Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (DFIDI)

Contractor:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (UK)/ODI

Project Code: 149-500-052	Start Date: 01/04/1994	End Date: 31/03/1999
Commitment: £1,595,546	Status: Current	Type of Funding: Bilateral - TC

Project Background:
The project accords with the Government of India's (GOI) current policies. The Government has made major budgetary allocations to rehabilitate degraded land by planting trees, grasses and legumes. These are part of its wider objectives of environmental regeneration, poverty alleviation and the creation of employment for women. This project addresses issues central to these objectives. The Eighth Plan (1991-95) identifies some 80m ha of degraded agricultural land and 40m ha of degraded forest, of which over half is available for upgrading. GOI intends to upgrade some 17m ha before the end of 1995.

Observers, including the World Bank, have commented that ICAR institutes (IGFRI is one) have been slow to bring the balance of their activities into line with the GOI's goal of more user-oriented research. The greater part of IGFRI's experience has been in research that has benefitted medium and high income farmers who are working mechanically-sown pastures in irrigated or reliably rainfed areas. This project will help IGFRI reshape its research agenda through stronger interaction with the rural poor, thereby contributing to a shift of research resources in the desired direction.

It will do this by:

* giving IGFRI the equipment and training to benefit from the transfer of technology available at IGER, and to allow the two Institutes to undertake collaborative research.

* exposing IGFRI staff to appraisal and research techniques that generate greater interaction between researchers and farmers.

* establishing a network for the exchange of information between Indian scientists and practioners involved with research and development in grassland and fodder, thus stimulating inter-institutional collaboration.

Project Objectives:
The objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity for research and technology transfer in forage and fodder in India and to make research more responsive to farmers' needs.

Intended Outputs:
IGFRI research priorities reflect more clearly-identified technical and socio-economic needs of its clients.

IGFRI achieves its national mandate to increase production of breeders' seed.

Enhanced IGFRI and NRCAF collaboration, both between themselves and with other institutions.

Improved IGFRI technology transfer capability.

Established or upgraded analytical laboratories at IGRFI established.

Trained scientists in post, working with improved laboratory facilities and producing/developing:

* Regenerated and seasonally fertile plants, overcoming "shy seeding".

* Improved seed harvesting methods and seed multiplication schemes.

* Seed pelleting; rhizobium inoculation - to facilitate sowing and improve seed quality.

* 15N technique for measuring N fixation by forage legumes.

* Research programme on establishment and long-term management of grass/legume mixtures.

* Expertise in measuring tree roots and mycorrhizae relationships for agroforestry, as part of a project to increase nutrient uptake.