diff --git "a/data/part_4/0439d720f06fa4cbcba4f1bac51d7430.json" "b/data/part_4/0439d720f06fa4cbcba4f1bac51d7430.json" new file mode 100644--- /dev/null +++ "b/data/part_4/0439d720f06fa4cbcba4f1bac51d7430.json" @@ -0,0 +1 @@ +{"metadata":{"id":"0439d720f06fa4cbcba4f1bac51d7430","source":"gardian_index","url":"https://cgspace.cgiar.org/rest/bitstreams/46611da7-6eca-4e50-bfe2-3b4390a92b71/retrieve"},"pageCount":71,"title":"","keywords":[],"chapters":[{"head":"Resource Emphasis","index":1,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":107,"text":"CIA T's strategy empbasizes enhanced production tbrougb increased resource productivity on farms witb limited resources and on underutilized land areas. By contributing to tbe improvement of productivity on small-and medium-scale farms, the Center seeks to provide for increased rural income and employment, moderate and stable food prices, and improved diets, especially of tbe low-income, urban and rural population. Technology whicb contributed to expansion of agricultura! production of suitable commodities on tbe less fertile frontier Jands makes possible tbe release of tbe more fertile lands for maximum crop cultivation, thus achieving more efficient food and animal production using both poor and fertile land resources, to meet consumer demands."}]},{"head":"Commodity Choice","index":2,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":91,"text":"Commodities to be included under CIA T's mandate are predominantly food staples. Each commodity has one or more of the following attributes: it is a relatively inexpensive source of calories; it is a relatively inexpensive so urce of protein; it is an important component in the food budget of low-income consumers in the geographic region of empbasis. •commodities are selected for tbeir potential to augment the productivity and incomes of small f armers and { or to contribute to increasing agricultura! production on existing cultivated lands or in tbe agricultura! frontier."}]},{"head":"lnstitutional Role","index":3,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":80,"text":"A basic premise of CIA T's strategy is tbat it represents only one sm_ all segment of tbe agricultura! researcb and development matrix. All Center activities, therefore, are 1 viewed as complementary to those of other organizations. Linkage to other closely related activities is essential in developing effective research networks thM capture economies of scale in research on the chosen commodities. Such activities include the following three groups: national research and extension systems, advanced scientific institutions, and related international programs."},{"index":2,"size":97,"text":"The most important interface is with national research systems. In partnership with these programs, in order to capture economies of scale, CIA T concentrates on activities with a clear comparative advantage and in which the results have international transferability. Such activities include the assembly of germplasm banks, largescale screening, crossing and selection, methodology development, and information services. CIA T attempts to strengthen collaboration and to encourage horizontal technology transfer among national programs by helping to develop and strengthen research networks. Active training and conference programs serve to fortify national research systems, as well as the network activities."},{"index":3,"size":33,"text":"Basic research institutions in both developed a,nd developing countries are linked with CIA T activities to provide basic research inputs and specialized research services that complement and support CIA T's more problem-solving research."},{"index":4,"size":40,"text":"The principie of complementarity also applies to other international institutions, especially sister centers within the CGIAR System. Through informal discussions and formal agreements, cooperation and division of labor is defined to maxirnize the benefits of comparative advantage and minimize duplication."}]},{"head":"Scope of Activities","index":4,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":52,"text":"CIA T's efforts are predominantly focused on the American tropics. lts commodities are selected for their importance in this region. Yet, within the CGIAR System the Center has been assigned broader responsibilities for given commodities. CIAT is differentiating functional responsibilities on the basis of the following categories: (a) Principal, and (2) Regional."}]},{"head":"Principal","index":5,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":15,"text":"For commodities for which CIAT is assigned a. principal mandate, CIAT assumes the following responsibilities:"},{"index":2,"size":10,"text":"1. Assemble, maintain, and make available the world germplasm collection;"},{"index":3,"size":43,"text":"2. Conduct specialized, strategic research; 2 3. Generate improved production technology components for, and develop cooperative activities with national research systems in all regions in the developing world where the commodity is important, and where no sister CGIAR center is assuming regional responsibilities;"},{"index":4,"size":16,"text":"4. Provide in-service training for professionals in the specializedfstrategic areas of research on a global basis;"},{"index":5,"size":19,"text":"5. Provide specialized in-service and productionoriented training for professionals from countries where no other CGIAR center has regional responsibilities;"},{"index":6,"size":28,"text":"6. Collect, process, and disseminate information on the commodity on a global basis; 7. Ba..ckstop the activities of other institution(s), if any, with regional responsibilities for that commodity."}]},{"head":"Regional","index":6,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":63,"text":"This category applies when a si~ter CGIAR center has global responsibilities for a commodity and, in close cooperation with that center, CIA T takes on responsibilities No. 3 and No. 5. Together with national research systems, it identifies principal production constraints, and in close collaboration with the center having principal responsibility, seeks to facilitate such activities as are required to overcome such constraints."}]},{"head":"Current Mandate","index":7,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":54,"text":"In order to achieve the objectives and apply the strategy described above, and taking into account the results of socioeconomic studies and the mandates of other centers, the CIA T programs ha ve evolved to currently encompass the following responsibilities: l. Principal responsibilities for beans (Phaseolus vulgaris and relate.d species)' and cassava (Manihot esculenta);"},{"index":2,"size":28,"text":"2. Principal responsibilities for tropical pastures (specific responsibilities for the acid, infertile soils of the American tropics); 3. Regional responsibilities for rice (specific responsibilities for the American tropics)."}]},{"head":"SUMMARYOF ACHIEVEMENTS","index":8,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":50,"text":"In 1984, CIA T underwent its Second External Review. After an exhaustive review, the Panel fully endorsed the basic o bjectives, strategies, and approaches of the CIA T commodity research programs, and eloquently attested the solid aahievements in research and international cooperation realized by CIAT sínce íts first Externa] Review."},{"index":2,"size":98,"text":"All commodity research programs (beans, cassava, rice, and tropical pastures) have developed to the point where they can point to an ever-increasing pool of improved production technology components-components developed in close collaboration with participating national commodity tesearch programs. In all cases, these components are increasingly becoming available to the producer community. While in rice the impact o ver the years of CIA T technology has been large and is well documented, the other CIA T prograrns are now entering the phase where their output is starting to have 4 measurable impact at the level of national production statistics."},{"index":3,"size":49,"text":"With the advent of strong commodity networks in place, more and more CIA T research activities can be, and are being, decentralized, thus allowing CIA T to assume a true backstopping role .and to engage in those research and research support aspects for which the Center has comparative advantage."},{"index":4,"size":142,"text":"Maturing research programs are also able to increasingly widen their geographic/ ecosystems focus: the bean program is determinedly moving beyond Latín America and is rapidly expanding its research work in support of bean improvement in Africa; the cassava program is devoting much increased attention to Asia where sorne 35 percent of the world's cassava is grown, and is increasingly collaborating with liT A in improving cassava technology for use in Africa where liT A has regional responsibility; the rice program continues in its efforts to address the problems of the upland rice sector which, to date, has benefitted only little from Ímproved rice technology designed primarily for the irrigated sector; and the tropical pastures program is seeking to adapt its technology developed for the savanna cnvironment to humid tropics conditions where improved te~hno1ogy is in dire need to help recuperate degraded pastures."}]},{"head":"Rice","index":9,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":88,"text":"The rice industry throughout the hemisphere continues to show a gratifying increase in production. Over 40 modern varieties are being grown in the irrigated and more favored upland ecologies. They now cover approximately 2.5 million hectares. Tbese varieties, togetber witb improved cultural practices, annu3.Ily produce an additiona13 million tons of rice having a current market value of about 800 million US$. Mucb of the recent production growth has occurred in the Southern Cone, particularly southern Brazil, which had lagged behind the tropical areas in adoption of modern technology."},{"index":2,"size":56,"text":"It is now clear that continued growth in production requires concerted collaborative work with national programs in two general areas. Firstly, costs of production in recent years have increased more rapidly than the farm price for rice. Initial analysis of costs in Colombia, Peru and Brazil indicate two areas in which they can be reduced substantially:"},{"index":3,"size":28,"text":"Appropriate, inexpensive machines, available from many sources, are required for large farms using expensive tractors, combines and airplanes, as well as small farms excessively dependent on hand labor."},{"index":4,"size":43,"text":"Seed, fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide costs can be reduced by improving control of weeds, the major biological yield constraint in the region. Since herbicides are generally available and effective, research focuses on systems of application combining metal tractor wheels with ultra-low volume applicators."},{"index":5,"size":117,"text":"Secondly, varietal development must be oriented to ensure greatly increased disease and soil stress tolerances. Most modern varieties are characterized by a brief period of excellent farm performance, followed by rapid increase in disease problems. To this end CIAT has decentralized its breeding program from headquarters to selection si tes in Peru, Panama, and Villavicencio, Colombia. These upland and irrigated sites cover an array of disease and soil stresses. Methods were developed to induce pressures in breeding materials. A flow of selections was organized across selection sites to facilitate identification of tolerances. Simultaneously, the IRTP (lnternational Rice Testing Program) nurseries were reorganized to ensure provision of fewer but more rigorously selected materials for evaluaüon by national programs."},{"index":6,"size":64,"text":"The breeding program has complemented conventional methods with anther culture directed initially to the varietal needs of the Southern Cone and upland unfavored rice. Modifications in the anther culture procedures now permit the regeneration of 20,000 plants per year. This mass production of fixed lines is screened at CIA T prior to the evaluation of a limited set of elite materials by national programs."}]},{"head":"Beans","index":10,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":178,"text":"Advances in the genetic improvement of beans have been commensurate with the systematic efforts dedicated to it. Sources of resistance to practically all high priority bean diseases and insect pests are now available and ha ve been incorporated into improved, commercially acceptable lines, either alone or in combination with other disease resistances. The successful breaking of the linkage between red seed color and virus susceptibility resulted in a large number of red-seeded lines with fully commercial and stable seed color. Concurrently, many of these lines are showing great pro mise in Central America. Advanced lines with multiple-gene bean common mosaic virus resistance are now available. Non-black seeded bean golden mosaic virus resistant lines are tested in Central America and the Caribbean region. In rust resistance breeding, the earlier disco ve red small pustule types (lines with only miniscule rust-induced pustules that appear to have little effect on bean yields) have increased in importance as heavy rust attacks have occurred, especially in the Caribbean. A control strategy using a mixture of genotypes with different rust reactions is being developed."},{"index":2,"size":73,"text":"The race complex of diseases such as anthracnose and angular leafspot is better understood, and relevant resistance sources are now employed for the different ecological zones. The planting of crossing blocks (potential parents) and analysis of data from international disease resistance nurseries have allowed for the pinpointing of race distribution; the data indicate that no new races of these diseases have formed . Lines with multiple race and pathogen resistance are now available."},{"index":3,"size":61,"text":"The interspecífic P. vulgaris x P. acutifolius crosses made in the USA and progeny selected in CIA T ha ve resulted in new, very high levels of common bacteria! blight resistance in beans. Lines from these interspecific crosses are highly resistant, and have a high combining ability. CIA T and collaborating programs are using these lines heavily in varietal development programs."},{"index":4,"size":25,"text":"Progress was also recorded for other disease control research. For example, increased Jevels of resistance to web blight and ascochyta Jeaf blight have been found."},{"index":5,"size":98,"text":"Breeding for resistance to the Jeafhoppers has continued . Wild genotypes with high levels of bruchid resistance were crossed with cultivated forms, and progenies with good resistance have been selected . Earlier identified sources of resistance to the bean pod weevil (Apion godmani) have remained stable, but did not provide high yielding lines. The germplasm of Mexican origin has provided well adapted Iines with high Apion resistance. High levels ofbeanfly resistance were obtained in segregates of interspecific hybrids involving a resistant P. coccineus parent. These and other materials will be deployed once the Africa projects are fully operational."},{"index":6,"size":43,"text":"Beans have been underrated in their ability to resist drought. U nder se ve re drought conditions, the best lines have been found to yield above 1 t / ha, while most commercial cultivars failed in screenings at CIAT during the dry season."},{"index":7,"size":44,"text":"A large number of lines combining severa! desired characters have successfully been advanced through the entire series of evaluation tests organized by the Bean Program. Commercially acceptable, improved lines are now available foral! principal bean production areas in Latin America and most of Africa."},{"index":8,"size":75,"text":"Selected impact/ adoption studies ha ve been made by the Center. Numerous improved bean lines are already available at the national leve!, and many of these lines • have reached the bean producers and contribute to national production. Cuba has continued to plant around 24,000 ha of the variety \"ICA Pijao\". Nicaragua has a large acreage in private and state farms planted with the varieties \"Revolución 8 1\" (A40) and \"Revolución 79\" (BAT 41}, principally."},{"index":9,"size":60,"text":"In Costa Rica the variety Talamanca (ICA LIOI03), and to an increasing extent Brunca (BA T 304), are currently planted by over 70% of the. farmers. They obtain over 25% more yield and appreciate these varieties for their erect growth habit. Costa Rican officials state that starting in 1985 no further imports are expected in this traditionally bean importing country."},{"index":10,"size":61,"text":"Guatemala, which developed the BG MV resistant Dorado lines in collaboration with CIAT (and with which CIA T shared the 1984 King Baudouin Award for these achievements) has also reached self-sufficiency in bean production. About 60% of farmers who ha ve been introduced to the new lines continue to use them but find that their maturity is later than desi red."},{"index":11,"size":40,"text":"In 1985 Argentina planted an estimated 45,000 hato new resistant varieties. Yield gains in the \"achaparramiento \"-affected area are very high. Net gains accruing to farmers in 1984 dueto the use of the new varieties were estimated at US$2.1 million."},{"index":12,"size":37,"text":"New chemical disease control strategies developed and tested collaboratively with the Colombian national program in the small farmer, climbing bean production area of Antioquia, resulted in an estimated net benefit to farmers of US$2.6 million in 1984."}]},{"head":"Cassava","index":11,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":78,"text":"Further advances have been made in the basic understanding of the cassava plant. This plant is known to be highl y drought tolerant. The mechanism oftolerance has been shown to be related to the direct action of changes in air humidity o n stomatal c losure. This stomatal response or sensitivity is advantageous under stress conditions but is disadvantageous under conditions of plentiful soil 6 water availability. Simple selection techniques for sensitive or non-sensitive stomata have been developed."},{"index":2,"size":21,"text":"In the recent past, the germplasm collection has been greatly enriched with the addition of more than 800 clones from Brazil."},{"index":3,"size":71,"text":"Elite germplasm is being widely distributed as sexual seed and many early crosses are now in final stages of evaluation in national programs. For the first time elite germplasm for the highland tropical areas have shown superio rity over the best native lines. Elite lines in the other ecosystems (1 & 2) continue to out-yield native materials and the first major testing in the hot humid jungle areas gave promising results."},{"index":4,"size":108,"text":"Cassava has somewhat undeservedly gained the reputation as a crop that causes soil erosion and depletes soil fertility. The crop is, however, remarkable in its ability to grow on soils that ha ve been ex ha usted in terms of fertility and have been eroded. Attention has been turned to this problem and effective means of reducing erosion and maintaining fertility have been developed. In the case of phosphorus the efficiency of applied fertilizer use can be greatly enhanced by inoculation with mycorrhizal strains selected for their efficiency. In addition, lines that do well at low soil phosphorus levels have been selected and incorporated into the breeding program."},{"index":5,"size":54,"text":"CIAT and liT A have recently signed a new agreement for closer research cooperation. Natural enemies of spider mi tes and cassava mealybugs collected at C l A T in the Ame ricas are se nt to liT A fo r testing. The Phytoseiid mi tes are proving particularly effective against the green spidermite."},{"index":6,"size":45,"text":"Mechanisms have now been established to safel y introduce liT A 's elite African-Mosaic-Disease-resistant clones to CIA T (vi a indexing procedures in the U. K.). At CIAT they will be crossed with mi te resistant clones and the progeny returned to Africa for testing."},{"index":7,"size":94,"text":"Recent socioeconomic analysis has shown that fresh cassava is a preferred food with an elastic demand in Latin America. Decline in demand as Latin America urbanizes has been dueto its lack of convenience which is related to its perishability. A simple, inexpensive, safe storage technology has been developed. Application of this technology can increase demand, by ma.king cassava more convenient as a food , and decrease marketing margins by reducing middlemen's risk which will allow farmers to increase supply with no decrease in price. This technology has the potential ofbenefiting both producers and consumers."},{"index":8,"size":57,"text":"The cassava pilot project for animal feed in the North Coast of Colombia has now expanded to more than 20 commercial plants, proving the economic viability of this type of small scale enterprise. In Mexico, 20,000 m 2 of drying patios are in an advanced stage of construction and one plant is now fully operational in Panama."},{"index":9,"size":57,"text":"The regional program in Asia is now established and is effectively channelling C IA T germplasm appropriate to Asían conditions to that region. The variety Rayong 3 based on CIA T germplasm has been released in Thailand; in the Philippines severa! clones from CIA T are now being commercially grown although they have not been officially released."}]},{"head":"Tropical Pastures","index":12,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":115,"text":"The Program has developed an inventory of land resources in the area of interest, with edaphic, topographic and climatic characterizations of the region organized in a systematic and easily retrievable manner. The Program also has assembled a germplasm bank consisting of more than 14,000 accessions. This germplasm pool is complemented by a parallel collection of Rhizobium. Furthermore, the Program has progressed to the stage where severa! genera and species ha ve airead y been identified as beíng well adapted to conditions of one or more of the ecosystems of interest. These genera and species include Andropogon gayanus, Brachiaria spp., Panicum maximum, Arachis spp. , Stylosanthes spp., Desmodium spp., Pueraria phaseoloides, Zornia spp., and Centrosema spp."},{"index":2,"size":53,"text":"The potential productivity of a large number of pasture grazing alternatives in the savanna ecosystem has been determined. Various grass/ legume associations in controlled grazing, low input experiments, have produced annualliveweight gains per animal of more than 150 kg. On a per-hectare basis sorne associations have produced more than 300 k g/ year."},{"index":3,"size":79,"text":"As part of the regional tria! network there are, at present, 104 germplasm adaptation trials in selected sites of Latín Ameríca and the Caribbean. Also, severa! germplasm sets have been sent to requesting institutions fro m Asia and Africa. The most promising germplasm is already moving into grazi ng trials in severa! Central America a nd Andean region countries, as pa rt of the lnternational Pasture Evaluation Network, with partial support from the Canadian :.tternational Development Research Centre (IDRC)."},{"index":4,"size":58,"text":"Data obtained from regional trials in the humid tropics have shown that a large number of grass and legume species selected by the programare highly productive in this ecosystem with acid , infertile soils. T hese are showing promise for upgrading the degraded pastures sown with sp_ ecies which become unproductive after 4-5 years of clearing fo rest. "}]},{"head":"Training","index":13,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":103,"text":"To date, CIAT has provided training to sorne three thousand professionals. Throughout the years, CIA T has emphasized training in research methodology and production technology as related to the commodities in the Center's mandate. Recent survey data show that 60% of former CIAT trainíng participants are actively working with the commodities on which they received training; an additional 15% contínue to be active in agricultura! research, albeit not directly related to CIA T's commodíties. Nevertheless, the continued growth of national programs arid the shíft of their personnel to other institutions, íncludíng the prívate sector, continuously renews the demand for traíníng of new personnel."},{"index":2,"size":107,"text":"CIA T trainíng has helped national programs of numerous countries in Latín Ameríca, Asia, and Africa to beco me stronger and increase their capacity to engage in applied, adaptive, and validative research. Increasingly, CIAT-trained scientists are playing major roles in the selection and release of new varieties and attendant technologies. T raining has also been a key contributing factor in the establishment and development of international and regional research networks on beans, rice, tropical pastures and cassava. T hese networks facilitate exchange of germplasm and technical information, and play an important role in the organization and conduct of cooperative research with CIA T and among participating countries."},{"index":3,"size":83,"text":"Conferences are the principal tool for the exchange of info rmation and the coordination and development of concerted research strategies in the networks. In the last two years the training and conference activities at C IAT were streamlined to focus mo re clearly than ever on concerted collaboration with national research programs and prívate industry to ínter-link the various research efforts, and to get newly available technology moving towards the producers' fields. Three sets of action prog rams have been put into practice:"}]},{"head":"1)","index":14,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":44,"text":"A progressive shifting of emphasis from co urses at Palmira headquarters to in-country courses conducted by national institutions with the assistance of C IA T. Such courses are frequently coordinated with the release of new varieties and / or agronomic and plant protection practices."},{"index":2,"size":1,"text":"2)"},{"index":3,"size":26,"text":"The development of training plans based on expressed medium-and long-term interests of natio nal programs and their scientific manpower needs with regard to CIA T's commodities."},{"index":4,"size":1,"text":"3)"},{"index":5,"size":13,"text":"The regionalization of courses to increasingly focus on the circumstances of specific regions."},{"index":6,"size":26,"text":"Degree-related training continues to receive high priority but actual increases in this type oftraining are difficult to realize dueto scarcity of funds fo r academic study."},{"index":7,"size":54,"text":"After many years of predominantly focusing attention on training in Latín America, CIA T's increasing role in Asia (cassava) and Africa (beans) ha ve caused the Center to receive an increasing number of professionals for training from developing countries o utside of Latín America and to organize relevant training opportunities in the respective regions."},{"index":8,"size":38,"text":"T hrough the Seed U nit, CIA T has assumed alead role in Latín Amtuica in providing training on seed technology and contributing to the development of seed programs in the region thro ugh an active conferencefworkshop program."}]},{"head":"Communication and lnformation","index":15,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":83,"text":"During 1984, CIS U (Communication and Information Support Unit) produced 65 publications, including four manuals, three conference proceedings, six research data reports, four progress reports, a research monograph, a reference guide, a technical bulletin, 23 newsletters, nine bibliographic vol u mes, 12 sets of contents pages and one directory. A tota l of 109,972 publications and 6283 8 audiotutorial units were distributed. Almost 20,000 documents were loaned and 2700 reference questions answered. In all, C IA T's information products reached 131 different countries."},{"index":2,"size":52,"text":"Productivity has been enhanced by increasing sophistication in equipment for all phases of information management. W ord processing and computerized photocomposition have significantly sped up the publication process. Computerized systems that a re presently in the implementation phase are expected to similarly streamline bibliog raphic database management and acquisition of library materials."},{"index":3,"size":51,"text":"As the commodity programs decentralize, and their breeding and technology development strategies grow more complex, it has become increas ingly important to develo p highly specific communication strategies that define both audience and purpose for each product. These strategies result from close collaboration between the commodity programs and C ISU ."},{"index":4,"size":112,"text":"Areas with new research efforts (for example, East Africa, Indo nesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines), receive particular attention. lncreasing attention is a lso being given to delivery systems in o rder to assure that information generated in C l A T's research programs reaches the end u ser. A publications catalog, an audiotutorials catalog, and a complete bibliography make all of C IA T's publications available by mail or through the CIA T bookstore. A multi-level, computerized mailing list is being upgraded to serve as a database of collaborators as well as a listing of information users. Computerized inventory control enables staff to study seasonal and geographical fluctuatio ns in demand ."}]},{"head":"THE 1986 BUDGEI REQUEST*","index":16,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":23,"text":"The budget request of CIA T for 1986 amounts to C$23,244,000. This total includes C$1 ,945,000 for transferred special projects. 1986 Baseline Budget"},{"index":2,"size":76,"text":"The 1986 baseline budget for operations amounts to US$21, 798,000 ( eq uivalent to the revised 1985 budget for operations-without provision for cost increases between 1985 and 1986). The table below presents proposed program changes for 1986 to be effected at the baseline leve!. It shows reductions in Cassava Physíology and in Contingencies in order to make available resources for Cassava Utilization and for the full-year effect of positions left partially vacant in 1985. l. --"}]},{"head":"2.","index":17,"paragraphs":[]},{"head":"1986 List of Program Changes","index":18,"paragraphs":[]},{"head":"M-Y","index":19,"paragraphs":[]},{"head":"Explanation of Change from Cassava Physiology to Utilization","index":20,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":85,"text":"lt is fully recognized that CIA T -within its manda teto assume primary responsibility for research in cassavamust assume responsibility for physiology research in this crop. Over the years, CIA T's cassava physiology research has provided fundamental insights that proved crucial in the classification of edaphoclimatic production zones, and the definition of characteristics associated with high yield potential with special reference to stress conditions. Particular emphasis was placed on the ability of cassava to survive and produce under conditions of uncertain rainfall and prolonged drought."},{"index":2,"size":111,"text":"However, given the current heavy emphasis on the systematic assessment of the potential of cassava in Latín America and elsewhere, an overriding need for cassava utilization research has made itself felt. Utilization research is of critica! importance at this time to complement the economic assessment studies. While these studies may identify a large potential for cassava in the fresh root market (under the condition that practica! solutions to the fresh root deterioration problems can be found) , in the flour market for human consumption (especially bakery products), and in the animal feed 10 market, research is needed to develop practica! utilization processing technology so that this potential can indeed be realized."},{"index":3,"size":63,"text":"Given the circumstance that within the reduced size of the Cassava Team no further flexibility can be identified to make room for the critically needed utilization research component, it is proposed that research on cassava physiology be temporarily halted in favor of an all-out effort in cassava utilization. Within the time span of a very few years cassava, physiology research will be reinstated."}]},{"head":"CIA T Work Program at the Level of the 1986 Budget Request","index":21,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":65,"text":"The There are indications to believe that in future years it will be difficult to rnaintain special project funding for training activities at current levels, and that it is uolikely that these levels can be further increased. To rnaintain current levels of training and even increase sornewhat the man-months of training offered by CIAT, monies for scholarships are proposed to be. adjusted upward by US$117,000."},{"index":2,"size":226,"text":"(e) Position for Africa-Wide Bean Coordinator. The CIAT Long-Range Plan for the decade of the eighties projected the need for a Regional Coordinator for the Bean Program in Africa. The proposed CIA T strategy for beans in that continent was supported by the EPR in 1984 and received the endorsement of T AC in their commentary on the CIA T EPR Report. In the meantime CIAT has developed two long-term extra core funded projects for Central and Eastern Africa while a third is under consideration for the SADCC countries of Southern Africa. The need for CIAT involvement directly in Africa in regional programs was recommended by participants from Africa ata conference held in Malawi in 1980 under CIA T auspices. The need for close integration of these projects in Africa on a long term horizon is clear. The creation of a position of Africa-wide coordinator for bean activities will ensure that research duplication is avoided, that training programs can b~ developed with economies of scales, that close cooperation with other IARC's and the national programs is achieved and that CIA T scientists in Africa maintain contact with CIA T headquarters while at the same time developing a degree of regional autonomy essential to day-to-day operations. Such a position within the CIAT core budget will allow a long term perspective to be given to this regional coordination."},{"index":3,"size":50,"text":"(d) Position for Rice Economist. The position of Economist in the Rice Program was projected for 1982 in the Long-Range Plan. 1t was included in the budget for that year and endorsed by T AC, but Jater deleted due to funding shortfalls. It was included in all subsequent Forward Lists."},{"index":4,"size":146,"text":"The main function of the Economist is to identify, in collaboration with the Agroecologícal Studies Section the potential sources of production growth in each country and to assess the economic viability arca of expansion of different production systems under alternative yield / cost scenarios. He / sht; is to play a key role in providing the necessary information to define research, testing and training priorities, based on ex-ante economic evaluation of expected impact and distribution ofbenefits derived from rice research. In addition, a principal function ofthe Economist is to evaluate, on a country by country basis, policy constraints to adoption of available technologies, and to arca expansion in different rice production systems. The incumbent of this position also is to evaluate production increases as they are taking place and the extent to which they are affecting prices, and the potential benefits captured by various income strata."},{"index":5,"size":233,"text":"12 (e) Training Materials Support Staff. During the last six years, CIA T has developed-with the help of special project funds-a solid base for the design, development, and production of training materials on C IA T -generated technology. These materials are for the use by training participants at CIAT and in reg10nal and in-country courses, and are also widely distributed to and used by collaborating national institutions. At this time, CIA T has available a set of more than 100 audiotutorial units covering topics in all four of the Center's mandated crops. CIAT has always recognized that such a systematic effort must be a continuous endeavor; new technical information becomes available that needs packaging; airead y existing training packages must be modified due to the • changing knowledge base; and collaborating institutions are counting on a continuous flow of training packages. Hence, in past years CIA T has included in its long-term projections the core financing of the skeleton of the professional personnel (i.e., professional support staff) needed for this effort, with the understanding that any additional resources to be allocated to this work would need to be special project funded. This item contains resources to maintain a •small group of professionals which is considered to be the mínimum required size to keep the training materials effort viable: i.e., one training materials specialist for each of the four commodity programs at CIA T."},{"index":6,"size":55,"text":"(f) Position for Pasture Reclamation/ Humid Tropics. This position is put forth to deal with the problem of pasture degradation and ecological damage in the hum id tropics-a problem regarded as critica! by the countries in Central America, the Caribbean, and the Amazon and Orinoco basin. This position has been included in past Forward Lists."},{"index":7,"size":255,"text":"The hum id tropics ecosystem includes most ofthe acid soil regions in Central America, the Caribbean, the Amazon basin, and Orinoco basin. It has been estimated that in this ecosystem there are already 6-7 rnillion hectares of pastures, of which more than