The document summarizes the annual report of the Common bean improvement research program. It discusses how the program has helped over 2.2 million families in Ethiopia by improving bean varieties and seed systems. It also discusses the development of high oleic groundnut varieties in India to meet food industry and health needs. Additionally, the summary discusses how the program improved food security and business opportunities in Zimbabwe by developing high-yielding, climate-resilient bean varieties.

1. CRP-GLDC
Presentation at the
98th Governing Board
meeting
Program Committee
20 April 2021

2. Presentation at the 98th ICRISAT Governing Board Meeting
Program Committee | 20 April 2021 2
Annual Report 2020
Common bean
improvement research
helps to reduce
poverty for 2.2 M
families in Ethiopia
High oleic groundnut
varieties commercialized
in India meet the
enhanced shelf-life needs
of food industry and
consumer health benefits
High yielding climate
resilient beans
improved food
security and kickstart
business in Zimbabwe
GLDC Impacts
• Etihopia`s bean value chain including
breeding, seed systems, varieties grown,
and farmers’ welfare has benefitted from
R4D lead by the Alliance
• Release and adoption of over 60 varieties
has benefitted about 2.5 M farming families
• Combining varieties with fertilizers has
enabled beneficiaries to enjoy extra
consumption spending on food and non-
food items worth USD 119 per person per
year (PPP), and by USD 217 PPP
• Over 1 M smallholder farmers received seeds;
the production of preferred bean varieties
increased from 520 tons to 1,840 tons
• The adopting households now harvest 347 kg
more beans per hectare, enabling people to
consume 3.6 kg more beans per person per year
• 60-70% of the population who rely on
agriculture now have the ability to produce and
profit from beans, while also providing
nutritious food to their families
• Two new varieties of groundnut containing
80% oleic acid with 30% higher yield and
115-day maturation released To replace the
existing varieties with 40-50% oleic acid
• High impact launch by the Indian PM during
World Food Day will boost the promotion
and subsequent adoption of these varieties
• Public-private partnerships and interest of
the industry on these commodities is a
boost to deliver quality seeds to farmers
and reach consumers in two years

3. Presentation at the 98th ICRISAT Governing Board Meeting
Program Committee | 20 April 2021 3
Gender & Youth
• Two studies by ICARDA and ICRISAT contributed to
gender integration in the breeding programs (gendered
farming roles, trait preferences)
• Village Level Studies in South Asia (VDSA) data is being
used to understand women’s access to asset in
designing programs, interventions and policies for
empowerment of women
• Intensive outmigration in dryland areas affects
women's roles in agriculture and related activities, with
broader implications for productivity and gender equity
• The youth strategy calls for context specific local
definitions of “youth”, access to profitable
technologies, and other interventions including
technical & business capacity development

4. Presentation at the 98th ICRISAT Governing Board Meeting
Program Committee | 20 April 2021 4
Capacity development
e-Learning experienced a huge boost across the globe
• FP5 reached ~ 3500 people with online trainings and webinars
• e-Learning portal is currently offering seven online courses
• Upgraded the AGskillED platform, which is now published in
Android PlayStore for use by farmers and frontline extension
staff
• FP6 enhanced the skills of 1,260 participants (547 women or
43.4%) on bean-based flour production, development of beans
seed road maps, crop breeding, and communication through
multimedia outlets

5. Presentation at the 98th ICRISAT Governing Board Meeting
Program Committee | 20 April 2021 5
Markets and Partnerships in Agri-Business (MPAB)
• A framework for exploring market opportunities in
transforming agrifood systems was released
• The adoption process associated with rapid spread of
chickpea varieties in Andhra Pradesh was analyzed
• Three studies are underway:
 opportunities for GLDC that arise from growing markets
for functional foods and plant-based meats
 opportunities for influencing consumption patterns in
low-income urban areas
 exploring the potential opportunities arising from the
introduction of a flour blending policy in Kenya

6. Presentation at the 98th ICRISAT Governing Board Meeting
Program Committee | 20 April 2021 6
Policy contributions
• The Evolution of Gender Mainstreaming in ICARDA Lentil
Program: Learnings on gender and change in plant breeding
• The GLDC Youth Strategy: Gendered Youth Realities,
Aspirations, Opportunity Structures and Transitions to
Adulthood in the SAT: Strategy for Targeting and Engagement
• Trans-regional trade: policy brief on bean flows between
Tanzania and its surrounding countries, and the effect on
economic development
• Tanzania National Biofortification Guidelines: Country strategy
to enhance the consumption of beans and dry bean products
• Malawi Multi-sectoral Nutrition Policy 2019-2023
• Biofortified Beans: A vehicle for improving Nutrition, Income
and Food Security in Burundi

7. Presentation at the 98th ICRISAT Governing Board Meeting
Program Committee | 20 April 2021
Thank You
Questions?
7