?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Foar.icrisat.org%2F1107%2F&rft.title=Future+Challenges+and+Opportunities+for+Agricultural+R%26D+in+the+Semi-Arid+Tropics&rft.creator=Ryan%2C+J+G&rft.creator=Spencer%2C+D+C&rft.subject=Agriculture-Farming%2C+Production%2C+Technology%2C+Economics&rft.description=This+publication+reviews+past+trends%2C+summarizes+the+major+constraints+to+income+growth%2C+food+security%2C+poverty+alleviation%2C%0D%0Aand+environmental+sustainability%2C+and+identifies+future+R%26D+strategies+and+priorities+for+the+semi-arid+tropics+(SAT).+The%0D%0Astudy+focuses+on+sub-Saharan+Africa+and+South+Asia%2C+where+poverty%2C+food+insecurity%2C+child+malnutrition%2C+and+gender%0D%0Ainequalities+are+widespread.%0D%0AICRISAT's+mandate+cereals+are+becoming+less+important+in+household+food+budgets+in+Asia%2C+but+wi+l+l+remain+staple+foods+of%0D%0Athe+poor+in+the+driest+areas%2C+especially+in+sub-Saharan+Africa.+In+addition%2C+the+anticipated+growth+in+demand+for+livestock%0D%0Aproducts+wi+l+l+increase+the+derived+demand+for+feedgrains%2C+including+sorghum+and+millet.+Water+wi+l+l+likely+be+the+primary%0D%0Aconstraint+throughout+the+SAT+in+the+coming+years.+Research+could+focus+on+identifying+genes+that+can+improve+water-use%0D%0Aefficiency+and+drought+tolerance.+Other+areas+include+crop+and+systems+modeling%2C+watershed+management%2C+and+water+policy.%0D%0APoor+soil+fertility+is+another+key+issue%2C+and+could+be+addressed+using+an+integrated+soil%2C+water%2C+and+nutrient+management%0D%0Aapproach.+Research+to+improve+nutrient-use+efficiency+wi+l+l+be+critical%2C+especially+in+Africa.+Research+is+needed+on+the+extent%2C%0D%0Aeffects%2C+and+processes+of+land+degradation.%0D%0ALimiting+the+mandate+to+the+current+five+crops+may+reduce+ICRISAT's+future+ability+to+impact+on+the+welfare+of+the+SAT%0D%0Apoor.+A+thematic%2C+problem-driven+agenda+would+be+more+appropriate.+Future+research+and+policy+agendas+must+account+for%0D%0Aregional+differences%2C+in+resource+endowments%2C+infrastructure%2C+etc.+For+example%2C+labor-intensive+technologies+would+be%0D%0Aappropriate+for+the+poor+in+South+Asia%2C+and+labor-saving+ones+for+sub-Saharan+Africa.+HIV%2FAIDS+is+a+serious+constraint+to+labor%0D%0Aavailability+in+Southern+and+Eastern+Africa%2C+and+must+receive+explicit+attention+in+R%26D+strategies.+ICRISAT's+research+agenda%0D%0Afor+the+future+could+also+include%3A+village-level+studies+to+better+understand+the+apparent+poverty-environmental+degradation%0D%0At+readmi+l+l+%3B+reduction+of+marketing+and+transaction+costs%2C+especially+in+sub-Saharan+Africa%3B+strengthening+the+capacities+of+SAT%0D%0Afarmers+and+national+research+systems+wi+th+the+aid+of+information+technology%3B+and+development+of+gender-sensitive%0D%0Atechnology+options.&rft.publisher=International+Crops+Research+Institute+for+the+Semi-Arid+Tropics&rft.date=2001&rft.type=Monograph&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Foar.icrisat.org%2F1107%2F1%2FRA_00379.pdf&rft.identifier=++Ryan%2C+J+G+and+Spencer%2C+D+C++(2001)+Future+Challenges+and+Opportunities+for+Agricultural+R%26D+in+the+Semi-Arid+Tropics.++Monograph.+International+Crops+Research+Institute+for+the+Semi-Arid+Tropics.+++++