SEMI-ARID TROPICS RESEARCH

ICRISAT will implement the project in collaboration with the Government of Mali"s (GRM) Institut d"Economie Rurale. In collaboration with Foundation Ciba-Geigy of Switzerland and GRM, a 100 ha agricultural research center will be constructed in the semi-arid zone near Segou in the fourth region. The center will be located near a relatively large farming community to facilitate frequent exchanges of information. At the center, ICRISAT/Mali"s research program will be expanded in two areas. Varietal research will aim at developing sorghum/millet varieties with improved yields and better resistance to major diseases and insects through multilocation trials, disease nurseries, and cross breeding local Malian varieties with Indian, Texas and Ethiopian varieties. Promising sorghum varieties will be screened to assure acceptability in all aspects of food preparation and in taste. Research into farming systems and agronomic practices will be expanded to address such areas as intercropping cowpeas or pigeon peas with sorghum and millet; and more efficient use of rainfall, animal traction and associated equipment, sorghum/millet for forage production, crop and soil management techniques, the fallow period for soil fertility regeneration and livestock fodder production, and the natural and organic fertilizers. To ensure the continuity and suitability of research, ICRISAT will train five Malian researchers and five extension officials at its Center in Hyderabad, India. Research results will be used to develop technical and information packages which will be disseminated to area farmers in two ways: formally, through screening by Commission Technique and Comite de Recherche for transfer through project extension personnel; and informally, when ICRISAT personnel disseminate information and germplasm to contacts in livestock and crop production projects.