On behalf of the Organizing Committee, I extend to all of you a very hearty welcome to this first Cereals and Legumes Asia Network (CLAN) Country Coordinators' Consultative Meeting, being held almost immediately after the Asian Sorghum Researchers' Consultative Meeting, also conducted under the auspices of CLAN. At ICRISAT we have a mandate to work on six crops: three cereals (sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet), and three legumes (groundnut, pigeonpea, and chickpea). Al l six crops contribute substantially to the diets of the people of the semi-arid tropics of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Let me briefly trace the history of this interesting and easy-to-remember acronym, CLAN. In December 1983, almost 10 years ago, we had organized a consultative group meeting of legume scientists from Asia. Two years later (1985) we hosted a review and planning meeting. In response to the recommendations made at these two meetings, the Asian Grain Legumes Network (AGLN) was established under the leadership of Dr D.G. Faris, who has now retired.

AgroTags: