Multinational - Proposal for Finan. Support to Icrisat

The proposed project aims to identify new traits that will allow ICRISAT and its partners to offer farmers in the semi-arid tropics a more stable, diversified germplasm with improved resistance to disease and pests, stress tolerance, better quality, and higher productivity. The conservation of biodiversity of important food crops of the semi-arid tropics for the long-term benefit of humanity is an important goal. The program will be executed in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, and will have spillover effects in other parts of the semi-arid tropics of West and Central Africa. Finally, with the utilization of new cultivars achieved through the implementation of the project, we expect to enhance and stabilize agricultural production, farm income and farm-family welfare in the SAT. The purposes are to securely maintain and manage ex-situ collections held by ICRISAT, and to improve the utilization of germplasm by studying its value and diversity. Scientists working in this project are improving their analytical tools and the understanding of those mechanisms controlling the characteristic(s) under investigation. ICRISAT provides to the regional networks advanced generation breeding material and enhanced germplasm. Likewise, our scientists provide technical backstopping to improve the ability of breeders from the national programs to develop and test germplasm, as well as in the multiplication and distribution of seed. This project also enhances the role of farmers in participatory crop improvement, which will increase the adoption of new cultivars by farmers. Furthermore, male-sterile, restorer and maintainer lines are being developed to obtain hybrid cultivars in cereal crops.