Project extension proposal of food security in Bangladesh: improving wheat, maize and papaya production, and impacts of arsenic contamination.

Abstract

CIMMYT began its work under USAID grand in July 2002 with programs running for 3 years except for the Transgenic Papaya program, which ends June 2007.Thus, this proposal entails the expansion and extension of the additional 7 programs listed below as well as the expansionof the papaya project from 2007-2012: 1.Human Resource Developmen i. Will mostly continue the powerful training and exchanfes of scientists, personnel, and growers eich has built up a very networks and team. 2. Facilitation and Promotion for adoption of Mechanization by Growers i. Will continue but expand the loan program of Chinese tractor accessories based on the significant results of this year-the successful loan of 50 of the 100 seeders that have been introduced since 1998. 3. GIS - Bangladesh Country Almanac i. More and more partners wish to add their data and join the BCA team, This proposal enclosed will vastly expand the data to include lasndsat (satellite imagery) as well as add the expertise of the world's experts from Stanford University on this matter. Thus, the capabilities for the BCA incorporating these images will make it state-of-the-art in analyzing data sets for food security, disaster, crop estimates, crop diseases and pests, etc. All will be possible, but granted, the vision may be costly-and thus, we are proposing 2 paths for resourcing-one which is low-budget and another wich is of hingher funding requirement, but ono theh will allow absolute universal public use of the most intensive data in the world-and with Bangladesh representing the 'experiment' for the future of the world in many ways from population, climate change, etc., the creation of the ultimate universal dataset might be attractive to fund ... we are providing a chance to USAID. 4. Whole Family Training in MAize i. The simplest, but proven most successful of all our programs, we wish only to continue this in more areas as maize continues to impact rural livelihoods in powerful ways. 5.Impacts of Arsenic Contamination on Agricultural Sustainability and Food Quality i. Just like the BCA, the partners and network derived from 3 years' funding can be expanded with additional activities to ensure absolute empowerment of the NARS, NGOs, and GOB to continue to analyze and manage arsenic in the environment. 6. Agro-food Nutrition Program in Chakaria i. Rickets can be eliminated with the continuation of this very low-cost, but effective program for an additional 7 years. 7. Monitoring and Evaluation of the Programs i.This program is a MUST to keep all programs and their activities constantly analyzed for their impact and effectiveness as well as provide the donor the data required to justify SOS objectives being met. 8. Papaya Improvement through Viral Disease Resistance i. Though seed of transgenic papaya is the 'deliverable' by the end of year 5, expanding for an additional 5 years will ensure other virus-free vegetables and fruits can be entered (seed that are already available for sale in the USA) into the registration/testing process and released to growers. Additionally, the further genetic improvement of papaya for factors other than viral resistance can be emphasized, maintaining the newly acquired transgene for virus resistance. Such factors may include sweetness, hermaphrodity (no need to maintain male plants), higher nutritional quality for human consumption, higher yielding, more efficient in nutrient extraction from the soil, etc.