International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
ICRISAT Open Access RepositoryNot a member yet
12134 research outputs found
Sort by
Adoption of climate-smart agriculture technology in drought-prone area of India – implications on farmers' livelihoods
No full textPurpose
Laser land leveling (LLL) is a climate-smart technology that improves water use efficiency and reduces risk in crop cultivation due to weather variability. Hence, this technology is useful for cultivating water-intensive crops in a sustainable way. Given this background, the state government of Karnataka initiated to promote LLL in drought-prone districts and selected Raichur district for implementation. Moreover, farmers in this district had observed drought situation during monsoon paddy growing season in 2018. Therefore, this study attempts to investigate the importance of LLL technology for paddy cultivation under drought conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
A primary survey with 604 farmer households had been conducted in Raichur in 2018. Among them, 50% are adopters of LLL who have been selected purposively and rest 50% are non-adopters who have grown paddy in the adjacent or nearest plot of the laser-leveled plot. The adoption and causal impact of LLL has been estimated using propensity score matching, coarsened exact matching and endogenous switching regression methods.
Findings
The result reveals a positive and significant impact of LLL on paddy yield and net returns to the farmers. The results indicate an increment of 12 and 16% in rice yield and net income, respectively, for LLL adopters in comparison to the non-adopters of LLL.
Research limitations/implications
The major limitation of the study is that it does not adopt the method of experimental study due to certain limitations; hence, the authors employed a quasi-experimental method to look at the possible impact of adoption of LL.
Originality/value
There have been various agronomic studies focusing on the ex-ante assessment of the LLL. This study is an ex-post assessment of the technology on the crop yield and farmers' income in a dry semi-arid region of India, which, according to the authors, is the first in this approach
CRISPR for accelerating genetic gains in under-utilized crops of the drylands: Progress and prospects
Get PDFTechnologies and innovations are critical for addressing the future food system needs where genetic resources are an essential component of the change process. Advanced breeding tools like “genome editing” are vital for modernizing crop breeding to provide game-changing solutions to some of
the “must needed” traits in agriculture. CRISPR/Cas-based tools have been rapidly repurposed for editing applications based on their improved efficiency, specificity and reduced off-target effects. Additionally, precise gene-editing
tools such as base editing, prime editing, and multiplexing provide precision in stacking of multiple traits in an elite variety, and facilitating specific and targeted crop improvement. This has helped in advancing research and delivery of products in a short time span, thereby enhancing the rate of genetic gains. A special focus has been on food security in the drylands through crops including millets, teff, fonio, quinoa, Bambara groundnut, pigeonpea and
cassava. While these crops contribute significantly to the agricultural economy and resilience of the dryland, improvement of several traits including increased stress tolerance, nutritional value, and yields are urgently
required. Although CRISPR has potential to deliver disruptive innovations, prioritization of traits should consider breeding product profiles and market segments for designing and accelerating delivery of locally adapted and
preferred crop varieties for the drylands. In this context, the scope of regulatory environment has been stated, implying the dire impacts of unreasonable scrutiny of genome-edited plants on the evolution and progress of much-needed technological advances
Enhancing climate services design and implementation through gender-responsive evaluation
Get PDFAssessing and responding to gender inequalities, and promoting women’s empowerment, can be critical to achieving the goals of climate services, such as improved climate resilience, productivity, food security and livelihoods.
To this end, our paper seeks to provide guidance to rural climate service researchers, implementing organizations, and funders on gender-responsive evaluation of climate services, including key questions to be asked and appropriate methodology. We draw on case studies of rural climate
services in Mali, Rwanda and Southeast Asia to illustrate how gender-responsive evaluations have framed and attempted to answer questions about climate information needs, access to information and support through group processes, and contribution of climate services to empowerment. Evaluation of how group participatory processes can enable women’s
and men’s demand for weather and climate information can help close knowledge gaps on gender equity in access to climate services. Quantitative methods can rigorously identify changes in demand associated with varying
interventions, but qualitative approaches may be necessary to help assess the nuances of participatory communication processes. Furthermore, evaluation of how women’s and men’s information needs differ according to their roles and responsibilities in distinct climate-sensitive decisions can help assess gender inequities in climate services use. Evaluation that critically considers the local normative and institutional environment influencing empowerment can help identify pathways for climate services to contribute to women’s empowerment. Qualitative and mixed method methodologies can be helpful for assessing the normative and institutional changes upon which empowerment depends. Although evaluations are often conducted too late to inform the design of time-bound projects, they can contribute to improvements to climate services if results are shared widely, if implementers and funders consistently factor evidence and insights from prior evaluations into the design of new initiatives, and if ongoing climate service initiatives conduct preliminary evaluations regularly to support mid-course adjustments
Development of core collections in soybean on the basis of seed size
Get PDFCore collections display a large fraction of the diversity contained in large collections in smaller germplasm panels. We used historical data (1973–2015) collected at the World Vegetable Center, Taiwan, for developing soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) core collections representing the diversity of the whole collection of 7853 accessions held by the Center. The collection was split into two groups on the basis of the 100 seed weight: large seeded (>25 g or equal to 25 g) and small seeded (<25 g). The large-seeded group (vegetable soybean/edamame) comprised 456 accessions, while the small-seeded group contained 7397 accessions. Within these two groups, we developed core collections based on seven quantitative and 14 qualitative traits collected during the autumn season, resulting in a core collection of 112 large-seeded vegetable soybean accessions and 1480 accessions for the small-seeded types
Genome-wide association study, haplotype analysis, and genomic prediction reveal the genetic basis of yield-related traits in soybean (Glycine max L.)
Get PDFIdentifying the genetic components underlying yield-related traits in soybean is crucial for improving its production and productivity. Here, 211 soybean genotypes were evaluated across six environments for four yield-related traits, including seed yield per plant (SYP), number of pods per plant number of seeds per plant and 100-seed weight (HSW). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) and genomic prediction (GP) analyses were performed using 12,617 single nucleotide polymorphism markers from NJAU 355K SoySNP Array. A total of 57 SNPs were significantly associated with four traits across six environments and a combined environment using five Genome-wide association study models. Out of these, six significant SNPs were consistently identified in more than three environments using multiple GWAS models. The genomic regions (±670 kb) flanking these six consistent SNPs were considered stable QTL regions. Gene annotation and in silico expression analysis revealed 15 putative genes underlying the stable QTLs that might regulate soybean yield. Haplotype analysis using six significant SNPs revealed various allelic combinations regulating diverse phenotypes for the studied traits. Furthermore, the GP analysis revealed that accurate breeding values for the studied soybean traits is attainable at an earlier generation. Our study paved the way for increasing soybean yield performance within a short breeding cycle
Zimbabwe livestock market assessment report
Get PDFZimbabwe is currently in the process of strengthening its efforts to support the livestock sector’s contribution
to economic development, food security and nutrition especially in the most vulnerable parts of the country.
Using a mixed set of tools, a market assessment of selected urban (Bulawayo, Harare, Masvingo) and rural
markets (Beitbridge, Buhera, Gwanda, Nkayi, Tsholotsho), representing different livestock catchment
areas was done to explore perceptions of consumers, off-takers (private and institutional markets) and key
participants who are critical segments in the livestock value chains.
The study found that consumers across all income levels attribute high importance to livestock-based foods.
But the rural and low-income urban consumers cannot afford to regularly consume livestock based-foods.
More than two thirds of the consumers value livestock products for being nutritious, but they determine diet
composition primarily by affordability. The majority of those surveyed consume meat up to once a week or
once a month, and consume milk, eggs and fruits less frequently. Many households spend more than 40% of
their income on food, the majority on staple foods, which restricts the consumption of livestock-based foods,
especially among low-income households. Technologies to improve animal production, husbandry, health
and quality product processing (e.g., value addition of goat meat and milk) need to be emphasized. At the
same time, well-integrated technology packages could also improve goat productivity and reduce mortality,
and avail more goats of better quality for sale and ultimately consumption. Markets need to be improved for
livestock-based foods to be available and farmer investments to be profitable
Development and validation of a novel core set of KASP markers for the traits improving grain yield and adaptability of rice under direct-seeded cultivation conditions
Get PDFThe development and utilization of molecular-markers play an important role in genomics-assisted breeding during pyramiding of valuable genes. The aim of present study was to develop and validate a novel core-set of KASP (Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR) markers associated with traits improving rice grain yield and adaptability under direct-seeded cultivation conditions. The 110 phenotypically validated KASP assays out of 171 designed KASP, include assays for biotic-resistance genes, anaerobic germination, root-traits, grain yield, lodging resistance and early-uniform emergence. The KASP assays were validated for their robustness and reliability at five different levels using diverse germplasm, segregating and advanced population, comparison with SSR markers and on F1s. The present research work will provide (i) breeding material in form of anticipated pre-direct-seeded adapted rice varieties (ii) single improved breeding line with many useful genes and (iii) KASP assay information for the useful QTL/genes providing grain yield and adaptability to rice under direct-seeded cultivation conditions
Intercropping Sorghum and Soybean Efficiency Using Contour Ridges Technology in Southern Mali
Get PDFKani and Noumpinesso are two neighboring villages in which soil degradation is mainly caused by runoff and erosion. Contour ridges tillage (CRT) was identified as a runoff and erosion controlling technology while improving soil moisture and nutrient availability for crops. CRT technology associated with sorghum and soybean based intercropping system was assessed during 2017 and 2018 cropping season in an experiment under split plot design.
Intercropping systems highly increased sorghum and soybean growth and yields. Sorghum grain yield, biomass yield, height and diameter were increased by 62, 51, 22 and 19%, respectively by intercropping. Soybean grain yield, biomass yield, height and diameter increased by 47, 30, 25 and 25%, respectively. Intercropping sorghum with soybean had an advantage with a Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) of 1.54 and 1.44 in 2017 and 2018 respectively. The technology of CRT added 40, 39, 25 and 21% on sorghum grain yield, straw yield, height and diameter respectively. The same parameters with soybean were greater by 52, 48, 38 and 35%, respectively. The application of CRT was economically profitable with a Value to Cost Ratio (VCR) of 3.3 and 3.0 in sorghum production and 12.8 and 9.2 in soybean production during 2017 and 2018 respectively
Nanoparticles for effective management of salinity stress in plants
No full textClimate change has brought in various stress conditions, and salt stress is one of the major concerns for the current agricultural scenario. Salt stress limits crop productivity as it has various deleterious effects on the plants system such as osmotic, nutritional, and hormonal imbalance. All of this eventually leads to reduced plant growth, low yield, and diminished photosynthetic activity which hampers the overall plant development. Additionally, the growing need to fulfill food security emphasizes the need for innovative technologies which can efficiently decrease the effects of abiotic stress conditions. Nanotechnology has emerged as growing field and has its applications in the agriculture, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries. In this chapter, the significant role of nanoparticles in alleviating the damaging effects of salt stress is discussed in detail. They induce the adaptive mechanism of the plant and allow for response mechanism which helps the plant to overcome harsh conditions. Nanoparticles of various kinds have been employed for this purpose. This chapter gives a comprehensive view of the different metallic and nonmetallic nanoparticles which are successfully used for inducing tolerance in plants against salt stress
Aflatoxin in cereals and groundnut from small holder farming households in Malawi
No full textAflatoxin contamination in commonly consumed cereals and nuts may place children at higher risk of stunting and adults at risk of developing liver cancer. This study investigated knowledge on aflatoxins and the level of aflatoxin B1 contamination in commonly consumed cereals and nuts in Malawi. It also included an examination of the proportion of cereals and nuts contaminated above regulatory maximum limits. Aflatoxin contamination in samples was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Less than half of all households knew that consumption of aflatoxin contaminated grain is associated with stunting and lowered immunity. Sorghum samples were the most contaminated and millet the least contaminated. Aflatoxin contamination was highest in southern Malawi and least in northern Malawi. Observed results indicate that this population is at risk of poor health due to lack of knowledge and aflatoxin exposure. Strategies to address contamination should therefore include a comprehensive education campaign to increase knowledge and promote accessible strategies