Project Executing Agency (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics -ICRISAT)

ICRISAT has the responsibilities for overall project implementation and monitoring, including financial components. Inputs and expertise in development and operation of coalitions of institutions have been drawn upon from other partnering institutions. ICRISAT is also facilitating the exchange of information (such as processes related to coalition building and bulking, storage and marketing of grain) as required, and take responsibility for initiating the project activities in other Asian countries (China and Thailand ), which have potential for use of sorghum. A team of scientists consisting of

Project Team:

The project team consists of

Dr CLL Gowda
Global Theme Leader-Crop Improvement (Project leader )

Dr Belum VS Reddy
Principal Scientist (Sorghum Breeding)

Dr Farid Waliyar
Principal Scientist (Pathology)

Dr KN Rai
Principal Scientist (Pearl Millet Breeding)

Mr P Parthasarathy Rao
Senior Scientist (Economics and Marketing)

Dr Ashok Alur
Project Coordinator

Dr Ch Ravinder Reddy
Visiting Scientist

Project Executing Agency (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics -ICRISAT)

ICRISAT has the responsibilities for overall project implementation and monitoring, including financial components. Inputs and expertise in development and operation of coalitions of institutions have been drawn upon from other partnering institutions. ICRISAT is also facilitating the exchange of information (such as processes related to coalition building and bulking, storage and marketing of grain) as required, and take responsibility for initiating the project activities in other Asian countries ( China and Thailand ), which have potential for use of sorghum.

Project Coordination Unit: 

The implementation of the project is supported and coordinated by a project coordination unit constituted by ICRISAT. It consists of a project coordinator, Ashok S Alur, a visiting scientist, Ch Ravinder Reddy and an administrative associate. The Coordination unit is guided by the project team consisting of senior team members of ICRISAT. The project coordination unit of the PEA does the following functions:

Facilitating the project activities:

The PCU facilitates the development and implementation of the project activities in Asia as a special initiative for small and marginal scale farmers utilizing the key strengths and competencies of the partner organizations in the consortium and further building on the initiatives planned. Ensure the project activities are aligned with the overall strategic aims and objectives of CFC, FAO and ICRISAT and their integration in the action plans. Work closely with the internal team members in Project Execution Agency (PEA) to develop and implement the project activities in the framework that enables to develop a global vision and strategy on small and marginal scale farming to improve the livelihoods of the farmers and to achieve significant and long-term impact on sustainable basis and also contribute to the public policy. Takes lead role in extending support to the partners in Asia in developing and implementing innovative processes for promoting demand driven agricultural innovations systems for overall development of farming families. Provide overall direction, management and support to the project areas / regions/countries involved in implementing the project , extend support to all program teams  to translate high-level strategy into specific country projects within the local context. Liaise with all partners and other key players in government, the donor, supervising body, private companies/ business organizations to develop a coalition that enables small and marginal scale farming to develop into a more significant approach for alleviating hunger, in-equality, poverty and generating economic growth thus improving the livelihoods on sustainable basis. Motivate partner organizations and community based organizations for synergistic team work, change management, conflict resolution and be innovative.

Project Cycle Management:

Coordinate and keep informed the project donor (CFC), supervising body (FAO), Project implementation agency (PEA_ICRISAT) and the Project Steering Committee about the project progress and the key learning’s at regular intervals. Organize regular internal review meetings to communicate the team of PEA about the project implementation and seek guidance on issues requiring their interventions.  Collate the progress reports of the partners and prepare comprehensive    progress reports and updates at agreed intervals to the donor, supervising body and the internal review team. Plan and undertake regular field visits to the project areas and work with all regions/countries/partners to build their capacities, providing technical and thematic inputs and support to project team members in each country and partners in effective implementation of planned activities within their project areas. Coordinate, facilitate and clarify the work of others, to ensure alignment with and delivery to expected initiative plans and deadlines. Extend support in resolving the conflicts in work activities through negotiations with appropriate actors or as necessary, the Steering Committee. Organising mid term and final external reviews, initiating studies to understand the constraints in supply chain management and documenting the innovations associated with them.

Training and capacity building:

Planning and implementation of  training and capacity building events for the  key project actors, organising events, workshops ,field visits, exposure visits, cross learning events ,systematic method and technology demonstrations, planning  field support  and  organising comprehensive and participatory monitoring and evaluation of project results by the farmers at initial stages and getting feedback for improvement.

Promotion of participatory approaches:

Plan and ensure the promotion of participatory approaches in each stage of the project cycle for empowering the farming community through inducing and accelerating their participation and by capacity building for collective decision making. Promotion of principles of innovation, equity, gender balanced development, fighting discrimination and support decentralisation.

Developing linkages and partnerships:

Take initiatives to expand the network of partnership with identified project partners and other individuals/institutions and actors for promoting cooperation among the partners including Private companies, Non governmental organizations, State agricultural universities, International research institutes, input supply agencies, credit agencies  and the farmers organizations in Asia for effective project implementation and developing/  promoting different consortium/coalition  models for providing better institutional support and assured markets . By facilitating the market oriented approach and through cooperation with other development institutions and the civil society supporting efforts to achieve overall efficiency and impact on development and thus enhancing the socio economic development of the small scale farmers.

Knowledge /Learning Management and sharing:

Monitor, measure, analyze and report periodically on the effectiveness of project to ensure that efforts are focused on delivering meaningful quality outcomes.
Determine appropriate research activities to support the project activities to suit the changing trends in the dry land agriculture sector. Develop a knowledge management and sharing environment to enable the team members to access the learning’s, experiences of the project on various aspects of the project outputs and achievements. Work with Campaign groups and Private Sector teams to ensure that their policies and general initiatives consider, incorporate, and, as appropriate, align with relevant aspects of the project. Develop organizational program policy and future direction on agricultural activities specifically, and livelihood programming generally Participate in various forums involving key external influencers for focusing on policy changes at local, national and international levels of government and business

Financial Management:

PCU is responsible for overall financial management and guiding partners for effective financial utilization in accordance with the work plans. Hold an overview of the overall project finances and coordinate with the finance team to ensure that the project is properly funded and funds are spent appropriately and as agreed in the yearly work plans. Prepare and provide inputs on the donor observations on finance and report back on the queries as and when required.

Promotion of linkages with credit/input suppliers and Markets:

Provide support to the farmers associations and the corporate companies to develop inter linkages for supply of inputs, institutional credit from nationalized banks such as SBI and SBH, finally facilitate developing of agreements between companies and the farmers groups to arrive at market agreements

Dr Ashok S Alur Project Co-ordinator	Dr Ch Ravinder Reddy Visiting Scientist