AVRDC, annual report, 1972-1973

THE PURPOSE OF AVRDC"S RESEARCH PROGRAM IS TO BRING HIGHER YIELD POTENTIALS TO IMPORTANT FOOD CROPS THAT CONTAIN MORE PROTEIN, VITAMINS, AND MINERALS THAN DO THE STAPLE CEREAL GRAINS. FURTHERMORE, THOSE CROPS CHOSEN BECAUSE OF THEIR ADAPTABILITY TO UPLAND SOILS AND THEIR DEMAND IN THE MARKET, PROMISE HIGHER INCOMES AND IMPROVED NUTRITION FOR THE ASIAN SMALL FARMER WHO OFTEN DEPENDS ALMOST ENTIRELY ON RICE FOR HIS INCOME AND FOOD. AS RICE STILL WILL BE THE STAPLE FOOD FOR MONSOON ASIA, THE CROPS THAT AVRDC IS WORKING ON WILL BE IMPROVED PRIMARILY AS PRODUCE TO BE GROWN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT GRAIN. FROM THE MORE THAN 100 DIFFERENT CROPS CLASSIFIED AS VEGETABLES, AVRDC SELECTED SIX FOR EARLY MAJOR ATTENTION. THEY ARE THE MUNGBEAN, THE SOYBEAN, THE TOMATO, THE SWEET POTATO, THE IRISH POTATO, AND THE CHINESE CABBAGE. THIS REPORT EXAMINES THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE AVRDC SCIENTISTS, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTER, IN GROWING THESE SIX VEGETABLES.