The Hindu Business Line : Invest more in dry land farming: Icrisat

Dr William Dar, Director-General, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat), at a presentation on Tuesday. - V. Ganesan

Chennai , Aug. 9

INVESTMENTS to develop dry land farming need to be increased to levels in irrigated farming for rural development and for the benefits of modern technology, including biotechnology to reach the rural poor, according to Dr William Dar, Director-General, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat).

In a presentation on Icrisat's work to journalists from The Hindu group of publications, Dr Dar said, "On a scale of 1-10, investments in dry land farming would rate one and in irrigated farming 10." While maintaining the commitment to irrigated agriculture, investments in dry land agriculture have to be hiked, he said.

In this direction, Icrisat, which works exclusively on dry land crops, will commercialise the first genetically engineered groundnut resistant to the peanut clump virus in 2008. "This would be the world's first transgenic groundnut," he said.

Icrisat is also working on commercialising transgenic pigeonpea and chickpea that would be resistant to pod borers. It hopes to enhance the social acceptance of biotechnology by working with the stakeholders, particularly farmers and the civil society organisations. Farmers' acceptance of biotechnology would have a decisive impact on social acceptance, he said.

"India is one of the rising stars of biotechnology," Dr Dar said. A strong Government policy backed by support from farmers would help increase its acceptance. Biotechnology is a modern tool that will accelerate breeding of beneficial crops. "Who would not like to use less pesticides. Who would not like to grow crops that have more nutrients than those at present," he asked.

Responding to a query, he said that extending the benefits of such development to dry land farmers would have a telling impact on rural development. India is importing huge quantities of oilseeds and pulses, but most of its research work is directed towards rice and wheat, he pointed out.

As of now, it is only the rich farmer who has benefited from the developments in irrigated farming. The focus should be more on the smallholder farmer, he said.

Icrisat is advocating this point of view to the policy makers. "It can only advocate." It is up to the Government to carry it forward, he said.

Icrisat, which is one of the 15 institutions under the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research) and the only one with its headquarters in India, is supported by over 60 countries and foundations. It is a non-profit, non-political, international organisation for science-based agricultural development.

Its research is dedicated to the small farmers and rural poor in Asia and Sub Saharan Africa. Established in 1972, it works out of two regional hubs, Kenya and Niger, in Africa apart from a number of Asia countries and its headquarters is in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

Dr Dar said that its work does not stop with development of crop varieties but ensures that it is commercially utilised by the small farmers. It works on five major crops in the dry lands - sorghum, pearl millet, groundnut, chickpea and pigeonpea.

In India, over 145 improved crop varieties could be traced to the parental lines developed by Icrisat, he said. It provides over 12,000 germplasms annually to the National Agricultural Research System. In addition, it is involved in watershed development, agri-business incubator park for commercialisation of technologies and has a set up a Virtual Academy for Semi Arid Tropic using information and communication technology to reach farmers. Experts in Icrisat have assisted students from academic and research institutions, he said.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page