ICRISAT develops climate change ready varieties
Hyderabad | Friday, Jun 5 2009 IST
 

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) today announced that the institute, along with its partners, was developing crops that are able to withstand severe droughts, tolerate higher temperatures and mature early, enabling the farmers to be ready to meet the challenges of climate change.

In a statement on the occasion of World Environment Day today, ICRISAT Director General William Dar said the current research strategy at the institute is to improve the heat-tolerance and drought-resistance qualities of ICRISATs mandate crops.

''As the world celebrates the Environment Day, we at ICRISAT, along with our NARS partners, strengthen our efforts to develop crop varieties that will overcome the adversities of climate change, and thereby reinforce the food and income security for the poor in the developing countries,'' said Dr Dar.

ICRISATs research is focused on crops that are important for the livelihoods of the people in the dryland areas. They are pearl millet, sorghum, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut. These crops have several natural evolutionary advantages for the global warming scenarios.

-- (UNI) -- 05MS40.xml

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