The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has a global mandate for the improvement of groundnut, pigeonpea and chickpea. Research is conducted into ways of alleviating the major biotic and abiotic factors that adversely affect these leguminous crops, and is largely targetted towards resource-poor farmers relying on rainfed agriculture. Genetic improvement efforts are enhanced by the establishment, characterization, evaluation and maintenance of the world germplasm collection for these crops at ICRISAT Center in India. Progress has been made in incorporating disease and pest resistance and in developing new plant types for alternative cropping systems. Improved management options have also been evolved to better exploit the genetic yield potential of traditional and improved varieties. With progress in the solution of research problems and the development of national research capabilities ICRISAT's role is changing towards an increase in strategic research in areas such as cell biology.