Research partnership and technology exchange

Sorghum is cultivated over wide geographic areas in the Americas, Africa and Asia. Though ICRISAT’s research centers are located at Patancheru in Asia and Bulawayo, Nairobi, Bamako and Niamey in Africa, and there are several special programs at Cali, Colombia in Latin America and with ASARECA to cater to Eastern and Central Africa, it is difficult to serve several areas that need specific agroecological zonal adaptations to varying agroclimates and cropping systems. Research collaborations and partnerships among national, regional and international programs are the best means of meeting developmental needs. Research partnerships are crucial to successful technology exchange. Partnerships could be formal or informal and involve scientists, extension staff and farmers in public institutions, private sector organizations and NGOs. Collaboration and partnership among stakeholders avoid duplication of efforts and bring together comparative advantages to address and solve priority production constraints at relatively low cost. Such associations encourage interaction and exchange of information, knowledge and technologies. This chapter documents ICRISAT’s partnership with public sector institutions, private sector organizations, NGOs and other stakeholders