Global Theme on Agroecosystems

Leader's Note

Dr Stephen J Twomlow
s.twomlow@cgiar.org
Global Theme Leader
Agroecosystems

 

Land, Water and Agro-Diversity Management Research at ICRISAT: a Global Overview to 2015

ICRISAT's global research is structured under four broad themes:

  • Institutions, markets, policy and impact
  • Biotechnology
  • Crop improvement and management
  • Land, water and agro-diversity management

Each theme is implemented through a combination of core-funded and special (bilateral or regional) projects at various locations in Africa and Asia. This document summarizes the rationale, research structure and priorities for the global theme on Land, water and agro-diversity management.


Resource management - for whom, and why

Good management of natural resources is the key to good agriculture. This is true everywhere - and particularly in the semi-arid tropics, where over-exploitation of fragile or inherently vulnerable agroecosystems is leading to land and soil degradation, productivity decline, and increasing hunger and poverty. Modern crop varieties offer high yields - but the larger share of this potential yield can only be realized with good crop management (Fig 1).

Figure 1. Contribution of different technology components on sorghum yield, as observed in on-farm trials in Zimbabwe

ICRISAT, working over a vast and diverse mandate area, has learned one key lesson: that technologies and interventions must be matched not only to the crop or livestock enterprise and the biophysical environment, but also with the market and investment environment, including input supply and policy. Various NRM technologies have been developed over the years - but adoption has been poor for various reasons, technical, socio-economic and institutional. To change this, we address the underlying question: Under what conditions will rural households be encouraged to reinvest in their agro-ecosystems in order to meet household food security needs and alleviate poverty?

IGNRM - the new paradigm1
Traditionally, crop improvement and NRM were seen as distinct but complementary disciplines. ICRISAT is deliberately blurring these boundaries, to create the new paradigm of IGNRM, or Integrated Genetic and Natural Resource Management. Improved varieties and improved resource management are two sides of the same coin. Most farming problems require integrated solutions, with genetic, management-related, and socio-economic components. In essence, plant breeders and NRM scientists must integrate their work with that of private and public sector change agents, to develop flexible cropping systems that can respond to rapid changes in market opportunities and climatic conditions. The systems approach looks at various components of the rural economy - traditional foodgrains, new potential cash crops, livestock and fodder production, as well as socio-economic factors such as alternative sources of employment and income.

Better focus, better science
ICRISAT's resource management agenda has evolved over the years, in response to new research challenges, changes in national or regional priorities, and the emergence of stronger national research programs. Through the 1970s and 80s, we used an agronomy-based approach that sought primarily to optimize on-farm performance of new crop varieties developed by the Institute's breeders. Subsequently, strategic research (eg plant physiology) as well as methodological research, particularly on farmer-participatory methods, expanded. We used a more holistic systems approach, where biophysical, socio-economic and other factors are considered together, and integrated solutions developed. This farmer-participatory holistic approach remains central to ICRISAT's work. The scope of work has expanded to include crop-livestock interactions, watershed development, and innovative use of natural resources to generate income for poor farmers. In 2005 the research agenda was further refined, with a clearer, sharper focus on Africa.

The global theme Land, Water and Agro-Diversity Management (abbreviated to GT Agro-ecosystems development, GTAE) was created in 2003. Two existing but partly overlapping themes were restructured in response to recommendations from an external review. The new theme focused more sharply on the semi-arid tropics of sub-Saharan Africa to address long term development goals identified by sub-regional organizations. Core resources have been redeployed in a phased manner from the Asian programs (which are now funded entirely through special projects), to better address the major challenges in Africa - land degradation, water scarcity and loss of agrobiodiversity. The NRM team in Asia will contribute to strategies for sub-Saharan Africa, for example transferring lessons learned during long-term development programs in Asia.

Approach

To improve the management of natural resources and environmental services in enhancing livelihoods and making poor people adapt to climate change, ICRISAT is a global leader in pursuing an Integrated Genetic and Natural Resource Management (IGNRM) strategy. The main approach of this strategy is community participation, convergence, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, intensification, market-led diversification, and capacity building for increasing agricultural productivity and improving livelihoods. This approach takes advantage of a holistic strategy, harnessing genetic enhancement and biotechnology, crop breeding, soil and water management, food safety and social science perspectives.

Through this global theme, ICRISAT serves as a catalyst, facilitator and enabler of three broadly based consortia on the: (1) Development of improved watersheds in Asia and sharing of lessons learned with Soil and Water Management Networks in sub-Saharan Africa; (2) Examining the agricultural implications of current climate variability and potential adaptation to climate change research; and (3) The Oasis Consortium linking global efforts for research at desert margins thus acting as a principal research arm for the UNCCD.

At the national level, ICRISAT plays the role of enabler and facilitator in developing and evaluating IGNRM interventions that will help rural households to better cope with climate variability and alleviate food insecurity. In addition, ICRISAT's rich information base and network with IARCs and ARIs will enable it to work closely with ILRI in developing alternative feed/fodder resources within crop-livestock systems. As a primary research provider, it will develop new science tools such as systems simulation, climate forecasting and farmer participatory approaches that integrate genetic and non-genetic solutions.

In sub-Saharan Africa, ICRISAT continues to work with an ever expanding range of partners from both the public and the private sectors to pursue more participatory strategies, linking on-farm trials with crop systems simulation in order to increase the impacts of soil fertility research. Farmer participation ensures that technology development and testing are based on farmers' needs and perspectives; simulation allows the testing of a wider array of options in different (simulated) seasons and environments.

ICRISAT works with an ever expanding range of partners from the public and private sectors to pursue more participatory strategies, linking on-farm trials with crop systems simulation in order to increase impacts of soil fertility research. Farmer participation ensures that technology development and testing are based on farmers' needs and perspectives, while simulation allows testing of a wider array of options in different seasons and environments.

Moreover it is also to ensure all partners - farmers, national research and extension, NGOs, international research centers, universities, the private sector - are able to access and effectively use IGNRM innovations.

Goals

ICRISAT's research on agro-ecosystem development aims to improve rural livelihoods, increase food security and sustainable natural resource management. Given the persistent problems of drought and water scarcity in the drylands, ICRISAT addresses this on two fronts: (1) utilizing natural resource management principles and techniques to improve moisture content, fertility, soil depth, organic matter, rainwater utilization through watersheds and water conservation; and (2) employing plant breeding and biotechnology to improve water-use efficiency and drought tolerance in crops.

Moreover, IGNRM helps achieve sustainable food security and increased income among poor farmers in semi-arid farming systems by using new science tools and approaches in soil, water, agro-biodiversity and climatic management. Hence, ICRISAT's agro-ecosystem research aims to:

  • Develop and promote pro-poor and sustainable soil, water, crop and nutrient management options and integrated approaches to watershed management;
  • Identify and promote options for systems diversification (high-value crops, trees and livestock) to improve rural livelihood security;
  • Enhance capacity of research and development partners and regional networks to formulate and implement research for impact;
  • Develop and promote appropriate methodologies and approaches for agricultural rehabilitation following natural and/or civil disasters including HIV/AIDS; and
  • Forge strategic partnerships with government agencies, donors, civil society organizations, community-based organizations and the private sector to ensure that innovations are tailored to fit farmers' diverse investment and risk management options.

In operational terms, agro-ecosystems research is conducted under three projects:

  • Reducing rural poverty through agricultural diversification: emerging opportunities for high-value commodities and products (project 7)
  • The Desert Margins Program (project 8)
  • Poverty alleviation and sustainable management of land, water, livestock and forest resources through sustainable agro-ecological intensification in low- and high-potential environments in the semi-arid tropics of Africa and Asia (project 9).