The New Nation - Internet Edition

Laden with nutrients and with a high commercial potential, legumes hold great promise for fighting hunger, increasing income and improving soil fertility. However, legumes thus far have not received the scientific or funding attention needed to increase crop yields of smallholder farmers' in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, enhance their food security and reduce poverty.

A new cross-continental research and development project turns the limelight on legumes. The Tropical Legumes Project was officially launched in September 2007 in Rustenburg Kloof, South Africa, and in Arusha, Tanzania. Tropical Legumes involves 14 African and Asian national agricultural research programmes in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

This double-pronged project to improve tropical legumes is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Its focus is to enhance the productivity of selected legumes with actual and high potential for improving food security and reducing poverty among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. These projects will partner with the Program for African Seed Systems, a major initiative within the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, to ensure African farmers have access to seed of improved legume varieties.

"Legumes are critically important as a source of income and nutrition for low-income farm families. However, there has not been enough investment in this area in the past," said Dr. Rajiv Shah, director of agricultural development, Global Development Program at the Gates Foundation. "We hope this project - by working across the value chain and linking to other investments like AGRA - will help deliver meaningful benefits to farmers' fields and families. We also hope it will encourage others to increase their investments in this type of critical, farmer-oriented agricultural research."

The foundation is dedicated to a sustainable model of agricultural development that empowers small farmers, engages rural communities and improves agricultural productivity while reducing inequity and protecting natural resources. Legumes have an important role in getting smallholder farmers onto the first rung of the ladder leading out of poverty. This program will reduce the risks, costs and time of creating locally-adapted legume varieties that will improve household nutrition, household income and become an integral tool in integrated soil fertility management for both sub-Saharan Africa and two countries in South Asia.

The first prong (Tropical Legumes I or TLI) focuses on sub-Saharan Africa and four legumes, and is led by the Generation Challenge Programme (GCP) of the Consultative Group on Agricultural Research (CGIAR), in collaboration with partners from national research programmes, universities and CGIAR centres. The four TLI legumes are beans, cowpeas, groundnuts and chickpeas.

The second prong (TLII) focuses on large-scale breeding, seed multiplication and distribution primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, thus paving the way for the research results from TLI to translate into breeding materials for the ultimate benefit of resource-poor farmers.In addition, TLII also works on soybeans and pigeon peas, and is led by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on behalf of two other CGIAR centres-the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Needs, know-how and 'know-who'

But how relevant are all these crop improvement R&D efforts to the farmer? In the words of Mr Denis Mwashita, a small-scale farmer at the Chinyika Resettlement Scheme in Bingaguru, Zimbabwe, "Beans have always carried disease, but from the little we harvest and eat, we and our children have developed stomachs."

"What Mr Mwashita means is that despite the meager harvests, farm families fare better in terms of health and nutrition for having grown beans," explains Mr Godwill Makunde, a bean breeder at the Crop Breeding Institute's Department of Research and Extension in Zimbabwe.

The Tropical Legumes Project is firmly anchored in farmer realities and needs, which are in fact the point of departure. But no institution can single-handedly tackle the challenge of needs- and reality-based crop improvement for several crops across such a broad geographical spread. Project partners and perspectives range from advanced genomic researchers to the views and needs of farmers, thanks to collaboration between advanced research institutes that will bring in cutting-edge science, and national research programmes that, in addition to providing reality checks and farmer perspectives, ensure effectiveness, continuity and relevance. Dr Jean-Marcel Ribaut, the GCP Director, notes "Involving scientists from national research programmes all along the research pathway ensures new tools and germplasm from the project will be relevant to local needs." How will all these different players work together? TLI comprises different research and training components at different levels to generate new breeding tools through an integrated three-step approach. First, new diversity in superior legume sets will be explored. The second step will be developing genomic resources for historically less-studied crops-resources essential in applying new breeding approaches to legumes. Finally, molecular markers will be identified for disease resistance and drought tolerance to boost legume productivity in disease- and drought-prone environments.

In his inaugural address at the TL II launch meeting in Arusha, Tanzania, Dr William Dar, ICRISAT's Director General, affirmed the commitment of CGIAR centres to ensure that poor and marginal farmers in Africa and Asia have access to improved varieties that can help to increase legume production. "The next Green Revolution will be a 'grey to green Revolution' by turning the grey lands [drought-prone areas] to green by expanding the cultivation of legumes," he said. Dr CLL Gowda, TL II leader, elaborates that TLII activities include farmers participating in selecting improved on-the-shelf legume varieties, as well as strengthening seed production and delivery systems in project countries to ensure farmers get quality seed. TLII will focus on promoting drought-tolerant varieties while developing new ones using participatory approaches to ensure that farmers have a say in the variety development process.

Legumes and livelihoods

In order of importance, groundnut, cowpea and bean represent about 80 percent of the production and cultivated area of food legumes in sub-Saharan Africa. Legumes are rich in proteins and minerals and are referred to as 'poor man's meat' in certain cultures: along with chickpeas, these legumes are essential staples in the diets of millions of Africans. Soybeans are increasingly popular in most of sub-Saharan Africa, while pigeon peas are a major protein source for the vegetarian South Asian population, and a major export for Eastern Africa.

The project follows a value-chain approach from planting the highest quality seeds and improving farm management practices to bringing crops to market, to ensure that both farmers and consumers benefit from the research and development efforts. To this end, socio-economic studies will be conducted to better target the development of new legume varieties.

The project comes at a time when there is an unprecedented confluence of knowledge and opportunities. These include greater confidence in modern genomics to tackle contemporary agricultural challenges, and stronger national research programmes with increasing capacity for advanced research. By further building the capacity of national programmes, Tropical Legumes will leave a mark long after its three-year span.

In addition to equipping and supporting project scientists, the project will also 'plant seeds' by supporting Masters and PhD students in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Most importantly, the impact of Tropical Legumes is not just about science and institutions but about balanced diets and higher incomes. Given their high returns on investment, legumes deserve a second look and a leap in faith.

(For further information contact : TLI: Dr Carmen de Vicente -< c.devicente @cgiar.org> TLII: Dr CLL Gowda - c.gowda@cgiar.org )

After the fall of the erstwhile Soviet Union, U.S.A emerged as the sole superpower of the world. With depleted economic and military power, Russia was not in a position to challenge the newly acquired supremacy of America. Like any other prudent and ambitious superpower, America took the advantage of imbalance of power in the international arena and made elaborate plan to make foray into the news areas of interest and consolidate the existing strongholds to expand its sphere of influence. It focused on East European nations and the former Soviet Republics. Though much smaller and weaker in size and power, Russia was still a significant country having the power to alter the balance of power in the region. Knowing this fact, America moved quickly to forge deep economic and military relations with the former WARSAW pact nations and Soviet Republics. Another objective of America's quick move to forge strategic level relations with the former Soviet satellite nations was to de-nuclearise them and utilize the enormous energy reserve of the central Asian nations.

Russia, in the mean time, was trying to cope with the new situation emerged due to adopting capitalism and democracy as the system of government. But the strategic thinkers of the country were aware of the American strategic game plan near the Russian border and East Europe. They soon advanced to China for help. China, on the other hand, with over 1 billion people was finding avenues to elevate itself to the level of a superpower. So, the Chinese leaders viewed the Russian offer for deeper military and economic relations favourably. The two countries signed various economic and military agreements in the meantime. Russia found a willing partner, which was also looking for gaining power to offset the American influence in East Europe, and particularly in central Asia, Korean peninsula, and China Sea. The cooperation between the two giants commenced in a majestic fashion to counter, according to them, American hegemony.

China needed new and more modern training and technology to upgrade various units of its military. Observing closely the gulf war, China realized the need for a smaller, faster and more flexible military to win a regional war. So, they sought to replace the old military thinking with a new and more sophisticated one. They proceeded to buy modern jet fighters from the Russian air force to replace its ageing fleets of F-7s and A-5s.

With a view to modernize the air force they procured SU-27, SU-30, and ordered for SU-34 ground attack bombers from Russia. It won't be irrelevant to mention that Russia needed these big-ticket orders to sustain its own military industry. So, the agreements were signed pretty quickly. China got these planes along with production facilities. The Russian experts trained the Chinese technicians and pilots to operate these highly sophisticated jet fighters.

China and Russia expanded their cooperation in naval sector too. Chinese dilapidated Luhu and Jiangwei class frigates were completely unsuitable for a navy that aspired to be a blue water navy within a few decades. So, they ordered for highly advanced nuclear missile guided Sovremenny class destroyers. They bought a few units to bolster its navy. The area of naval cooperation was further expanded to modernize Chinese antiquated submarine fleets.

China procured quite a few Kilo class diesel electric submarines armed with lethal torpedoes. They also proceeded to upgrade the existing Song and Ming class submarines with borrowed French electronic equipments and combat management systems.

Due to geo-strategic reasons, China could hardly overlook the need of the ground forces. They advanced to the Russians for modern technologies to produce better APCs(Armoured Personnel Carriers), Tanks, MBRLs (Multi barrel Rocket Launchers), IFVs(Infantry Fighting Vehicles), and air defense systems. Russia proved to be a willing partner up to this point and did not hesitate to sell military hardware as per Chinese demand.

But historically, the relationship between China and Russia saw many ups and downs. The erstwhile Soviet Union forcefully occupied millions of kilometers of land from China in the past. They fought a bitter division level war in 1969 over disputed land along the Sino-Soviet borders. Though they have signed border agreements in 1991 and 2004 to resolve the land disputes amicably, a sizeable portion of the border is still not properly demarcated. Keeping in view of this fact, the Russians are not interested to see a China powerful enough to alter the balance of power in the region. The recent anti satellite missile test by China rang an alarm bell in Russia too. America was pretty vocal against such missile test, Russia, on the other hand, doubted the intention of the Chinese military modernization.

The Russian strategic planners want a submissive partner in the strategic game against America that they will be able to use as a pawn to counter America. China, on the other hand, wants to emerge as an independent superpower to grab its share in the international political arena.

A clear conflict of interest has surfaced that may impede the ongoing military cooperation between the two giant neighbours. Besides, Russia also has to take into account the concerns of America. In the recent time, the American policymakers have adopted an aggressive strategic policy to calm down Russia, which is selling arms to anti-American nations to expand its sphere of influence and make healthy profit to sustain and modernize its defense industry. It can be noted that the Bush administration has taken a bold strategic initiative to install missile defense systems in some European and central Asian countries.

The Russian military experts view this move as detrimental to the nation's security and an element with potential to alter the balance of power in the world.

Due to the above reasons, we have seen reluctance in the Russia government to provide more modern military hardware to China. One more thing that needs attention is that, China is aggressively pursuing its own plan to build a modern self-reliant defense industry that requires technology from a trusted source. It just doesn't want to be a mere purchaser of high tech military weapons any more. It wants unprecedented level of access to Russian most modern military technology. But how far the Russians will be willing to entertain Chinese wishes will remain to be seen.

New collection of oral testimonies from Zambia and Pakistan reveal the many faces of poverty International development NGO, Panos London, has published a new online collection of oral testimonies gathered from communities in Zambia and Pakistan, which powerfully convey, in their own words, the reality of poverty and its daily oppressions.

'People need jobs, it doesn't help just to be given mealie meal (maize meal) once in a whilet' Benson, Zambia 'I advise every girl and every woman to stand up on her own feet, work hard and learn a craft. Now I do not depend on ment I have learnt to fight life with courage.' Salma, Pakistan Published ahead of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17 October) - which this year focuses on "people living in poverty as agents of change" - the testimonies reveal people's ingenuity and resourcefulness in meeting their basic needs and pursuing their rights.

Many of the narrators from Zambia, for example, describe how they have diversified their income to help them survive; activities range from charcoal burning, brewing beer and carpentry to bicycle repair. The women interviewed emphasise the value of joining savings clubs and other community groups.

Utrina is in her mid-twenties and lives in Hamusunse village in Zambia's southern province of Choma. She says:

'We do have clubst We try to teach each other how to improve our vegetable gardeningt The Mango club for women: we weave baskets and sell them to raise funds for our memberst People should join clubs, since this year there is hungert they should register themselves so that they can buy seed at a reduced price.'

The testimonies were gathered as part of a wider project that examined the effectiveness of governments' poverty reduction strategies (known as PRSPs), including the extent to which poor people are actively engaged in their development and implementation.

While discussions and documents on PRSPs are often technical and hard to understand for the non-specialist, these spoken accounts come straight from the heart of those coping with poverty every day, and bring the issues that concern them to life.

The testimonies show that poverty has different faces in the two locations - for example, the human and economic cost of HIV and AIDS preoccupies the Zambian narrators. Nevertheless, a number of underlying concerns are common to both communities, such as the frustration of battling against entrenched power structures, and indifference and corruption among those meant to be representing their interests - "Nobody listens to us," says Hodat in Pakistan.

Lack of voice is just one way that poverty reinforces poverty, as these stories vividly illustrate. Fishing families around Manchar Lake in Pakistan, for example - whose livelihoods have been devastated by man-made pollution of the lake - find themselves locked into debt as a means of survival. Local traders buy their catch, often for less than market value; the same traders lend them money at high interest rates.

'[We] live by taking loans. Traders give us loans and their loan is never repaid,' says Allah Bux, a 50-year-old fisherman. 'It increases day by dayt'

Panos London's head of oral testimony, Siobhan Warrington, says, "The value of these testimonies is that they are driven by what the narrators want to talk about. As a result they highlight not only the daily hardships of poverty but tell us what people actually living in poverty think needs to be done. These are the real voices that policy-makers should be listening to."