The West and Central Africa Semi-Arid Tropics (WCA-SAT)

Research at ICRISAT in WCA

ICRISAT-WCA has adopted a partnership-based (collaborative in stead of partnership-based) research approach, which is reflected in the diversity of regional and disciplinary emphases.

ICRISAT seeks to derive additional positive synergies from new structural arrangements in order to act regionally and yet produce International Public Goods (IPGs) that have global impact. In this respect ICRISAT’s research in WCA-SAT engages in three regional research programs (RRPs):

• Conservation, management and enhancement of genetic resources
• Agricultural diversification and sustainable agro-ecosystems
• Improving markets and facilitating institutional innovations

The objective of each program is to provide strategic direction and prioritize research issues within an Integrated Genetic and Natural Resources Management context as well as proper capacity building. Specifically this would mean supporting the exploration, conservation, characterization and exchange of plant genetic resources of pearl millet, sorghum and groundnut in the targeted regions of the Sahelian, Sudanian and northern Guinea savannah zones.