Asian Centre for Underutilized Crops ACUC

 

A Regional Centre of

International Centre for Underutilized Crops

ICUC

INTRODUCTION

 

Asia is the centre of diversity for a large number of crop species which can contribute to nutrition and play a vital role in crop diversification programmes and agro-forestry systems, and in addition to food they produce fuel, fodder, medicines, shelter and industrial products for small farmers. The crops can be assigned to a range of commodity groups, such as pulses and vegetables, cereals and pseudocereals, oilseed and industrial crops, fruits and nuts, forage, fodder and energy crops. Many of these crops can flourish with little input and can grow under harsh environmental conditions significant in a region where four million hectares are deforested annually and deserts spread at the rate of a million hectares a year. If these crops are to become food, feed, fodder, manures and medicines then organized programmes for improvement must be launched before it is too late. Biodiversity in the region is being lost at an alarming rate as indicated earlier. The research and development for inclusion of underutilized crops within the cropping systems by Asian entrepreneurs make sense to farmers. The NARS, NGOs, farmers and entrepreneurs of the region have felt that in partnership an ever green revolution can be achieved if scientific talent and funds were channeled into improving production of underutilized crops rather than depending on a limited number of crops and because of this vision the Asian centre for Underutilized Crops was established

 

GOAL

The socio-economic development and poverty alleviation of people in Asia through increased production, processing, marketing and utilization of underutilized crops

 

OBJECTIVES

• To develop an effective forum which facilitates collaborative  partnerships among countries in the region on priority species of different commodity groups, particularly fruits and nuts , indigenous traditional vegetables, industrial crops including medicinal herbs, aromatic plants and spices 

 

• To make more efficient use of expertise , technologies and focus on production, products and marketing of under-utilized crops for the benefits of the rural communities

 

• To strengthen existing regional networks on underutilized crops

 

• To undertake and/or foster research for the improvement of various species, develop propagation technologies, production and management practices including seed and planting material production systems

 

• To facilitate rural development through efficient farming systems research, and extension services and improved nutrition particularly of women and children

 

• To reduce losses and enhance quality through new and/or improved post-production technologies

 

• To assemble and collate  relevant information on these species for dissemination to scientists , farmers, the agricultural community and policy makers

 

• To assemble and disseminate market intelligence , and through public/private sector collaboration to stimulate the establishment of marketing chains

 

• To strengthen the capabilities of local and regional institutions , with  particular focus on human resource development

 

• To encourage national governments to develop appropriate policies and strategies to provide an enabling environment for the promotion of underutilized crops

 

ACTIVITIES OF THE ACUC

 

• Information gathering and dissemination, and publication of bibliographies, manuals, fact sheets and a newsletter

 

• Development of appropriate propagation and production methods; the supply of quality planting materials to farmers ;regional testing of promising cultivars; and the development of cropping systems for different agro-ecological and socio-economic settings

 

• Development of post-production handling, processing and transportation to raise quality, minimize losses and facilitate movement from farmers to markets

 

• Promotion of collaborative research  with individual countries taking lead roles in areas where they have interest and competitive advantages and to establish beneficial partnerships with all stakeholders

 

• Organization of meetings and workshops , training and visits on topics of common interest

 

STRATEGIC THEMES OF ACUC

 

• Greater utilization of biodiversity for sustainable small-holders production for improved livelihood and income generation

 

• Improving degraded land through use of underutilised crops for sustainable environment

 

• Value added products for horticultural, agricultural and agroforestry systems

 

• Healthcare through utilization of underutilized crops

 

 

 

MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD

 

·         Prof.H.P.M.Gunasena       -     Sri Lanka

             Chairman

             Executive Director

             Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy

 

·         Dr. Ragu Nath Sapkota    -      Nepal

             Executive Director

             Nepal Agricultural Research Council

 

·         Dr. Badaruddin Soomro   -      Pakistan

             Chairman

             Pakistan Agricultural Research Council

 

·         Dr. P.S. Faylon                   -     The Philippines

             Executive Director 

             The Philippines Centre for Agriculture,Forestry  and Natural Resources Research &

             Development(PCARRD)

 

·         Ass. Prof. Vu Manh  Hai      -   Vietnam

             Director General

             Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable