ICRISAT - ICRISAT: Medium Term Plan 2010-12 - 2010-12

ICRISAT-2: Sustaining biodiversity of sorghum, pearl millet,
small millets, groundnut, pigeonpea and chickpea for current
and future generations
Project Overview and Rationale
This research, through its active custodianship of a large proportion of the world’s germplasm,
is delivering IPGs annually as its responsibility to the world community has been defined by
FAO to be “in perpetuity”. ICRISAT claims that 100% of this project’s activities are
encapsulated within the CGIAR System Priorities. ICRISAT is involved with the System-wide
Genetic Resources Program (SGRP) in developing policies and practices for managing,
acquiring and making available genetic resources that are consistent with international
agreements. Knowledge, technologies and information on genetic resources is shared with
other partners for sustainable use of biodiversity.
The target ecoregion, the beneficiaries and end users
The project has a global responsibility within ICRISAT’s MTP for effective conservation and
utilization of the biodiversity of mandate SAT staple crops and small millets. The immediate
beneficiaries of this research are the institute’s own researchers, varied research and
development partners: including NARS and private sector scientists involved in genetic
resources conservation and crop improvement. The end users are farmers; village
communities, and consumers benefiting from enhanced yields, nutritious diets and more
secure annual incomes.
Is the center the primary or secondary research provider?
The center is a primary research provider in this project. It has been a major contributor to the
Generation Challenge Program and is continuing to play this role. Amongst much other work,
for example, in 2006 three thousand accessions of a chickpea composite collection were
genotyped using SSR markers in collaboration with ICARDA.
Is it a catalyser, facilitator, enabler and/or advocate to influence the impact pathway and thus
to ensure outcomes and impact
The germplasm conserved in the genebank is the primary source of basic germplasm for the
scientists at ICRISAT and many NARS and private sector companies worldwide. ICRISAT also
plays the role of enabler and facilitator – the international status of this collection is
guaranteed by the in-trust agreement between FAO and ICRISAT. Our obligations to FAO and
the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture require that we
set the highest standards for conservation of staple and under-utilized species and assist in the
conservation of, and access to, the germplasm and provide related information to the global R
and D community.
Comparative and complimentary advantage of the project activities
ICRISAT is well placed to organize information and legal germplasm exchanges between
partners from different countries. It has excellent germplasm conservation facilities at
Patancheru, India and improved infrastructure for managing the genetic resources at its
regional genebanks. Also, ICRISAT has a comparative advantage of working on system-wide
projects with other CG centers on genetic resources management and information sharing.
Playing a catalytic, facilitating, enabling or advocacy role complementary to the center’s
research role and their contribution to IPGs
Computerized documentation systems enable rapid dissemination of information to users as
well as assist curators to manage collections more efficiently. ICRISAT has been an active
participant in the System-wide Information Network on Genetic Resources (SINGER), and a
participating member in the other regional networks and contributes to CG sponsored activities
related to development and implementation of genetic resources exchange protocols. Thus, we
ensure our knowledge is made freely available worldwide.
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