ICRISAT developing GM peanut, others

It is but a matter of time before genetically modified groundnut (peanut) will become part of the agricultural landscape of suitable semi-arid tropic areas in Asia and Africa.

Now developing transgenic peanut is the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) based in Patancheru, India.

A field test on the emerging disease-resistant and high-yielding crop has been tried in India, said ICRISAT Director General William D. Dar, former Philippine Agriculture Acting Secretary.

In an interview with this writer, Dr. Dar said the potential GM peanut yielded more than 30 percent over the farmer’s variety. The transgenic peanut is also being developed for virus resistance which is expected to benefit peanut farmers in Asia and Africa.

More field tests will be conducted before the transgenic peanut is released for commercial production, he added.

ICRISAT is looking forward to the commercialization of the GM groundnut within three years, said Dr. Dar, who was the founding director of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR).

The former DA official was here to attend the annual general meeting of the Consutlative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Washington, DC, USA-based CGIAR is a strategic alliance of 16 international agricultural research centers (formally named Future Harvest Centers or FHC), 58 members (including 22 developing and 21 industrialized countries), investors, and partner-organizations. ICRISAT is one of the 16 FHCs under CGIAR’s umbrella.

Dr. Dar added that ICRISAT is also working on transgenic pigeonpea, chickpea, and pearl millet, all for pest resistance. Some of these crops are projected to be in farmers’ fields in three to five years. – Rudy A. Fernandez