ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

initial 2-3 years for smooth transition. The presence of three critical inputs has been advocated for successful
implementation of bulk marketing during the project implementation period:
Constant knowledge support and guidance by ICRISAT and project partners
Strong and sustained association among farmers
Exploitation and utilization of value proposition of coarse cereals.
1D.2. Price trends and competitiveness of mandate crops (Preliminary work completed)
Prices of agricultural products are inherently volatile because of they are susceptible to both supply and demand
shocks in the world agri-food market. On the demand side, the price of an agricultural product is influenced by a
number of factors. These include incomes, urbanization, health issues, people’s tastes and preferences and
values, and relative prices of substitutes or complements. On the supply side, production costs and improved
technology, weather and disease related shortcoming, or conversely, the production of bumper crops work
together to determine agricultural product prices. When the cost of production rises they are passed on in the
form of higher prices for agricultural products. There are also other variables that impact on agricultural product
prices. These include exchange rate changes and government macroeconomic and trade policies. The rising
incomes, falling transportation costs, improved technology, and evolving international agreements have led to
substantial growth in the volume of trade in agricultural products, thus causing fluctuations in world agricultural
product prices.
According to FAO 2004, in spite of recent strengthening of agricultural commodity prices after a prolonged
decline since the mid 1980s, continue to be at historically low levels and their long term decline relative to
manufactured goods continues. Real prices have also fluctuated considerably along the long term declining
trend. The ICRISAT mandate crops are no exception to this with real prices of all mandate crops declining. The
real prices of sorghum, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut (measured as unit value of exports) has declined by
2-3 % between 1970 and 2004. Only between 2000-2004 there has been a reversal in the trend particularly for
sorghum and groundnut. Several factors contribute to the decline as also the year to year fluctuations.
1D.3. Commodity situation and outlook reports developed for the vision and research agenda for sorghum,
pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut (Global)
The vision and strategy for ICRISAT cereals, pulses and oilseed was redrafted to reflect the changing scenario
for these crops both on the demand and supply side that would enable identification of potential areas of focus
research up to 2015. The socioeconomics team enabled the Crop Improvement (CI) scientists to update the
trends in area, production, productivity, utilization and trade of mandate crops. Using these trends as a basis,
future areas of thrust and research were developed for each crop. These were subsequently reflected in the
overall strategy of the Crop Improvement Theme. For example, socio-economists highlighted the changing
consumption patterns of crops like sorghum and pearl millet from food use to other uses at the same time
highlighting niche areas where food use will continue to be important. The faster growth in edible groundnut use
compared to groundnuts for oil was notable as well.
Collaborating Institutions and Scientists:
ICRISAT : P Parthasarathy Rao, MCS Bantilan, J Ndjeunga, CLL Gowda,
D Hoisington, BVS Reddy, SN Nigam, PM Gaur, KB Saxena
1D.4. Mixed crop-livestock systems in South Asia: enhancing livestock productivity to benefit the poor (Asia)
Objectives:
To synthesize the results and key findings from the ICRISAT – ICAR collaborative project on increasing
livestock productivity in mixed crop –livestock systems in South Asia
Update data in tables and graphs and data analysis from earlier reports as appropriate
Rewrite sections from earlier reports as appropriate
Background: From the perspective of poverty reduction it is important to identify agricultural activities that are
accessible by the poor, are labour intensive, generate sufficient income, and have enough potential for growth.
Livestock fit well in this scheme of poverty reduction. They play a multiple role in enhancing the livelihood of
the poor and enabling them to climb up the ladder of poverty reduction. About 70 percent of the rural poor in the
developing world are associated with livestock production and they receive a higher share of their income from
livestock than do the rich (Delgado et al 1999). As a source of food, they contribute towards reducing the
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