Impact from Investments in Crop Breeding: the Case of Okashana 1 in NamibiaD DRohrbachauthorW RLechnerauthorS AIpingeauthorE SMonyoauthorThe pearl millet variety Okashana 1, developed jointly by ICRISAT and the Namibian national program, is grown on almost 50% of the national pearl millet area. ICRISAT and the Government of Namibia jointly obtained a 50% internal rate of return to public investments in the development and dissemination of this variety. The net present value of this return was more than US$ 11 mi l l ion in 1998. The high level of return resulted from the use of germplasm originally developed by ICRISAT, thus cutting the time and costs involved in variety development and testing; the early involvement of farmers in varietal selection; rapid release in response to farmer preferences; and government commitment to the rapid multiplication and dissemination of highquality seed. In sum, close collaboration between ICRISAT arid Namibian breeders and strong links wi th the Namibian farming community reduced research costs and speeded variety adoption. Continuing collaboration between the three partners led to the release of two additional pearl millet varieties in 1998. Both the new varieties have highly favorable prospects for adoption.Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics1999International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid TropicsMonograph