?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Foar.icrisat.org%2F369%2F&rft.title=D%C3%A9fis+et+opportunit%C3%A9s+futurs+pour+la+R%26D+dans+les+r%C3%A9gions+tropicales+semi-arides&rft.creator=Ryan%2C+J+G&rft.creator=Spencer%2C+D+C&rft.subject=Agriculture-Farming%2C+Production%2C+Technology%2C+Economics&rft.description=Future+challenges+and+opportunities+for+agricultural+R%26D+in+the+semi-arid+tropics.+This+publication+reviews+past+trends%2C%0D%0Asummarizes+the+major+constraints+to+income+growth%2C+food+security%2C+poverty+alleviation%2C+and+environmental+sustainability%2C+and+identifies+future+R%26D+strategies+and+priorities+for+the+semi-arid+tropics+(SAT).+The+study+focuses+on+sub-Saharan+Africa+and+South+Asia%2C+where+poverty%2C+food+insecurity%2C+child+malnutrition%2C+and+gender+inequalities+are+widespread.%0D%0AICRISAT%E2%80%99s+mandate+cereals+are+becoming+less+important+in+household+food+budgets+in+Asia%2C+but+will+remain+staple+foods+of+the+poor+in+the+driest+areas%2C+especially+in+sub-Saharan+Africa.+In+addition%2C+the+anticipated+growth+in+demand+for+livestock+products+will+increase+the+derived+demand+for+feedgrains%2C+including+sorghum+and+millet.+Water+will+likely+be+the+primary+constraint+throughout+the+SAT+in+the+coming+years.+Research+could+focus+on+identifying+genes+that+can+improve+water-use+efficiency+and+drought+tolerance.+Other+areas+include+crop+and+systems+modeling%2C+watershed+management%2C+and+water+policy.Poor+soil+fertility+is+another+key+issue%2C+and+could+be+addressed+using+an+integrated+soil%2C+water%2C+and+nutrient+management+approach.+Research+to+improve+nutrient-use+efficiency+will+be+critical%2C+especially+in+Africa.+Research+is+needed+on+the+extent%2C+effects%2C+and+processes+of+land+degradation.%0D%0ALimiting+the+mandate+to+the+current+five+crops+may+reduce+ICRISAT%E2%80%99s+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+regional+differences%2C+in+resource+endowments%2C+infrastructure%2C+etc.+For+example%2C+labor-intensive+technologies+would+be+appropriate+for+the+poor+in+South+Asia%2C+and+labor-saving+ones+for+sub-Saharan+Africa.+HIV%2FAIDS+is+a+serious+constraint+to+labor+availability+in+Southern+and+Eastern+Africa%2C+and+must+receive+explicit+attention+in+R%26D+strategies.+ICRISAT%E2%80%99s+research+agenda+for+the+future+could+also+include%3A+village-level+studies+to+better+understand+the+apparent+poverty-environmental+degradation+treadmill%3B+reduction+of+marketing+and+transaction+costs%2C+especially+in+sub-Saharan+Africa%3B+strengthening+the+capacities+of+SAT+farmers+and+national+research+systems+with+the+aid+of+information+technology%3B+and+development+of++gender-sensitive+technology+options.&rft.publisher=International+Crops+Research+Institute+for+the+Semi-Arid+Tropics&rft.date=2002&rft.type=Monograph&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Foar.icrisat.org%2F369%2F1%2FCO_0026.pdf&rft.identifier=++Ryan%2C+J+G+and+Spencer%2C+D+C++(2002)+D%C3%A9fis+et+opportunit%C3%A9s+futurs+pour+la+R%26D+dans+les+r%C3%A9gions+tropicales+semi-arides.++Monograph.+International+Crops+Research+Institute+for+the+Semi-Arid+Tropics.+++++