Project Background:
Given the persistence of massive poverty in South Asia, the project will improve cereal productivity and farm income in four countries of South Asia. The proposed Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) will provide an overall strategy and a new umbrella for contributing new science and technologies to accelerating short and long-term cereal production growth in South Asia’s most important grain baskets. It builds on technologies developed and lessons learned from the Rice-Wheat Consortium (RWC), the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC), and many other investments in agricultural R & D by both public and private sectors. Through creating and facilitating innovative public-private sector partnerships in key “hubs”, the project will boost the deployment of existing varieties, hybrids, crop management technologies, and market information.
CSISA will focus initially on 9 delivery hubs and 4 research platforms in areas of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nepal that represent key intensive cereal production systems. The hubs provide a basis for active learning about mechanisms for rapid adoption and intensification of improved cereal seed and crop management practices, for understanding critical components of public-private sector partnerships, and for developing business plans and supporting policies to stimulate private-sector investments. DDJ has been implementing this project since 15 October 2012 with funding support of CIMMYT.
Duration: 15 October 2012 to 30 September 2013
Area Coverage: Rajapur upazilas of Jhalokathi district and Nazirpur upazila of Pirojpur district
Source of Funding: CIMMYT
Project Goal: To increase farm household’s income and agricultural productivity focusing on improved cereal cropping systems.
Specific objectives of the project:
- Delivery/dissemination of proven technologies (Outreach/Extension activities)
- Participatory adaptive research;
- Training and capacity building;
- Socio-economics, policy, M & E and impact studies;
- Information delivery mechanisms.
Project Participants:
Marginal and middle class farmers of Jhalokathi and Pirojpur district.