RA 00015.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

eties of sorghum and millet that provided consistent
and reliable yields, and the transfer of new
technology on crop-production systems. Training
of candidates from the region was also
recognized as vitally important. The droughtstricken
Sahel area below the Sahara was the
focus of concern; sorghum and millet are the
staple foods of the majority of the people in this
area and the food-population balance has been
and continues to be seriously strained. The
countries making up this region are Senegal,
Gambia, Mauritania, Mali, Upper Volta,
Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Chad, and
Cameroon-a total of 12 in all.
The strategy for implementing an effective
program of assistance, which would have an
early and measurable impact, was outlined.
Basically, the concept was to post ICRISAT
scientists to existing research institutions at
Bambey, Senegal; Samaru, Nigeria; Kamboinse,
Upper Volta; and Maradi, Niger. These scientists
would be linked to and would work in
conjunction with ICRISAT headquarters in Hyderabad,
other ICRISAT cooperating centers
internationally, and other national programs in
the region as well as program of the host country.
Subsequently, in 1977, the contract was expanded
to include Sudan with ICRISAT scientists
headquartered at Wad Medani. Additional support
from other agencies such as Ford Foundation,
USAID, and the Dutch Government has
provided for additional scientists at Bamako in
Mali and Kambomse in Upper Volta.
Implementation of the program has continued
to gain momentum and has become fully operational
for the 1977 crop year. The total team of
14 scientists is now in place. The major start-up
capital items (buildings, plot, equipment, and
vehicles) have been constructed or purchased
and each component within the network is ready
to contribute to the overall objective of assisting
the small farmer to increase his food production.
Project manager. The project manager was
deputed to ICRISAT by I R A T in July 1975. He
has established an excellent regional office in
Dakar, Senegal, from which he provides the
management and supervision of the overall project
and maintains close liaison with all agencies
that work on programs of assistance in the
region. Recently a French-English translation
service has been added to the office and much of
the excellent relevant research information previously
available only in French is being disseminated
to English-speaking scientists as well.
Senegal. During the year, a millet breeder and
sorghum/millet entomologist were posted to the
Bambey Research Station and areas of responsibility
were outlined in collaboration with the
Station Director and scientists. It was agreed
that the millet breeder would be involved in three
types of activities - (i) assisting the national program
through introduction and evaluation of the
best ICRISAT Indian and East African materials
for testing, crossing, and further selection
of superior types; (ii) setting up coordinated
regional trials in Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, and
Gambia, involving the most promising material
from all the West African countries; and
(iii) providing to the core program at ICRISAT
Center the improved germplasm selected from
local and regional trials in Senegal and elsewhere
in West Africa. This material is then evaluated in
further breeding programs and international
trials. During the off season several nurseries
were grown under irrigation and a substantial
beginning was made toward these objectives.
The entomologist will undertake national,
regional, and international responsibilities with
major emphasis on sorghum pests. Initially, the
most serious insect problems in the region must
be identified in order to determine the approaches
whereby short- and medium-term research
is likely to be most fruitful. The economic
importance of the wide variety of pests is to be
established through observations in farmers'
fields as well as through controlled plot experiments
at Bambey. Screening of ICRISAT and
local material for various insect resistances is an
integral part of the program.
Mali. An agronomist-selector joined duty at
the Sotuba Research Station in April 1976 and
carried out the first set of ICRISAT screening,
yield, and agronomic trials during the year,
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