International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
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Stakeholders Workshop on Farmer-Centric Digital Transformation of African Agriculture
Get PDFThe science of Digital Agriculture has been gaining prominence with the advent of fast-paced technological progress that can enhance last-mile delivery to smallholder farmers. Digital Agriculture offers a wide range of technology solutions for farmers, including smart farming, precision agriculture, data-driven decision support, extension systems, channels for improved market access, and financial services (Townsend et al., 2019). Digital Agriculture can contribute to increased productivity and profitability of farms and strengthen access to diverse marketing channels and resilience to climate change. However, in most cases, Digital Agriculture technologies have not been adequately accessed by smallholder farmers, women, and youth (CTA, 2019). The United Nations Secretary General’s strategy on the use of digital technologies to accelerate the achievement of SDGs identifies food security as a critical area that will be profoundly disrupted by advances in Digital Agriculture (United Nations, 2018). The CGIAR Research Initiative on Digital Innovation has achieved substantial progress, generating 207 results, including 101 knowledge products, 43 innovations, 18 capacity-sharing activities, four policy change results, and four innovation use results. The CGIAR focused on developing innovations across five Work Packages in 2024, such as online platforms for research and learning, digital twin systems, an index for assessing digital inclusiveness, and remote sensing analytics – we are on track to achieve all End of Initiative outcome goals in 2024
Molecular Diversity Studies and Core Development in Sesame Germplasm (Sesamum indicum L.) Using SSR Markers
Get PDFSesame (Sesamum indicum L.), an ancient oilseed crop being cultivated across geographical locations in the tropics, is known for its high-quality oil with a longer shelf life. India, being the center of diversity for this crop, understanding the genetic variability of sesame germplasm being conserved in the national Genebank (NGB) of ICAR-NBPGR, will help identify genotypes for its potential use in broadening the genetic base of the cultivars for sesame crop improvement. We report here the molecular diversity analysis performed using SSR markers on a set of 2,496 sesame germplasm. Hence, the derived data was also subjected to population structure analysis, and a molecular core was generated to assess its phenotypic variability. Parallelly, they were phenotypically characterized for important qualitative and quantitative traits as per the standard descriptor developed by IPGRI, and accessions exhibiting desirable traits were identified. The sesame germplasm used in our study represents collections from 17 countries across the globe and 26 states in India. A total of 140 alleles were obtained using seven polymorphic SSR markers selected from an initial screening comprising 43 SSR markers. The observed heterozygosity was less than the expected heterozygosity since it is a self-pollinated crop (up to 35% outcrossing is reported, categorized as often cross-pollinated). The molecular diversity analysis grouped 2496 accessions into six clusters, while the population structure analysis grouped them into three major clusters or populations. A molecular core developed using the PowerCore software identified 196 accessions, representing all the alleles from the entire 2496 accessions, that can be utilized in breeding programs after phenotypic validation. This study contributes to genetic diversity assessment for sesame germplasm, identifying genetically diverse accessions, and establishing a core set that encapsulates the genetic variability of the sesame germplasm collection. These findings hold relevance for addressing agricultural challenges and enhancing the resilience and productivity of sesame crops in various environmental conditions
A decade of conservation agriculture in intensive cereal systems: Transitioning to soil resilience and stable yield trends in a climate crisis
No full textClimate change jeopardizes the food security gains achieved in India since the Green Revolution, especially by impacting the productivity of the rice-wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, a region that serves as the ‘breadbasket’ of South Asia. In this study, we characterized the potential of long-term conservation agriculture (CA) based management practices (i.e., no-tillage, residue retention, and diversified rotations) to stabilize and enhance crop yields in Northwest India. The study consisted of six different production scenarios (Sc) namely Sc I: conventional rice-wheat system; Sc II: partial CA-puddled transplanted rice-zero till wheat-zero till mung bean (TPR-ZTWMb); Sc III: CA-based zero-till direct seeded rice-zero till wheat-zero till mung bean (ZTDSR-ZTWMb); Sc IV: CA-based zero till maize-zero till wheat-zero till mung bean (ZTM-ZTWMb); Sc V: Sc III + subsurface drip irrigation (SSDI); and Sc VI: Sc IV + SSDI. Long-term yield analysis indicated that the CA-based maize-wheat-mung bean system with SSDI (Sc VI) produced approximately 12%, 27% and 35% higher rice equivalent yield (REY), wheat yield and overall system yield, respectively, over to Sc I. Our study examines Wricke's ecovalence index (Wi2) and the sustainability yield index (SYI) to gauge long-term yield stability and sustainability. Consistently higher wheat yields with lower Wi2 and higher SYI were recorded in CA-based scenarios (Sc V: Wi2 = 0.82, SYI = 0.81; Sc VI: Wi2 = 0.85 and SYI = 0.82). CA-based scenarios also demonstrated stable REY over time. The soil physical properties were influenced by CA systems and compared to Sc I, bulk density was −5.89% in Sc V, followed by −3.62% in Sc III and −1.73% in Sc VI. Moreover, CA systems, Sc IV, Sc VI, and Sc V exhibited positive responses by +106%, +99 % and +72%, respectively for water infiltration rates. Overall, soil organic carbon was +83% and +69% with Sc VI and Sc V, respectively than in Sc I. By substantially enhancing soil health and crop productivity, as well as boosting resilience, CA emerges as a promising solution for meeting the increasing food demand in Northwest India and beyond
Exploring altitude‑driven diversity: morphological, biochemical, and genetic diversity analysis of Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) in Meghalaya, India
Get PDFKhasi Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) is one of the most extensively cultivated and commercially important fruit crop of Northeast India, and it is widely used for culinary purposes due to its fragrance and unique taste. This study investigated the genetic variability of elite Khasi mandarin plants from diverse altitudes in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, India. Morphological, biochemical and molecular analyses were conducted on fruits collected from nine locations spanning various altitudes. Significant variation was observed in tree morphology, fruit characteristics, and biochemical composition. Higher altitudes were associated with distinct fruit quality traits, such as higher total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, sugar and ascorbic acid content, with correlation research showing that higher altitudes generally corresponded to better overall fruit quality parameters. This study provides insights for optimizing fruit production across altitudinal gradients. Eleven out of 40 simple sequence repeat markers used for genetic diversity analysis exhibited polymorphism. Cluster analysis grouped genotypes by altitude, and the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) confirmed significant genetic distinctions between populations (74%). Positive correlations were observed between genetic and geographical distances (r = 0.230) and between genetic distances based on molecular and morphological data (r = 0.506). These insights are crucial for future conservation and crop improvement efforts
Herbicides use in crop production: An analysis of cost-benefit, non-target toxicities and environmental risks
No full textUnder intensive agriculture, weeds cause heavy losses in crop yield and quality. The existing manual method of weed control is no longer sustainable because of paucity of labours, higher wage, and huge drudgery. Herbicide is an easier, more efficacious, and economical tool for weed control in crops and un-cropped situations. However, the consequences of herbicide use, concerning non-target toxicities, and the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds have drawn the attention of world communities. Therefore, in this review, we attempt to highlight the potential benefits vis-à-vis harmful consequences of herbicides in diversified crop ecologies across the world. Herbicide use resulted in weed control efficiency of 52–96% in different agro-ecologies. Besides, it could increase grain yield of different arable crops by 19–372% with an additional economic benefit of US 867 over unweeded control. Chemical weed management resulted in gain in net returns by 4–12% over manual weeding (∼two hand weedings) and by 7–247% over the weed-free check in different countries. The majority of herbicides used at recommended doses in crops did not show any direct and/or residual toxicity on soil micro-organisms in agro-ecologies. Environmental conditions may change pesticide impacts on non-target micro-organisms. Over-reliance on herbicides and injudicious use at higher rates may lead to a fragile ecosystem, but judicious use can stimulate productivity, profitability and livelihood security. Hence, integrated weed management (IWM) that can restrict weed populations below threshold level, reduce environmental foot-print, increase cropping system sustainability, and reduce selection pressure for weed resistance to herbicides has been suggested
Stunting and Underweight among Adolescent Girls of Indigenous Communities in Telangana, India: A Cross-Sectional Study
Get PDFIndia’s indigenous groups remain vulnerable to malnutrition, despite economic progress, reflecting the reliance on traditional agriculture and the problems of poverty and inadequate education and sanitation. This mixed-methods study analyzed the incidence, causes and determinants
of chronic malnutrition, measured through stunting, thinness and underweight among adolescent indigenous girls in Telangana. Using 2017 data on 695 girls aged 11–18 years from 2542 households, the analysis showed that 13% had normal nutritional status, while 87% were stunted, underweight or thin. Early adolescents (11–14 years) had higher underweight prevalence (24.4%), while late
adolescents (15–18 years) showed greater stunting (30%). Regressions identified key influencing factors. Higher education levels of heads of households and the girls themselves alongside household toilet access significantly improved nutritional status and reduced stunting and underweight. The sociocultural emphasis on starchy staple-based diets and early marriage also impacted outcomes.
Tackling this crisis requires mainstreaming nutrition across development agendas via comprehensive policies, education, communication and community participation. Further research can guide context-specific solutions. But, evidence-based investments in indigenous education, livelihoods, sanitation
and women’s empowerment are the first steps. Nutrition-sensitive development is indispensable for indigenous groups to fully participate in and benefit from India’s progress
Cicer super-pangenome provides insights into species evolution and agronomic trait loci for crop improvement in chickpea
No full textChickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)—an important legume crop cultivated in arid and semiarid regions—has limited genetic diversity. Efforts are being undertaken to broaden its diversity by utilizing its wild relatives, which remain largely unexplored. Here, we present the Cicer super-pangenome based on the de novo genome assemblies of eight annual Cicer wild species. We identified 24,827 gene families, including 14,748 core, 2,958 softcore, 6,212 dispensable and 909 species-specific gene families. The dispensable genome was enriched for genes related to key agronomic traits. Structural variations between cultivated and wild genomes were used to construct a graph-based genome, revealing variations in genes affecting traits such as flowering time, vernalization and disease resistance. These variations will facilitate the transfer of valuable traits from wild Cicer species into elite chickpea varieties through marker-assisted selection or gene-editing. This study offers valuable insights into the genetic diversity and potential avenues for crop improvement in chickpea
Identification and expression profile of dhurrin biosynthesis pathway genes in sorghum vegetative tissues
No full textSorghum is considered a fifth major cereal, widely used as a multipurpose crop worldwide. The use of sorghum as a major forage crop is limited due to cyanogenic glycoside dhurrin in the vegetative shoot tissues. This cyanogenic glycoside is harmful to livestock when fed as fodder. The present study selected three sorghum genotypes for estimating hydrogen cyanide potential (HCNp) in vegetative tissues under well-watered (WW) conditions. The HCNp concentration varied from genotype to genotype and ranged from 364 to 512 ppm. The HCNp estimation was observed more in ICSR 14001 with 511 ppm, followed by ICSV 93046 (443 ppm) and CSH 24 MF (364 ppm). A significant difference was noticed between the genotypes. Sequence information of dhurrin biosynthesis pathway genes was retrieved and characterized using different bioinformatic tools. The gene expression analysis of dhurrin biosynthesis pathway genes showed different expression patterns, with the highest in ICSV 93046 and less in ICSR 14001 and CSH 24 MF. Genes CYP79A1, CYP71E1 and UGT85B1 showed a 2.5- to 4 fold increase in ICSV 93046 and no significant expression in ICSR 14001 and CSH 24 MF. The genotype CSH 24 MF observed a 1.5-fold increase in CYP79A1 gene expression, and the other genes observed no significant increase. This study assisted in identifying the contrasting genotypes inducing HCNp and the key genes of the dhurrin pathway producing hydrogen cyanide (HCN) under WW conditions, which can be used as potential candidates for gene editing, providing safe feed for the livestock
Genetic Biofortification of Pearl Millet: Trait Priority, Breeding and Genomic Progress
No full textMalnutrition is a result of one or more micronutrients and vitamins deficiency in the staple diets. Crop biofortification is increasingly recognized as a sustainable breeding strategy to address micronutrients and vitamin deficiency among rapidly growing populations. Pearl millet is a dryland cereal that possesses climate resilience and potentially contributes to the food and nutrition (largely iron and zinc) supply in semi-arid tropics. HarvestPlus supported the pearl millet biofortification programme at ICRISAT assessed the feasibility of iron biofortification in pearl millet and established baseline and breeding targets to achieve the health impact. These targeted breeding efforts accomplished a rapid micronutrient screening lab, pre-breeding, advanced high-iron genetic materials. To date, about 12 biofortified cultivars released for general cultivation in India and West Africa. These cultivars provide > 60% higher Fe than commercial cultivars potentially benefiting millions of people. Several high-Fe seed and restorer parents and more than 1000 high-Fe advanced breeding lines were developed through targeted biofortification breeding and disseminated to public and private sectors through biofortification partnership projects and the HPRC model at ICRISAT. Breeding progress made in achieving the global breeding target of 77 mg/kg of Fe in pearl millet has set the stage for mainstreaming. Rapid screening tool and diagnostic markers encoding the high-Fe (4 SNPs) and drought tolerance (10 SNPs) will enhance the early generation selection and mainstreaming efficacy with stress tolerance in hybrid parents and cultivars breeding pipelines. Bioavailability studies have confirmed that biofortified pearl millet supplies 80% of daily Fe requirements, implying the significance of micronutrient traits in the pearl millet commercial product profiles in India and West Africa
Effectiveness of Millet-Pulse-Groundnut Based Formulations in Improving the Growth of Pre-school Tribal Children in Telangana State, India
Get PDFA community-level nutrition intervention was implemented among tribal children (3 to 6 years) in Telangana, India. The one-year intervention involved six nutrient-rich formulations of millet-pulse-groundnut based products, suited to local taste preferences. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight and Mid-Upper-Arm -Circumference (MUAC) along with haemoglobin (Hb) levels were monitored at baseline and endline. The treatment group showed considerable gain in height (3.2 cm), weight (1.68 kg) and MUAC (0.33 cm), over the control group. Paired t-test indicated significant differences (p<.01) between pre- and post-intervention anthropometric measurements. Positive shifts were observed in wasting (WHZ; -1.2 ±1.3 to -0.9± 1), stunting (HAZ; -1.8±1.6 to -0.3±1.3) and underweight (WAZ; -1.9±1.2 to -0.7±1) among treatment group. Hb levels in the treatment group also improved significantly from 9.70 ± 0.14 g/dl (moderately-anaemic) to 11.08 ± 0.13 g/dl (non-anaemic). Post-intervention Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) involving mothers and teachers confirmed the positive impact. Thus, nutritional intervention formulated using climate resilient millets, pulses and groundnut, promotes dietary diversity and improves the nutrition & health status of children