A Brief Chitchat with Dr. William Dar of ICRISAT

Title of Seminar- Innovation Forum: How to Harness the Power of Science and Technology in Development
Date: Sept 11, 2008 @ the SEARSOLIN seminar room, MANRESA farm, College of Agriculture, Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City

Sponsors: The Ayala Foundation, MIT PESO Challenge

Participants: The Seminar Started at 3PM. Participants in the Podium were Fr. Jett Villarin - President of Xavier University ( XU )- Ateneo de Cagayan , Mr. Bobby Ansaldo of Pioneer Seeds(?) , Prof. Roel Ravanera - Dean of the College of Agriculture XU, and Mr. Hector San Juan VP of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce

Description: It was an afternoon long introduction to the facilties of ICRISAT, the International Research Facility run by former Department of Agri Secretary Dr. William Dar in Hyderabad, India . Focus was given to the 1,000+ Hectare Agri-Science Park. Focus of research was on different types of Semi-arid crops like Millet, Cowpea and Sweet Sorghum. Pictures were shown of the the Agri Business Incubators (ABI) private research companies doing research using ICRISAT facilties, among other types of research. Surprisingly fortunate, ICRISAT is a nonprofit research facility making profits in its services, to further fund its public research initiatives. Thats how it should be, self-sustaining.

Comments were given to the Sweet Sorghum research and the Rusni Distilleries, which has put up a 40,000 liters per day pilot facility converting sweet sorghum to ethanol, a major research thrust. ICRISAT is also a breeding facility for BT Cotton and is now currently forming a Translational facility (BIOTECH genetic engineering facility) and is spreading their managerial skills in creating Agri-Science parks to other nearby Indian and South African Institutions.

After, Dar's speech, Mr. Alfonso Alamban (formerly Department of Trade - Cagayan de Oro Head) gave a brief intro to the new agricultural research consultancy arm of the Xavier Science Foundation called AgriTRACS ( Agridev Training, Research, Advocacy, Consultancy Services ) .

During open forum, Mr. Hector San Juan of Oro Chamber mentioned about having more data on Jatropha growing ( which is a plant said to be useful for Biofuel). Dr. Dar said that what is available now are not VARIETIES but RACES (meaning what is being distributed in Mindanao is not standardized, or coming from a definite VARIETY, but a mixture of seeds, which have actually varying yields).

After the seminar, there was cocktails at the outdoor garden beside the seminar room. Discussion went to the Castor Beans being planted by AgriTRACS member Venn, and Dad was able to comment that yields in the Philippines would only reach 1.5 tons per hectare, and 2nd croppings would wither. Dad also commented that D.A. was aksed to get seeds from India where they were touted to grow UP TO 15 tons per hectare. However, bringing Castor Beans out of India WAS PUNISHABLE with 15 years prison. We inquired with Dr. Dar and he said that maybe it would be possible to bring out seeds, if it were done as a research activity, and was negotiated governement to government ( India and Philippines).

Discussion went to the length of time it would take to Crossbreed desired varieties of the same plant. According to Dr. Dar, 7 to 10 years. A WHOLE DECADE JUST TO REACH COMMERCIAL STAGE! Finding an opportunity to speak, I commented to Dr. Dar if it was possible to create a Transgenic Crop instead, Getting genetic fingerprinting of differing varieties, adding desired genes to subject plants, and how long it would take. He said maybe around 5 years pa rin. Dr. Dar is a very orderly and approachable person , and being the Futurist, I wanted to talk to him further by email. So we exchanged cards.

It was such a nice, somber feeling, being around research people. And it was quite an eye opener.