5. Collaborative Programmes Division

5.3 Zonal Research and Training Activities

South Asia — India

The two-year plan worked out with ICAR in 1985 to provide technical backstopping to the 22 centres involved in the All-India Coordinated Research Project on Agroforestry (A-ICRPAF) made steady progress. Two major activities took place during this year giving continuity to previously initiated ICAR/ ICRAF collaborative activities. A research planning exercise for India was conducted at ICRAF's headquarters and other sites in Kenya during 12-23 May and a workshop/training course on agroforestry research took place in Hyderabad, India from 16 to 30 September. As part of the Ford Foundation-supported collaboration with ICAR, a team of scientists linked to the Bijapur D&D exercise (conducted in October 1985) came to Nairobi to finalize the research proposal. The ICAR team worked with most of ICRAF's multidisciplinary scientific team on:

1. the evaluation and prioritization of the AF interventions proposed in the Bijapur draft report;

2. drawing up the necessary experimental plans; and

3. the preparation of an outline on the Bijapur case study for presentation at the workshop/training course to be held in Hyderabad later in the year.

The Workshop-cum-Training Course on Agroforestry Research was held at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) in Hyderabad. The event was jointly organized by ICAR and ICRAF. A group of thirty leaders from the A-ICRPAF met with Indian scientists, international consultants from England, USA, Australia and ICRAF staff to exchange information on current agroforestry research in India, and to discuss relevant experimental methodologies to generate appropriate agroforestry technologies. This exercise was ICRAF's first attempt to develop the model of a training course with emphasis on experimental methodology. Contributions to the workshop/training course are being compiled by the Research Development Division in the format of guidelines for research.

In accordance with the ICAR/ICRAF Memorandum of Agreement, preliminary discussions were held with ICAR on inter-institutional cooperation for 1987 - 1990.

A joint team of research scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and ICRAF undertook a research planning exercise for Bijapur, India, 12-13 May at ICRAF's offices in Nairobi, Kenya. Two senior ICRAF scientists, Ir. Dirk Hoekstra (standing, left) and Dr. Peter A. Huxley (standing, right) seen in a working session with the Indian scientists.