RA 00183.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

The C O R A F Groundnut Network:
Present Status and Future Prospects
A. Ba 1
The Conference of African and French Heads of Agricultural Research (CORAF) has made
great strides since 1986. It was set up in response to the need felt by agricultural research
experts from 16 African countries and from France, for the establishment of a forum for
scientific and technical cooperation. CORAF aims at pooling material, human, and scientific
resources through networks in order to attain common objectives.
The problems of agricultural development at the subregional level are due to constraints
which, with few exceptions, can be found within the same ecological areas. But, as the
national research institutions do not have sufficient manpower and funds, it is not possible for
them, in the short or medium term, to solve all the difficulties and attain self-reliance in food
production. Therefore, it is hoped that regional cooperation can emerge between the different
parties involved in agricultural research so as to avoid a sense of isolation in research work.
CORAF has, at present, 5 associated networks for plants : groundnuts, cotton, maize,
cassava, and rice and a research network for drought resistance (R3S).
The future research activities for the Groundnut Network was outlined in the conclusions of
the Third Plenary Conference of CORAF which was held at Antananarivo.
In fact, that Conference marked a decisive historical turning point in CORAF's development
with a change of name to "Conference des responsables de recherche agronomiques
africains" (Conference of African Heads of Agricultural Research). This new title gives it a
truly African image. It also shows the commitment of African experts to take the future of
agricultural research of the continent into their hands and to contribute to the emerging and
developing African scientific community. It presupposes a qualitative progression both in
concepts and performance.
One of the crucial aspects of this change is CORAF's wish to open the doors to African
English-speaking countries working on important plant research programs around which the
CORAF network is built. Converting this into a reality will be rewarding, particularly for the
Groundnut Network which has many colleagues in these countries.
The setting up of a Steering Committee within each network is also an important step. In
fact, by its very composition, the Committee will contribute towards creating a scientific critical
mass and monitoring the network's activities. The need for outside assessment of the networks
has been clearly reaffirmed.
A new era is ahead for the CORAF network. For its part, the Groundnut Network will make
every effort to breathe new life into its work within this new framework, collaborating with
other regional and international organizations which work on groundnuts, in order to promote
this oilseed.
1. Coordinateur Reseau Arachide/CORAF, ISRA B.P. 199, Kaolack, Senegal.
Citation: ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics). 1991. Summary Proceedings of
the Second ICRISAT Regional Groundnut Meeting for West Africa, 11-14 Sep 1990, ICRISAT Sahelian Center,
Niamey, Niger. Patancheru, A.P. 502 324, India: ICRISAT.
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