we posting plantain residues, specifically Agricultural Research (Corporación worked only on beans, cassava, rice, the hanging, spine-like shafts called Colombiana de Investigación and forages. That was true a long rachises from which the flowers and Agropecuaria, CORPOICA), and time ago; my mandate, for example, fruit protrude. This is the part of the IPGRI's International Network for the was cassava diseases. But then we plant that farmers routinely discard Improvement of Banana and Plantain ended up helping out a group of after harvest. (INIBAP). flower growers who had a mildew problem. So the directors of CIAT "We wanted to give the farmers sim- Several years ago, as the moko prob- allowed us to begin helping clients ple, easy-to-use solutions because lem steadily worsened, farmers outside our traditional set of crops, they don't like complex technology," approached ICA and other institu- on a demand-driven basis." says Silverio González, Director, tions for help. Producers were also National Federation of Plantain worried about the ill effects of con- The collaborative project, operating Producers of Colombia (FEDEPLA- tinuously applying Formol (formalde- under the Club del Moko umbrella, TANO) and the chief designer of the hyde) on human health and the envi- has made considerable progress: composting system. "Our members ronment, one of the recommended prefer to solve problems using their pesticides for killing bacteria in the · Using molecular markers, Alvarez own local resources, so they do not soil. The economic repercussions also and her colleagues identified 68 have to spend too much money." concerned them since Formol's high strains of R. solanacearum bacteria. toxicity rendered the soil lifeless, thus These were isolated from samples The FEDEPLATANO project was one undermining production of other of plant tissues, soil, water, and of three winners in the 2004 crops such as coffee, cassava and insects with a view to establishing Innovation Marketplace, a competi- maize. the pathogen's genetic diversity. tion and exhibition held during CIAT collaborated with CORPOICA the Annual General Meeting 2004 All the while, the researchers and to study the genetic diversity of designed to strengthen CGIAR part- farmers were tracking the expansion the pathogen in Colombia's Eastern nerships with civil society organiza- of the moko epidemic. Their projec- Plains (Llanos Orientales). However, tions. tions were alarming. "We suspected being able to detect the bacteria it would take only 2 years to destroy not only under lab conditions but 27,000 hectares of plantain in also on-farm is essential. Accurate Quindío Department alone," recalls on-farm diagnostic tools were González. given priority in the next stage of research. 8 cgiarNews 321181_WB_cgNews_P9 3/9/05 23:58 Page 9 · In Quindío about 50 farmers have been building, testing, using, and in some instances adapting the FEDEPLATANO composter design. Apart from the cost of materials (roughly US$75) to shelter the 20- square-meter composting area and collect the rachis lixivium, the main farmer investment is labor. FEDE- PLATANO supplies farmers with a small quantity of compost starter, a liquid inoculum developed by González Local benefits, global recognition To date, Club del Moko has provided four major benefits to farmers. First, disease-control methods now cover 4,000 hectares in Quindí, dramatical- ly reducing disease incidence and crop losses. Second, local plantain growers have made the rural environ- ment safer by eliminating the use of Formol (formaldehyde) and other chemical pesticides. Third, reduced reliance on agrochemicals has helped farmers cut their production costs. Finally, the Club has enhanced local capacity for rural learning and inno- vation with more than 1,000 farmers participating in the research and technology validation work, and sev- eral thousand more farmers and agri- cultural technicians being trained in moko control. CGIAR News thanks Gerry Toomey, Science Writer, Green Ink Publishing Services Ltd., UK, for contributing this story. March 2005 9 321181_WB_cgNews_P10 3/9/05 23:59 Page 10 Slow Rusting:A Long-Lasting Example of Applied Science Leaf rust attacks on wheat are a major problem, adversely society organizations," says Ravi P. Singh, CIMMYT wheat affecting the incomes of poor farmers all over the world. A new pathologist who leads the effort on rust research. He has suc- study shows that over the past several decades, every dollar cessfully applied the concept of more durable, multi-gene resist- invested in CIMMYT's wheat genetic improvement has generat- ance. "Rapidly mutating pathogens can overcome crop resist- ed at least 27 times its value in benefits to developing country ance based on a single gene in a few years," Singh explains. farmers. "CIMMYT and partners have developed high-yielding and highly resistant wheats with combinations of four or five minor genes. Spring bread wheat covers about two-thirds of the developing Rust still affects the crop, but so slowly that it has little or no world's wheat area, and almost 80 percent of that area was sown effect on yield." to CIMMYT-related semidwarf varieties in 1997. Leaf rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia triticina, is the most widespread biotic stress. The economic impact of CIMMYT's efforts to develop leaf Global Rust Initiative rust-resistant spring bread wheat varieties during 1973­97 was Building on strong science, partnerships, and its large collection 5.36 billion (in 1990 adjusted US dollars) based solely on esti- of global wheat diversity (CIMMYT holds over 175,000 seed col- mates of the value of grain farmers would have lost through use lections in its genebank), CIMMYT is launching a global initia- of susceptible varieties. To this conservative figure, one could add tive to counter the effects of a new, eastern Africa race of stem the significant economic, health, and environmental benefits of rust (Puccinia graminis) that can attack most commercial wheats applying fewer fungicides on developing world wheat crops. in the world. Fundraising for the pioneering initiative is being "CIMMYT investments leverage global partnerships with nation- led by Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Laureate. al research programs, advanced research institutes, and civil New IRRI-CIMMYT alliance A new IRRI-CIMMYT alliance aimed at boosting international To further maximize operational efficiency, the IRRI-CIMMYT efforts to fight poverty and strengthen food security in the alliance will also share a range of support services including developing world has been formed. It focuses on harnessing sci- services related to management and regulatory affairs for intel- ence to provide the world's millions of poor farmers with lectual property rights and biosafety, information and communi- improved access to new, more productive maize, rice, and cation technologies, public awareness, scientific publishing, wheat technologies. library services, and external auditing. There is also good poten- tial for sharing the country offices in developing nations such as Because all three crops are cereals, IRRI and CIMMYT believe Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, and Nepal. that research into their sustainable development and use can be much better coordinated through a stronger alliance. At a Further, the IRRI-CIMMYT Alliance agreed to develop a unified January meeting in Shanghai, the two boards identified four governance and management system commensurate with these research priorities: shared activities. Working groups made up of staff members from both centers will be formed immediately to draft imple- · Intensive crop production systems in Asia (specifically, rice- mentation plans for the four priority programs in consultation wheat and rice-maize) and research on crop and resource with stakeholders. management, crop genetic improvement, and socioeconomics · Cereals information units for researchers and partners work- IRRI and CIMMYT were the first and second centers formed in ing on genetic improvement and the management of crop- what became the Consultative Group on International Agricultural ping systems involving the three staples Research (CGIAR). They are the world's leading research and train- · Training and knowledge banks for the three crops that would ing institutes for rice, wheat, and maize. The three staples provide take advantage of modern technologies to provide training 60 percent of global food needs annually, and cover more than events, the development of learning materials and education 70 percent of the planet's productive cropping land. methods, distance learning, Web-based knowledge systems, Keijiro Otsuka, Chairman of the IRRI Board of Trustees, and library services, and logistical support Alexander McCalla, Chairman of CIMMYT Board of Trustees · Climate change research directed at both mitigating and said the new alliance will contribute significantly to international adapting the three crops to global changes that are affecting efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals because temperature, water, and other factors having crucial effects of the important roles maize, rice, and wheat play in agriculture on them. and livelihoods of poor people. 10 cgiarNews 321181_WB_cgNews_P11 3/9/05 23:59 Page 11 Local farmers join hands with CIP to conserve native potato varieties CIP's Director General, Hubert Zandstra (center) and Alejandro Argumedo (left), Director of the Association for Nature and the Sustainable Development (ANDES), the group that has assumed the representa- tion of the six rural communities that form the Potato Park. In a landmark development, local farm- Farmers in Peru cultivate more than The initiative has been widely reported ing communities in Peru signed an 2000 varieties of native potatoes, most in international media. For example, agreement with CIP to protect the of which are not sold commercially. They New Scientist wrote, "Deals like this genetic diversity of the region's many are the result of a process of natural one prevent multinational seed compa- potato varieties and the rights of the selection and of arduous domestication nies patenting traditional varieties of indigenous people to control access to with ancestral technologies that date crops to exploit their native genes. This these local genetic resources. back to pre-Inca times. That local knowl- practice has sometimes forced communi- edge is precisely what the framework of ties to pay fees for growing seeds they Under the scheme, CIP scientists and the agreement is intended to protect, by originally bred." The Inter Press Service local farmers are working together to keeping the control of genetic resources News Agency noted that several policy establish domesticated varieties and wild with the local people. analysts and civil society campaigners potato relatives from CIP's germplasm are pushing for similar initiatives at collection in a 'Potato Park,' located in "Biological diversity is best rooted in its meetings of the Convention on Pisac, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, natural environment and managed by Biological Diversity and World in Cuzco. Six rural communities live in indigenous peoples who know it best," Intellectual Property Organisation. the park which is spread over 12,000 says Alejandro Argumedo, associate hectares between 3400 and 4500 director of the Association for Nature The agreement serves as a prime exam- meters above sea level. Administered by and Sustainable Development (ANDES), ple of practical applications that support the local people themselves, the park the group that has assumed the repre- the Biological Diversity convention and also provides food for the communities. sentation of the six rural communities FAO's International Treaty on Plant The initiative is an example of local con- that form the Potato Park. He believes Genetic Resources for Food and servation and sustainable use of the that the agreement could serve as a Agriculture. agrobiodiversity at its best. model for other indigenous communities. March 2005 11 321181_WB_cgNews_P12 3/9/05 23:59 Page 12 New CGIAR Web Site Launched The CGIAR web site (www.cgiar.org) has been revamped. Based on 18 months of user feedback and web use statistics, the content was updated and repackaged so as to improve navigation and enhance user friendliness. New content includes: · Story of the month focusing on Center scientific achievements and impact · Newsroom for media and communications profes- sionals Check out our new look at www.cgiar.org · CGIAR image-based factoid presentation · Interactive components on the Welcome Page, such as a "Tell us About Yourself" questionnaire, and a "Test your If you have bookmarked pages from the old site, we suggest Knowledge" quiz you modify your "Favorites" page as the site structure has · New information on genebanks and databases changed. · Restricted area for CGIAR Members As always, feedback is welcome. Please send your comments · "CGIAR in Action" in Afghanistan, Colombia, Kenya, with to cgiar@cgiar.org more to follow CGIAR Launches Pilot Performance Dimensions of the new Measurement System CGIAR Performance Measurement System Worldwide there is a growing trend toward greater accounta- bility, transparency, performance and service delivery in private Results and public sector organizations. As a strategic knowledge-for- development alliance, CGIAR is following suit with a custom- · Outputs designed performance measurement (PM) system to fit its · Outcomes unique business context. The indicators chosen are grouped · Impacts into eight performance elements (see Box). · Stakeholder Perceptions The PM system was developed by an Executive Council work- ing group, with inputs from CGIAR Centers, Center Boards, Potential to Perform Science Council, Members, Secretariat and System Office units. · Quality of Research and Managerial Staff The system is based largely on self-assessment by Centers and is being piloted using 2004 data. The initiative is a work in · Quality and Relevance of Programs progress and the system will be enhanced as we learn from the · Institutional Health pilot program. · Financial Health The PM system is expected to serve as a tool for improved decision-making and managing performance for impact. 12 cgiarNews 321181_WB_cgNews_P13 3/13/05 23:09 Page 13 New Forage Grass benefits from Public-Private Partnership One of Mexico's most dynamic private seed companies-- Releasing Mulato for demonstration purposes in 2000, Papalotla Group--is demonstrating the right way to use valuable Papalotla marketed some 20 tons of seed in Mexico during plant genetic resources for both private gain and public benefit. 2003. By 2004, the company had extended sales of the hybrid to seven other Latin American countries. Total sales reached 193 Several years ago the company entered into a strategic alliance tons, enough to plant 48,000 hectares. That same year with CIAT for marketing seed of the world's first commercial hybrid Papalotla expanded beyond Latin America by starting commer- of Brachiaria grass. Under the agreement, CIAT retains intellectual cial production of Mulato in Thailand. There, some 1,800 small property rights over the hybrid, while Papalotla is authorized to farmers have planted about 1,500 hectares of the hybrid to pro- produce and sell it, under the varietal name `Mulato,' until 2010. duce an estimated 185 tons of seed. With expanding seed sup- "The icing on the cake is that under agreements with Papalotla, plies, Papalotla hopes to break into the potentially huge Asian both CIAT and national research institutes in all the countries market for animal forages. where Mulato is marketed receive royalties," comments Carlos Few seed companies can afford to make the kind of investment Lascano, who leads CIAT's forage research. "This helps cover in long-term research that led to Mulato's development. "CIAT the costs of our research." had a good product from their research, while we had the Based on three Brachiaria species, Mulato and other new Bracharia means of commercializing it," says Eduardo Stern, Papalotla's hybrids are the product of nearly 20 years of conventional plant Director General. breeding at CIAT. The strong appeal of the new grass for farmers Papalotla's investment in marketing Mulato translates into sig- lies in its vigorous productivity, tolerance to drought, and high for- nificant economic and environmental benefits through age quality. The work has been supported by the Colombian enhanced livestock production and recuperation of degraded Government, while the Government of Japan has financed com- pasturelands. plementary work on the conservation of forage genetic resources. IFPRI Unveils State of Biotech Crop Research in Developing Countries If you think that private companies dominate biotech crop research The study, featured in the January issue of Nature Biotechnology, in developing countries, think again. The facts are different. documents transgenic research on 45 different crops--including cotton, corn, cacao, and cassava--in 15 developing countries. New research by IFPRI found that public institutions in develop- At this point, most of these crops remain in development and ing countries are conducting groundbreaking biotech crop out of farmers' hands. The reason? Most developing countries research, debunking the myth that multinational corporations lack the knowledge, capacity, and funding to develop and com- control global development of this technology. Often this ply with biosafety regulatory requirements. research draws upon indigenous plant varieties to cultivate improved crops for local use by small-scale farmers. According to the study, the need to overcome these challenges is critical for the advancement of this technology in the devel- This groundbreaking report assesses the state of biotech crop oping world. GM crops hold the potential to reduce the need research, types of genes being used, and the biosafety and reg- for pesticides, improve drought tolerance and resistance to ulatory challenges facing developing countries. saline soils, and even increase the nutritional value of staple "Developing countries are often unwilling or unable to test foods. commercial genetically modified (GM) crops because of national The report stresses the need for improved information-sharing policies or regulatory systems that are not prepared to grant among developing countries, and calls for increases in small-scale, approval for general use," said Joel Cohen, IFPRI Senior confined field trials to test crops and receive farmer feedback. Research Fellow and author of the report. Researchers in indus- trialized and developing countries need to work together to pro- For more information, including the article in "Nature Biotechnology," vide science-based information for decision makers, so that they click www.ifpri.org/media/biotech20050106.htm. can enhance the clarity of regulatory policies and procedures." March 2005 13 321181_WB_cgNews_P14 3/9/05 23:59 Page 14 Young Japanese Researchers benefit from Japan-CGIAR Fellowship Program The new Japan-CGIAR Fellowship Program is off to a flying start. Eleven Fellows were selected and have been spending between 6­8 weeks each at CGIAR Centers, gaining valuable research experience in real world settings. Launched in 2004, this knowledge-sharing activity is supported by the Japanese Shinji Mizuno, 2004 Fellow (front row, third from right) Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and poses with IRRI colleagues. administered by JIRCAS. reports, Fellows felt that the opportunities to interact with local "This program was extremely successful for me because I could people and farmers were priceless. have fruitful discussions with scientists who have abundant experiences in dryland agriculture," said Tomoe Inoue, Fellow, Building on this success, the 2005 Japan-CGIAR Fellowship who successfully completed a research project at ICARDA. Program has been launched. Ten Fellows will be selected to con- Fellows were most appreciative of the support and hospitality duct research at CGIAR Centers, another example of the strong extended to them by Center staff, and in their completion and mutually-beneficial partnership CGIAR enjoys with Japan. Centers Respond to Asian Tsunami (continued) significant damage has occurred to production of groundnut, puls- potato production (e.g. using varieties that produce yields in 60 es, and paddy crops as well as sweet potato, jasmine, mango, and days and are known for early colonization of damaged land after cashew. Salinity levels have increased substantially and MSSRF has the Mount Pinatubo eruption and in the rebuilding of East sought ICRISAT's help in strengthening village knowledge centers Timor). CIP has started rapid multiplication of advanced, salt- with capacity-building programs and generating natural resource tolerant clones and seed collections for shipment to affected management and crop production advice for local farmers. areas in Aceh and eastern Sri Lanka. A first meeting was held at CIFOR in January to plan long-term Coconuts, bananas and other trees that are the mainstays of action. Sixty-four participants attended, and recommended a coastal food systems have been adversely affected. The COGENT local "site-based" response to concentrate on two sites, namely, network for coconuts as well as the INIBAP network for bananas, Sri Lanka (coordinated by IWMI) and in Aceh, Indonesia (coordi- both coordinated by IPGRI, will assess the impacts and identify nated by World Agroforestry Centre). appropriate strategies that can be used in rehabilitation efforts. The second response is the development of systemwide propos- From a forestry perspective, CIFOR is drawing on its research into als for work across the two sub-regions. One proposal, led by the 1990s Asian financial crisis, when almost 80 million people the Consortium on Spatial Information, will assess the impact of were living below the poverty line. Research shows that forests the tsunami on livelihoods using Centers' combined knowledge, played a key "safety net" role in providing many people in rural databases, remote sensing and GIS expertise. areas with livelihood assistance and subsistence needs and hopes to build local research capacity by involving students from Aceh Another proposal at the system-wide level involves several and local universities in reconstruction activities. Centers that have developed a joint concept note, "Turning Disaster into Opportunity: New directions for coastal communi- A recovery and improvement program for Aceh livestock by the ties for a better and more sustainable future." The paper urges Indonesian Center for Animal Research and Development (ICARD), rehabilitation efforts embrace the entire landscape--from sea to Sungei Putih Goat Research Center, ILRI and CIAT will help estab- upland forests--and look at the bigger picture for development lish improved feed resources and re-build goat, poultry and sheep using the sustainable livelihoods and integrated natural resource production systems. Urban and peri-urban farming will be aided management approaches. by drawing on the expertise of the `Urban Harvest' program. The Centers and their partners are exploring location-specific As the Indian Ocean region starts to rebuild its coastal life, the livelihood options for the devastated people of the region. In CGIAR Centers have committed to bringing their collective addition to rice farming, other livelihood options include sweet expertise to the massive task ahead. 14 cgiarNews 321181_WB_cgNews_P15 3/9/05 23:59 Page 15 Controlling Sunn Pest in Wheat, Naturally: ICARDA Shows the Way Traditional methods of controlling Sunn Pest (Eurygaster integriceps) infestations in wheat rely on expensive insecti- cides. Farmers in the Central and West Asia (CWANA) region spend more than $40 million each year on insecticides in affected areas. Insecticides are also environmentally harmful and often ineffective because the pests develop resistance quickly. ICARDA scientists collaborating with National Agricultural Research Systems in the region; the University of Vermont, and CABI Bioscience, UK have found naturally- occurring fungi that work as biological insecticides. The fun- gal spores lodge in the insect, then kill it by blocking vital life support systems. After a spring in cereal fields, the Sunn Pest moves to nearby foothills to spend the summer, fall and winter, so this is where the ICARDA scientists and their partners concentrated their search for insect specimens infected by fungi. Trips to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Turkey, and Uzbekistan result- ed in the world's largest collection of fungi strains isolated from infected Sunn Pest specimens. Pathogenicity trials revealed that several isolates of Beauveria bassiana were effective, killing the insect within 10 days. Researchers are now evaluating the isolates for their efficacy and determining the most effective way of using these fungi for the management of Sunn Pest. Using the insect-killing fungi has an added advantage because they are specific to Sunn Pest and environment-friendly. It will be used in concert with natural enemies, cultural methods, and other strategies in a comprehensive integrated pest management (IPM) pro- gram to mitigate the impact of this pest. In July 2004, ICARDA hosted the Second International Conference on Sunn Pest where over 130 participants from 23 countries discussed the socioeconomics of Sunn Pest, integrated management strategies, including chemical, bio- logical and host resistance options; and the biology and ecol- ogy of the insect. Wheat productivity in CWANA region is only 1.5 t/ha, com- pared with the world average of 5 t/ha. Sunn Pest is a lead- ing cause of low yields, affecting about 15 million hectares of wheat annually, and crop losses can reach 100 percent. It damages crops by feeding on leaves, stems, and grains, and Wheat spikes damaged by Sunn Pest feeding. Even low-scale damage injecting chemicals that cause the grain's gluten to break can ruin the bread-making down. If as little as 2­3% of the grain in a crop has been quality of wheat. affected, the entire lot of grain becomes unsuitable for baking. March 2005 15 321181_WB_cgNews_P16 3/9/05 23:59 Page 16 Fighting a mighty foe: Marker-assisted breeding to the rescue Downy mildew is a disease caused by the fungus, Sclerospora of over 15 years of dedicated work, generously supported by graminicola. Once infected, pearl millet plants are stunted, the UK Department for International Development (DfID). grain formation fails, and the plants die spelling misery for thousands of poor farmers who rely on this hardy crop for ICRISAT used marker-assisted and conventional breeding tech- food, income, and nutrition security. In years when disease niques to improve resistance in the parental lines of the origi- attacks were severe, over 30 percent of millet harvests nal hybrid. The gene for downy mildew resistance was added were lost. to the male parent, H 77/833-2, through marker-assisted breeding using ICRISAT elite parent ICMP 451 as the resist- Now pearl millet farmers in the semi-arid states of Haryana ance gene donor. An HAU doctoral student, working closely and Rajasthan, India, need not fear this disease thanks to HHB with the ICRISAT team, conducted the marker-assisted back- 67-2, a new pearl millet hybrid that is resistant to downy cross breeding work. The gene for downy mildew resistance mildew (DM) disease. The variety was jointly developed by was added to the female parent, 843A/B, from ICRISAT line ICRISAT in partnership with Haryana Agricultural University ICML 22 through conventional backcross breeding. Finally, the (HAU). All India Coordinated Pearl Millet Improvement Project (AICP- MIP) field-tested the new hybrid at various locations over the "This significant breakthrough is a result of ICRISAT's cutting past three rainy seasons. edge scientific research and effective partnerships," says William Dar, Director General, ICRISAT. "The new hybrid By using advanced molecular marker-assisted selection tech- brings additional benefits to farmers, even while retaining the niques, the male parent for HHB 67-2 was developed in one- desirable qualities of earlier popular hybrids." third the time required for the developing the female parent by conventional methods. By identifying and marking the The new hybrid HHB 67-2 is an improved version of the popu- gene responsible for DM resistance in ICMP 451, breeders lar pearl millet hybrid HHB 67, which again was a result of were able to check whether the gene had transferred to the collaborative research between ICRISAT and HAU. Tom Hash, next generation in the progeny of crosses between ICMP 451 ICRISAT scientist said that the new hybrid is the culmination and the male parent of HHB 67. The advantage of using molecular marker technology is that gene presence can be tested even while the next generation is a seedling, saving precious breeding time. In conventional breeding, the presence of a gene can be verified only after the plant grows to maturity and seed from an individ- ual plant is sown to screen for the DM resistant character. ICRISAT has produced breeder seed of the parental lines of HHB 67­2, which can now be used to multiply the hybrid, and this will be supplied to seed multiplication agencies. Thanks to these cooper- ative efforts, farmers are getting respite from a mighty foe. Haryana farmers in field trials of the new hybrid HHB 67­2. 16 cgiarNews 321181_WB_cgNews_P17 3/9/05 23:59 Page 17 Pork and sweetpotato, please The facts are simple: Pigs are efficient converters of food Enhancement Division. For example, silage consisting of into meat, and they like sweetpotato. Pork is an extremely sweetpotato roots and foliage can be kept as high quality important source of protein in Asia, especially China and feed for up to six months. It does not need to be cooked to Vietnam. Most of it comes from backyard pig producers, make it palatable to the animals, and the same amount of who grow sweetpotato for use as feed. However, pig nutri- feed produces more meat. This work as been supported by tion on small farms is generally poor and the animals suffer Asian Development Bank and ACIAR. serious deficiencies in protein, especially lysine and methyanine. CIP and ILRI researchers and their partners in national pro- grams in China, Vietnam and Indonesia are also developing In an innovative program, agricultural research institutions farmer extension models to show how best to use the new in Asia are collaborating with CIP and ILRI to improve small- methods and varieties. holder sweetpotato-pig systems. Pioneered by CIP in Vietnam in the mid-1990s, this effort has successfully devel- "Before, I did not use much of the sweet potato, particular- oped new sweetpotato varieties, methods to prepare and ly the vines. Then I heard that sweet potato roots and vines store feed as silage, and provided farmer training in crop could be preserved as silage," said Liang Quang Song of and animal husbandry. The net impact of these efforts was Tainle village, Sichuan province, China. "After attending the increased incomes on small farms and a more abundant training course, I learned how to make good silage. Now I food supply. can use all the roots and vines I produce for my pigs." "Significant gains in productivity in small-holder pig produc- Such testimony is proof of the win­win opportunities gener- tion are possible with a modest investments in research and ated by knowledge partnerships. extension services," says Keith Fuglie, leader of CIP's Impact Using sweet potato as animal feed has produced significant gains in production in China. March 2005 17 321181_WB_cgNews_P18 3/13/05 23:10 Page 18 Paying People to Protect the Environment? Bolivia: paying upland farmers to protect downstream water supplies from being polluted by ani- mals is one example of a community service payment. Development specialists are becoming increasingly interested in payment, not the intended service users, or the PES is linked to the "Payments for Environmental Services (PES)" concept as a non-environmental services such as tourism. way of protecting the environment while reducing poverty. The reason the Bolivian schemes do not fully conform with gen- With support from the Swiss Development Agency, two CIFOR erally accepted PES principles is partly because environmental researchers, Sven Wunder and Nina Robertson, are looking at service payments is still a very new idea. "People take environ- applying the PES concept in Bolivia, and are cautiously optimistic mental services for granted, so the notion of suddenly paying about its future. for them is hard to swallow. PES schemes require mutual trust ... and an institutional framework to facilitate that," adds A PES scheme is an arrangement where a well-defined environ- Wunder. mental service or service-resource is "bought" by beneficiaries of the service from local service providers. For example, a city Also, many people are skeptical about market-based incentives. council downstream from a major water source may pay people According to Robertson, PES is sometimes seen "as part of a living upstream not to cut down the trees near the river, so that larger neo-liberal economic paradigm being implemented in water quality is maintained. In effect, the environmental service developing countries to their disadvantage. For example, paying providers are paid for not using the forest in ways that would for watershed protection is sometimes erroneously equated with jeopardize the environmental service. water privatization." According to Wunder, it is a fairly straightforward concept, "But Nevertheless, the two researchers are optimistic. If the interna- in Bolivia, we found none of (the schemes) actually conformed tional development community is willing to experiment with PES fully to the definition. What we did find were a lot of initiatives activities and help increase public awareness about PES, such where some but not all of the definition's conditions were schemes may yet offer a win-win solution. met." Wunder says that sometimes external donors make the Readers can subscribe to CGIAR News (print and e-version) on the CGIAR website, www.cgiar.org 18 cgiarNews 321181_WB_cgNews_P19 3/9/05 23:59 Page 19 Fighting drought with Information Addakal and its surrounding villages in Andhra Pradesh, India "With the experts providing us information through VASAT, we are predominantly agrarian. Farmers here work in a harsh, semi- are confident that we can minimize the ill effects of drought," says arid environment cultivating groundnut, sunflower and vegeta- Ms. Sushma, Facilitator, Addakal. About 1,000 villagers have so far bles and rearing cattle for their livelihoods. Frequent droughts accessed the localized training module on Coping with Drought. and lack of access to information has led to low crop yields for several years in a row. Says Sharadamma, a woman-farmer from Moosapeta, "I have learnt that droughts are here to stay. And that we need to face While the villagers have no control over when drought occurs, it whether we like it or not. But relevant information can make they can cope with it better with the right information and pre- a big difference in coping with droughts." paredness. Enter the Virtual Academy for the Semi-Arid Tropics (VASAT), an informal and virtual information, communication The situation is not much different in the semi-arid regions of and capacity building coalition that aims to empower vulnerable West and Central Africa where VASAT is also active. A VASAT rural communities to cope with drought. Established by ICRISAT pilot hub in Niamey, Niger is partnering with local federation of and its partners in 2003, VASAT links rural farm communities farmers operating a solar-powered, low frequency community with researchers, intermediaries and markets through an inter- FM radio station. Radio Kahé caters to 4,000 villagers in a 20- face of information and communication technology (ICT) and kilometer radius. As the village chief of Gabi puts it: "Everybody open-distance learning (ODL) methods. It is a project of the ICT- is doing agriculture nowadays and it is the starting point for KM program of the CGIAR. ICRISAT implements the project in wealth." partnership with ILRI and IWMI with a host of national and international organizations. VASAT's blends top-down approaches to development commu- nication with a bottom-up approach that stresses the need for ICRISAT set up a pilot information hub with low-cost Internet improved communication in rural areas. The advantages of this connectivity in Addakal, partnering with Andhra Pradesh Rural approach were visible in fishing hamlets struck by the recent Livelihoods Program (APRLP). Information on agriculture and tsunami: village communities used local communication chan- livestock issues is provided to the farmers through the VASAT nels to alert people about adverse weather, thereby helping website. A 4,200-member federation of microcredit societies save lives. Local NGOs have approached VASAT partners for managed by rural women operates this hub which caters to help in the form of timely information and technical support to about 15,000 people. Multi-disciplinary experts from the VASAT rebuild livelihoods in tsunami-affected areas. coalition provide timely information. Villagers participate in informal training sessions with VASAT team. March 2005 19 321181_WB_cgNews_P20 3/13/05 23:10 Page 20 cgiarNews Editor Sarwat Hussain e s.hussain@cgiar.org Editorial coordination M. Caryl Jones-Swahn e m.jonesswahn@cgiar.org Published by the CGIAR Secretariat A Unit of the CGIAR System Office t 1 202 473 8951 f 1 202 473 8110 e cgiar@cgiar.org Cotonu, Benin CGIAR-supported Future Harvest Centers Africa Rice Center (WARDA) International Center for Agricultural International Plant Genetic Resources www.warda.org Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) Institute (IPGRI) www.icarda.org www.ipgri.org International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) International Crops Research Institute for International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) www.ciat.cgiar.org the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) www.irri.org www.icrisat.org Center for International Forestry Research International Water Management Institute (CIFOR) International Food Policy Research Institute (IWMI) www.cifor.org (IFPRI) www.iwmi.cgiar.org www.ifpri.org International Maize and Wheat World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Improvement Center (CIMMYT) International Institute of Tropical www.worldagroforestrycentre.org www.cimmyt.org Agriculture (IITA) WorldFish Center www.iita.org International Potato Center (CIP) www.worldfishcenter.org www.cipotato.org International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) www.ilri.org 20 cgiarNews