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Turning on radios, tuning in to resource-conserving farm practices

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A radio program in Nepal brings information to farmers in a language they understand.

It’s Monday, 6:30 pm on Radio Birgunj, the voice of the plains in Southeastern Nepal. Fans for kilometers in all directions huddle by their radios to listen—not to a soap opera or pop music, but to a show about bed planting, horticulture, and zero-tillage. The weekly radio show on farming, targeted specifically to rural inhabitants, is one component of a project funded by CABI to introduce and promote resource-conserving technologies to the region’s rice and wheat farmers.

Radio is often the best way to reach rural families in developing countries, and farm shows broadcast from small community stations are not unusual. But Radio Birgunj broadcasts to a population of five million Nepalese, nearly all from farm families, and the station’s only “competition” is the region’s government radio network.

Ganesh Sah, head of the Agricultural Implement Research Center in Birgunj and long-time CIMMYT partner, is responsible for 70 programs since the show’s launch in January, 2005. “It’s been difficult coming up with a different topic each week, but we’ve managed with just a couple repeats,” he says.

The program’s popularity has led the government of Nepal launch another radio farm show in the region. For the whole article, go to staging.cimmyt.org, under Enews/August 2006.

Workshop on group facilitation skills for participatory decision-making

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Facilitation skills are strategically important in the CGIAR, as staff are increasingly called upon to manage teams and participatory processes involving people from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, nationalities, and cultures. To address the challenges for effective communication and decision-making that arise in participatory processes, 21 researchers and team leaders from CIMMYT and other CGIAR centers gathered at El Batán during 5-8 September in a workshop led by Sam Kaner, a leading expert on consensus decisionmaking and senior author of the book The Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making. Activities aimed to build essential knowledge, attitudes, and skills for participatory decisionmaking. Participants came from Philippines, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Italy, USA, and Mexico.

Participant Grant Singleton, IRRI researcher and Coordinator for Irrigated Rice Research Consortium, came away with very positive impressions: “Wow! What an action-packed workshop! We learned and role-played many useful facilitation techniques. Two highlights were the superb teaching skills of Sam and the great camaraderie among course participants. It was an excellent opportunity for me to meet many new CGIAR colleagues. Finally, I thank Petr Kosina and his CIMMYT colleagues for being most generous hosts.”

New biotech lab manual: flashy look for flash technology

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We’re pleased to announce the compiling and publication of “Laboratory Protocols: CIMMYT Applied Molecular and Genetics Laboratory.” The manual is intended for use by scientists, researchers, and students from national agricultural research systems, universities, and small private companies in developing countries, as well as advanced research institutions in the developed world and CIMMYT staff.

Now in its third edition, this manual incorporates feedback and suggestions from diverse users. Since its first edition, more than 1,000 copies in English and Spanish have been distributed. The main protocols described are for molecular marker technology and can be used in mapping, molecular marker assisted selection, or studies on genetic diversity, and many protocols are useful for crops other than maize and wheat. The Spanish version is of particular importance in Latin America, where it is difficult to find a comparable work. Versions in either language can be viewed and downloaded from CIMMYT’s web page, under “Publications/Manuals.”

Mwangi honored

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Kenya-based, CIMMYT agricultural economist Wilfred Mwangi has been named an Honorary Life Member by the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE). Mwangi was among seven Association members to be thus recognized for their long-standing contributions, at the 26th IAAE Conference in Queensland, Australia, 12–18 August.

Established in 1929, the Association has a large worldwide membership, and holds international conferences every three years.

More information on the IAAE: http://www.iaae-agecon.org/

The 2006 International Plant Breeding Symposium

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How can new knowledge from research on plant DNA quickly reach farmers’ fields in more productive, resource-conserving cultivars? This was only one pressing issue discussed by some 350 crop breeding specialists from over 70 nations, who gathered in Mexico City during 20-25 August for the 2006 International Plant Breeding Symposium.

Co-organized by CIMMYT, Iowa State University, the University of Illinois, Monsanto, and Pioneer Hi-Bred, and supported by numerous sponsors, this year’s event honored John W. Dudley, emeritus professor of plant genetics of the University of Illinois. Dudley is widely recognized for his significant improvements to maize, alfalfa, and sugar beets, his contributions to crop breeding science and allied disciplines, and as a teacher and mentor to leading researchers.

Held in Mexico City’s Sheraton “Centro Histórico” Hotel and involving both public and private sector researchers from developed and developing countries, the program of invited presentations, poster sessions, and other activities fostered partnerships, North- South interactions, and capacity building. Presentation and discussion sessions covered breeding for complex traits, plant breeding education, prebreeding and allelic discovery, quality and nutritional traits, molecular breeding, cultivar development methodologies, and contributions from former students of Dudley.

Field visits to CIMMYT and INIFAP on 23 August ended with a luncheon attended by the Mexican Secretary of Agriculture, Francisco Mayorga Castañeda, and during which the ambassador of India to Mexico, his Excellency R.K. Bhatia, formally presented to Norman E. Borlaug the Padma Vibhushan Award from the Government of India, for his many and illustrious services to farmers of that country. The Padma Vibhushan is India’s second highest civil award and the highest honor India has ever given to a foreign citizen.

Masa Iwanaga, CIMMYT Director General, said the highly successful event was evidence of the vibrant nature of the Center: “The symposium underlines our leadership role in global crop improvement and comes at a fitting moment, as we celebrate 40 years of worldwide research partnerships. Many participants congratulated CIMMYT for demonstrating world-class strength in science and partnerships.”

Masa expressed his gratitude for the work of Petr Kosina and his team, who coordinated symposium logistics; Rodomiro Ortiz, for his efforts on the Program Committee; Kevin Pixley, for organizing the field visit; others who helped with the field tours, and the security and cafeteria staff; Javier Peña, who served as Master of Ceremonies for the field-day luncheon; and John Dodds, for services as Master of Ceremonies for the gala dinner. “There were many, many more who helped make this event something special,” says Masa. “You know who you are, and you have my sincere thanks.”

Visitors tour headquarters

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visitantesDr Qu Dongyu, Vice-President, CAAS China and Dr M.E. Tusneem, Chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, learn about CIMMYT’s conservation agriculture research work from Bram Govaerts during a visit to El Batan this week (see photo below). In addition CIMMYT welcomed visitors from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the principal and 16 teachers from the Liceo Mexicano Japonés.

Breeders come to Mexico

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More than 320 plant breeders from both developing and developed countries will gather in Mexico City next week for the International Plant Breeding symposium. CIMMYT is one of the major co-organizers of the event, which will focus on the most recent developments in plant breeding. Petr Kosina (ITAU) has been coordinating and organizing much of the symposium.

“CIMMYT has played an important role in ensuring representation from the developing world,” he says. “I am so happy it has all come together.”

Among the highlights will be a field day on Wednesday here at CIMMYT Headquarters and at INIFAP, coupled with a special presentation to Norman Borlaug by the Ambassador of India. India is giving Borlaug the Padma Vibhushan award, that country’s second highest civil honor, for the work he did in bringing the Green Revolution to India. Many CIMMYT scientists will present scientific posters and some will make major presentations. The five-day event will be opened by Masa on Monday.

Bihar to subsidize zero-tillage and maize

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On 09 August, the government of Bihar State, India, announced a 25% subsidy for the purchase of zero-tillage seeders, bed planters, and maize threshers. According to Raj Gupta, facilitator of the Rice-Wheat Consortium (RWC) for the Indo-Gangetic Plains, the decision emerged in part from a meeting in March 2005 that involved the Chief Minister of Bihar, the Minister of Agriculture, the DG of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and other relevant actors.

“I also participated,” says Gupta. “Among other things, we discussed the promotion of quality protein maize and resource-conserving technologies as a strategy for transforming agriculture in Bihar. Now they have also decided to replace some of the winter wheat area with winter maize, whose productivity is nearly double that of wheat.”

With a population of 100 million, Bihar is one of India’s most densely populated and disadvantaged states and has been a particular target of RWC efforts to offer viable alternatives for resource-poor farmers in the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains. Land-use studies by Parvesh Chandna, CIMMYT affiliate scientist and expert in geographic information systems and remote sensing, have also contributed. This outcome shows the effectiveness of concerted, science-based efforts to influence policy.

Mexican authorities monitor seed health at CIMMYT

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On August 9 and 10 the Seed Health Laboratory received an inspection from the Direction General of the Phytosanitary Office (dependence of SAGARPA). This is a yearly routine for the lab, which operates under Mexican regulations for laboratories that apply quarantine procedures on imported seed and conduct seed testing to obtain the International Phytosanitary Certificate for exported seed.

In a few days, the Mexican Phytosanitary Office will report officially to CIMMYT regarding outcomes of this inspection. However, I feel safe to say that, despite a few tough moments, the two inspectors found no serious examples of non-compliance and had no objections about our quarantine procedure. Therefore I would like to thank the seed health laboratory staff who helped me on this occasion and all those who carefully and correctly labeled the introduced materials being grown in the field. ISO accreditation is progressing, but these routine inspections are additional.

Corpoica maize ‘V-114’ released in Colombia

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Last 25 July, more than 180 farmers and staff from CIMMYT and CORPOICA, Colombia’s agriculture research organization, gathered in the field of Isabel Cristina Cardenas at Los Palmitos, near Sincelejo, Sucre Department, Colombia, to celebrate the release of the new variety V-114. A product of CIMMYT research in Mexico, Thailand, Peru, and Colombia, and with key contributions from Colombian scientists in evaluation and promotion, V-114 was formerly known as Iquitos 9328 and was developed by Hugo Cordova, Carlos De Leon, Luis Narro and other CIMMYT staff, together with CORPOICA. CIMMYTs Asian Regional Maize Program also improved the variety’s resistance to downy mildew, an important disease of maize in this region of Colombia, prior to its introduction. CORPOICA staff at the ceremony included Paolo Bianchi, Director of the organization’s Turipaná Research Station, while CIMMYT was represented by Luis Narro and me.

Farmers at the field day listed for researchers some of their most highly-valued traits in an improved variety. These included low production costs, yields above 3 t/ha, suitability for use under zero-tillage and for intercropping with cassava, resistance to insect pests, and that the seed can be saved and replanted.

When asked about their experience growing V-114, farmers had the following comments:

  • V-114 looks like a local variety (criollo) and they think it contains local germplasm because it has variation for kernel color (yellow to reddish) and cob shape. They like this as they associate it with stability and stress tolerance.
  • Farmer Rigoberto Romero said that when he planted recycled seed of V-114 he obtained the same (good) performance from the second crop as he obtained in the first season, when he planted official (‘certified’) seed.
  • Farmer Silvio Tovar said that he planted 5 kg of seed as an intercrop with cassava, and harvested 1 ton of maize (equivalent to more than 4 t/ha).

The field day was a celebration of several years of work by CIMMYT and CORPOICA scientists, and a couple years of participatory evaluation work with farmers. It was a pleasure to see the excellent interaction between CORPOICA extension staff and farmers, who exchanged sincere questions, important advice, and quite a few jokes. In addition to lunch, each farmer at the field day was given 5 kg of seed of V-114.

John Niederhauser remembered at Toluca Station

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On Saturday, July 29th the ashes of Dr. John S. Niederhauser, who died in August 2005, were laid to rest in a potato field at the Toluca station, by his son Mr. Roberto Niederhauser and his wife. Niederhauser was a leading researcher on potatoes and co-founder of the Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP), Perú.

The Niederhausers were joined for the ceremony by Ing. Manuel Villarreal Gonzáles, family friend and Dr. Niederhauser’s work colleague; Ing. Hugo Gómez Arroyo, President of Confederacion Nacional de Productores de Papa; Sr. José Gómez Nieva, a friend and colleague of Dr. Niederhauser; Dr. Héctor Losoya Saldaña, Director de Pictipapa. After visiting the station, the group continued onwards and upwards for a second ceremony at the Nevado de Toluca.

CIMMYT from space

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CIMMYT headquarters is visible from space as these pictures illustrate. One sunny, dry season day a couple of years ago (we don’t know the exact date) a satellite photographed CIMMYT headquarters. The resolution is so good that you can read the lettering on the side of the reservoir. Google Earth is a relatively new application available on the Internet that you can use to get a bird’s-eye view of anywhere on earth. The basic software is free but be sure you have a broadband connection before trying to use it. The latitude and longitude for the CIMMYT reservoir are: 19°31’56.71″N by 98°50’39.63″W.

Dave Hodson at CIMMYT’s Geographic Information Systems lab says Google Earth is more than a toy. “It’s a fantastic tool to show people what GIS is about,” he says. “And we are using it more and more to check data we have, for example about roads and infrastructure in southern Africa against real images of the locations.” Hodson sees many more uses for the tool in the future, including having it as part of the Global Rust Initiative pathogen monitoring system.

Science at CIMMYT: grown-ups and children play and learn

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At El Batán last 28 July 2006, we were privileged to host 76 children from the CIMMYT family. Following the DG’s welcome, a group photo, and final admonitions from their guardians, the youngsters aged 6 through 12 began a day-long expedition in which they would learn something about the work of their parents and other CIMMYT employees, as well as its importance in fulfilling our center’s mission.

On a tractor-drawn cart they toured the station’s maize and wheat plots. In the chemical analysis labs, they learned about the crops’ nutritional qualities, and they marveled at molecular wonders in the biotech labs. Not only did they learn about what the grown-ups do there, but they also had a chance to experiment and learn through play: as part of understanding the role of fermentation, they made bread and they witnessed how yeast can blow up a balloon; some children separated pigments in spinach and carrots; others isolated DNA using a blender and played with a jigsaw puzzle involving plastic pieces of base pairs of DNA, the molecule of life.

It was a valuable experience for the children, for adult participants, and for CIMMYT. Education changes hopes and dreams, attitudes and talents, fears and concerns, ideas and beliefs, and culture. Through activities like this, we hope to foster awareness of the biological sciences and CIMMYT’s mission through simple language and teaching based on comparisons, experimentation, interactions, creativity, and play.

Heartfelt thanks to all the children who took part, for their curiosity. Thanks as well to the CIMMYT parents, uncles, grandparents, and others who gave us a chance to share this experience with your children. Finally, we are extremely grateful to CIMMYT staff and circle of friends who provided support and to the Fundación Ciencia Activa for its commitment and enthusiasm, and look forward to more events like this one.

Message from Masa: CIMMYT’s research

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CIMMYT has a science-based humanitarian mission. One of the main reasons why we work for CIMMYT is that we want to apply our particular areas of technical expertise (for example as geneticist, economist, soil scientist etc.) to make a difference in the lives of millions of the resource poor. This differentiates CIMMYT as workplace from purely academic organizations (e.g. universities) or technology transfer organizations (e.g. development agencies) and was probably part of your motivation for having applied for a CIMMYT job.

CIMMYT’s main output is new knowledge relevant to achieving our mission. Journal publication is a very important instrument to disseminate new knowledge and scientific achievements. Science publication is often cited as an example of International Public Goods. I am very pleased that CIMMYT’s journal publication number per IRS has doubled during the last three years compared to the period 1997-2002. In 2005 we recorded 1.6 journal publications per IRS (the highest number in CIMMYT 40 years of history, although still slightly less than the overall CGIAR average).

While I believe that our research agenda and our activities should not be driven by the opportunity to publish, I also believe that we as scientists should have a good record of journal publication. I started my career with the CGIAR as pre-Doc and went through all rank and file positions. Before I moved to a senior management position (DDG-R), I as a CG scientist, had published reasonably well and regarded it as part of my job.

I would like to make few points on the importance of journal publication and how we can achieve it based on my observations and experience over the last 25 years or so within the CG system.

CIMMYT should be influential globally. That influence comes mainly from respect we have earned from others. Good publication is one mechanism to attract respect from our partners. A good publication record gives us our peer’s respect, professional credentials and enhances our marketability. Manuscript writing gives us the opportunity to analyze our own/team achievements and see the scientific challenges still pending.

We too often argue why we are not able to publish. Three main inter-linked arguments people make are: (1) Our main job objective is to produce products (relevant to our target beneficiaries), not to publish. (2) Our specific job responsibility (e.g. regional office, fieldoriented breeding, coordination role, serviceoriented function) does not present publication opportunities. (3) We are all too busy to find time to write manuscripts.

I do not think that any of above arguments really works. We just have to look at some of the CIMMYT staff with a good publishing record. I examined the list of journal publications by CIMMYT staff in 2005. The following names show up frequently (of course this is not an exhaustive list): Zhonghu. He, Richard Trethowan, Manilal Williams, Hugo De Groote, Etienne Duveiller, Ravi Sign, Javier Pena, Ivan Ortiz- Monasterio, Matthew Reynolds, Marilyn Warburton, and Jose Crossa. If they had wanted to use any of above arguments to avoid publishing, they could have easily done so. But they did not, and they command natural respect internally and externally.

During the annual evaluation process, you and your Director discuss publication so that your leader (science mentor) and CIMMYT as workplace can explicitly assist you in that area. I was pleased to note that as a result of last year’s evaluation/ discussion some staff proposed taking time explicitly for publication or proposed ministudy leaves. CIMMYT is very keen to support your professional development including science credential development through journal publication.

Asian Cereals Conference

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The 2nd Central Asian Cereals Conference took place on June 13-16, 2006 in Aurora Sanatorium near Cholpon-Ata town of Issyk-Kul Lake region in the Kyrgyz Republic. The Lake Issyk-Kul is a natural pearl of the country and the region. Surrounded by the mountains at the altitude of almost 1600 m it is a memorable location. The natural beauty of the mountains and the lake contributed to the productive atmosphere of the conference of which CIMMYT was a co-organizer.

The main conference objective was to assess the status of research and cooperation on cereals in Central Asia in the fields of cereals breeding, genetics, physiology, seed production, grain quality, plant protection, biotechnology, cultivation technologies under irrigated and rainfed conditions, and genetic resources including information exchange between scientists from Central Asia and foreign countries.

There were 210 participants from 17 countries, including the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Western countries. Representatives came from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Turkey, Belgium, Australia, USA, Brazil, Mexico, Syria, Nepal, UAE, and Zimbabwe. Sanjaya Rajaram (ICARDA CIMMYT Wheat Program) and Alexei Morgounov (Regional Representative of CIMMYT in CAC, Kazakhstan but now at the CIMMYT office in Turkey) attended and spoke at the event.

During the technical researchers and crop science specialists reported on achievements and current research conducted at their institutions and on the progress in joint international projects with, among others, CIMMYT and ICARDA.