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ICRISAT at 35 Triumphant Journey with the Poor in the Drylands

OAR@ICRISAT

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Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/4061/
 
Title ICRISAT at 35 Triumphant Journey with the Poor in the Drylands
 
Creator ICRISAT, -
 
Subject Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
 
Description Five years ago, on the occasion of our 30th anniversary,
we published ICRISAT’s first history book. This book
was a chronicle of institutional memories – the early
years of building up, the teething problems, the first
set of challenges and the initial successes. Essentially,
it captured the birth and growth of an institution with
a noble mission to help stakeholders of semi-arid
agriculture, especially the poor.
As we commemorate ICRISAT’s 35th year, we have put up
a sequel to the aforementioned book. This edition takes
off from the first one and focuses on the four themes,
which are the hallmarks of our achievements in the last
35 years: innovations, information, institutions and impact.
I am most honored to mention that our 35-year journey in the semi-arid tropics
has led to scientific triumphs that have vastly improved the lives of the poor.
Moreover, national research and extension systems have been strengthened
through our capacity building programs, research networks and innovative
information sharing initiatives.
As a global center of scientific excellence for dryland agriculture, ICRISAT is
staffed with dedicated experts who have keenly studied the needs of poor
farmers especially in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Let me emphasize we have
not been alone in this journey. I am proud to acknowledge the unwavering
support of our partners from various disciplines and sectors across the globe.
Henceforth, ICRISAT further pursues its excellence and relevance by continuously
striving to improve the livelihoods of the poor people of the semi-arid tropics.
Over the last 35 years, we have recognized the vulnerability of poor
farming communities in harsh and unyielding environments. As if semi-arid
environments were not punishing in themselves, we find that the poorest
of the poor are concentrated in the drylands. It is a vicious circle – dryland
denizens are poor because the land is poor, and the land becomes poorer from
continuous degradation and over farming, making the poor even poorer. Out
of this, we are empowering dryland people to mitigate and adapt to emerging
global challenges – climate change, desertification, drought, land degradation,
loss of biodiversity, the aftermath of AIDS and wars, fuel shortages, and the
ongoing and ever-present need for food.
During the last 35 years, ICRISAT has indeed made a big difference.
Consequently, ICRISAT is encouraged by its scientific triumphs as much as by
the smiles of pride and joy brought to the faces of poor farm families in Asia
and sub-Saharan Africa.
I thank you for your interest in ICRISAT. I hope you enjoy reading about our history
as Team ICRISAT, partners and stakeholders have enjoyed the journey of making it.
 
Publisher International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
 
Date 2007
 
Type Book
NonPeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Rights —
 
Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/4061/1/217_2007_ICRISAT_at_35_Triumphant.pdf
ICRISAT, - (2007) ICRISAT at 35 Triumphant Journey with the Poor in the Drylands. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics , Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India. ISBN 978-92-9066-503-8