RUFORUM promotes research on orphan crop [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Maréchal & Baudet] through support to graduate students

development impact. Carnergie Corporation of New York has supported the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, (RUFORUM) to ignite a new approach to graduate research that is hoped will have direct impact on agricultural development. Through a Postdoctoral project, RUFORUM supported four graduate students to work towards the development of market-led kersting’s groudnut [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Maréchal & Baudet] varieties in Benin. Two PhD students and two Master students takled various topics that inclided baseline studies to understand cropping system, germplasm characterization, development of resistance to storage bruchids, improving yield, using seed quality production and postharvest handling. The studies are being undertaken through a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Benin to intensify research on the orphan crop Macrotyloma geocarpum and aims to establish a breeding program for the crop. In addition to harnessing research of graduate students, this funding scheme enabled enhancing supervisory skills of the Postdoctoral Fellow.