The IGER project aims to ‘revolutionise’ farming in the developing world and reduce global poverty Photo: ARS-USDA/Wikipedia

The UK-based Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER), Aberystwyth, is working in affiliation with scientists from India and Ghana to study genetic mapping and marker-assisted breeding of pearl millet.  The research is meant to explore the genetic potential to modify pearl millet DNA structure, with a view to developing new plant varieties that are drought-tolerant in diverse climates.

IGER, has already had breakthroughs in understanding the plant’s DNA make-up through genetic research carried over the years.  The aim is to take this one step further as “declining water resources and unpredictable rainfall calls for further research into efficient breeding for drought-prone environments”, says the research team leader Dr Rattan Yadav.  Changes in climate conditions pose serious threats to crop productivity and threaten farmers’ livelihoods and food security, especially those living in poorer areas.

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A £700,000 grant received from the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council and UK’s Department for International Development will facilitate this four-year IGER project.   The affiliation between the countries aims to contribute to the global pool of knowledge in the prime research area of drought tolerance across species and facilitate increased crop production in arid environments globally.  Furthermore, it hopes to ‘revolutionise’ farming in the developing world and reduce global poverty, says Gareth Thomas, UK minister for International Development.

By Amnah Ali

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