University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

external agency. Because of this, they organize seed fairs, where farmers instead of
receiving free seed get vouchers that can be exchanged for seed. This makes for the
most efficient, well-informed distribution, they argue. In addition, they aim to secure
that the bulk of the seed is purchased from local farmers, so that the greater part of
the relief dollars go to the affected community. The seed fairs have proved popular in
Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Sudan, among others.
(ICRISAT 2004a.)
This slightly market-based approach to the redistribution, says something about the
character of ICRISAT. It should not be said, however, that this is a bad thing – the
seed market approach may well be a psychologically sound move when distributing
aid. No farmer likes to think that he must accept alms to be able to support his
production. Bargaining for seeds, in fact, may do much to re-establish a sense of
pride and businessman-ship in its participants.
Furthermore, ICRISAT annually supports about a hundred research scholars in
achieving their degrees, mainly focused in the agricultural sector. ICRISAT stresses
educating farmers in more productive farming practises, and especially target the
education of women in their programs. Because of these points, there is very little to
complain about from a purely socio-cultural point of view.
The Economic Perspective
Of course, ICRISAT’s activities are not capable of supporting themselves. They are
the result of annual donations by several nations and pan-national organisations,
numbering in the tens of millions of dollars (32,5 million dollars in 2007)(ICRISAT
2008). Figure three shows the sizes of individual contributions, for comparison, in
the year 2006. The biggest contributor, by far, is the United States of America (the
federal government), followed by the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), the United Kingdom and the World Bank. However, we see several private
foundations involved, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Sir Dorabji
Tata Trust (Indian metal industrialist) and OPEC. Even Finland is a donor. This goes
to show the extent to which ICRISAT is accepted as a credible and accomplished aid
programme.
However, a donation-driven programme can never be totally economically
sustainable. As such, it must operate within the boundaries of its annual allotment,
which will naturally fluctuate with the economic booms and slumps. In an economic
crisis, such as the one currently in action, donations tend to diminish, if not cease
entirely. The best thing the organisation can strive for is to do as much as it can with
its annual budget, in as effective a way as possible. Because of this, ICRISAT
focuses its efforts on research and pilot projects, in hope that their success will show
local actors a possible way forward. If done right, and the circumstances are
cooperative, the original project may be the starting point for a chain reaction. It was
originally calculated, also, that ICRISAT’s and the other IARC’s development role
would only be transitional, focusing on the areas where development is needed, and
gradually phasing out their activates in areas where the national agricultural
ministries were able to take over the innovating role (CGIAR 2008).
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