CGIAR Launches Global Research Programs on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals

To contribute in the world's challenge to boost food and nutrition and improve livelihoods particularly of the dryland poor, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) launched the CGIAR Research Programs on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals. The research programs, led by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is the most comprehensive research-for-development (R4D) effort undertaken thus far on once ‘orphan' or neglected crops.

The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes is a ten-year R4D program that focuses on improving chickpea, common bean, cowpea, groundnut, faba bean, lentil, pigeonpea and soybean crops grown by poor smallholder families in five target regions. It aims to benefit 300 million smallholder farm households from an average 20% yield increase in grain legumes. The CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Cereals, on the other hand, will work on millets, sorghum, and barley to achieve an increase in farm-level crop productivity and total crop production of at least 16% in ten years.

For more information, visit http://www.cgiar.org/consortium-news/global-research-programs-on-grain-legumes-and-dryland-cereals-launched-to-boost-food-and-nutrition-security-of-the-poor/.