Applied agricultural research & outreach

A DOA project management unit will implement the project with help primarily from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The project will support ongoing DOA research in: (1) plant breeding, for such crops as manioc, maize, and grain legumes (beans, groundnuts, soybeans), in order to increase yield potential and resistance to diseases and insects, and to extend the range of varietal adaptation to various ecological settings; and (2) cropping systems and agronomy - aimed at extending recommendations to wider geographic areas and to new varieties (as they become available), and providing information on disease and pest control and soil fertility. To integrate plant breeding and agronomic research on individual crops within a wider approach, a farming systems research (FSR) component will be added to the DOA research program. The FSR component will include both socioeconomic and agronomic studies and will involve farmers in the research process through on-farm varietal and cultural practice trials. Also, a soil mapping and classification unit will be created to help ensure that soil fertility is maintained in cropping systems developed under the DOA research program. An outreach/extension component will be initiated to develop linkages with public and private entities working directly with farmers and will be closely linked to the FSR component. Outreach efforts will begin in a single area (one meeting criteria for successful extension) and then be expanded as the effectiveness of the new methods are verified. In support of DOA research and extension activities, 20 persons will receive M.S. training, 14 Ph.D. training, 31 short-term, third-country training, and 50 in-country training. In cooperation with the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) and possibly the World Bank, a study of the organizational/management structure for an eventual national agricultural research institution, incorporating existing entities, will be conducted. The project will also supply foundation seed and planting material to Zaire"s National Seed Program.