RA 00048.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

grits, starch, fiber (for paper and building
board), ethanol (for fuel) and f e e d — s h o u l d
be actively stimulated to m a k e developing
SAT countries m o r e self-sufficient in t h e s e
c o m m o d i t i e s . Emphasis should b e given t o
investigate t h e feasibility of integrated syst
e m s featuring whole-plant cropping, e.g.,
s w e e t s o r g h u m s producing f o o d , f e e d ,
fiber, and f u e l .
assessed at each stage; other e x p e r i m e n t
station p r o g r a m s should b e started w i t h
t h e object of enhancing t h e f a r m e r ' s current
status.
7. Socioeconomic Considerations
7.1 There is n e e d for closer collaboration bet
w e e n biological and s o c i o e c o n o m i c researchers
to address s u c h p r o b l e m s as t h e
f o l l o w i n g :
7.1.1 Evaluation of s o r g h u m i m p r o v e m e n t not
only as yield per hectare but also as returns
per unit of labor, particularly at peak labord
e m a n d period.
7.1.2 To e x a m i n e t h e differential impact of cereal
grain p r o c u r e m e n t policies on s o r g h u m
production and distribution.
7.1.3 To explore w a y s to w o r k w i t h national
g o v e r n m e n t s to assist in evolving policies
that will support and encourage n e w t e c h ­
nology.
7.1.4 To evaluate market value for uses of sorg
h u m as f e e d , construction, and fuel in
relation to grain so that properly balanced
crop i m p r o v e m e n t objectives can be def
i ned.
7.2 Based on socioeconomic criteria, it is desirable
to place higher research priority on
countries in Africa than in t h e past. A
t w o - p r o n g e d strategy is r e c o m m e n d e d : a
short-run strategy w i t h e m p h a s i s on inc
r e m e n t a l c h a n g e u s i n g h i g h - y i e l d i n g
varieties and hybrids w i t h inputs, and a
long-range strategy to increase production
i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y h a r s h e r c o n d i t i o n s
w h e r e l o w soil fertility and erosion are
p r o b l e m s .
7.3 It is r e c o m m e n d e d that researchers should
develop a range of technological options
rather than inflexible packages for farmers.
As far as possible, adaptive research should
be carried out in f a r m e r s ' fields. The actual
situation, resources, and m e t h o d o l o g i e s of
t h e f a r m e r should be fully understood and
modifications and i m p r o v e m e n t s should be
tried w i t h t h e farmer. Their value should be
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