Amir Kassam

A review of agricultural research issues raised by the system of rice intensification (SRI) from Madagascar: opportunities for improving farming systems for resource-poor farmers

Abstract The “system of rice intensification” (SRI) that evolved in the 1980s and 1990s in Madagascar permits resource-limited farmers to realise yields of up to 15 t of paddy/hectare on infertile soils, with greatly reduced rates of irrigation and without external inputs. This paper reviews the plant physiological and bio-ecological factors associated with agronomic practices that could explain the extraordinary yields in terms of synergies resulting from the judicious management of the major crop production factors: time, space, water, plant nutrients and labour. The findings underscore the importance of integrated and interdisciplinary research, combining strategic and adaptive (on-farm participatory) approaches that explore and link bio-physical and socio-economic factors in crop production. Such approaches would permit to unlock currently untapped production potentials of rice and other major cereal grain crops, without extra costs to farmers or to the environment.

An African success: the case of conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe

This paper highlights the limiting factors of agricultural production in Zimbabwe and presents conservation agriculture (CA) as a potential solution to address many of these challenges. CA, based on the three principles of minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention and crop rotations, targets low soil fertility, moisture deficits and low management standards through the use of soil-fertility-enhancing technologies (precision fertilizer application, crop rotations, sequencing and interactions), improved moisture use efficiency and higher standards of agronomic management practices. The paper also explains the role of CA in natural resource conservation as increasing productivity will reduce the land under crop production and increase the area under natural vegetation. Trends in the development of CA in the past five years and its current status in the country are explained, with the roles of different stakeholders outlined. Evidence on the impact of CA on both food security and the environment is presented. In conclusion, the paper looks at the various factors that may affect the spread of CA to different agro-ecological zones in the country.

Harnessing sustainability, resilience and productivity through conservation agriculture: the case of likoti in Lesotho

Subsistence farmers in Lesotho have been able to boost agricultural yields and increase food production by adopting conservation agriculture. The practice, locally known as likoti, also contributes to combating soil erosion and to enhancing fertility. The socio-economic and environmental benefits help poor households to rehabilitate and strengthen their livelihood capital base and ultimately help rural communities to build system resilience in the face of widespread poverty and increasing vulnerability that affect the country. This paper discusses the major advantages associated with the spread of likoti. By drawing on primary data collected by FAO-Lesotho, it enquires into the determinants of adoption, thereby highlighting constraints and options for future up-scaling. The results show that attending appropriate training is a crucial prerequisite for the correct adoption of likoti. However, training is more effective when trainers pursue true participation and when social capital among farmers is stronger. Further important determinants of adoption are the level of education and the economic incentives provided to vulnerable households. Stronger policy and institutional support in all these areas would thus help address the cultural and resource constraints that limit the full potential of likoti to be harnessed and ultimately hinder its further spread throughout the country.

NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT RESEARCH IN THE CGIAR: THE ROLE OF THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Judicious management of our natural resources is a major pillar of sustainable agriculture, broadly defined. It is, therefore, unfortunate that, until now, research in natural resources management (NRM) has not received sufficient support, or the recognition that other agricultural research topics have had. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) recognized, early on, the complementarities and synergies between NRM research and other themes, notably genetic improvement, and its research Centres have pursued some vigorous programmes for many years. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to the CGIAR was supportive of such programmes from the start and provided advice to the CGIAR System on NRM research strategies. Highlights of such advice over the last 20 years are discussed, including the ecoregional approach, the 1996 study of Priorities and Strategies for Soil and Water Research, and the CGIAR Vision and Strategy of 2000. Recent developments at the Centres leading to the promotion of integrated approaches to NRM (INRM) are described, and a set of priority areas in INRM research for future CGIAR activities is presented.

Setting agricultural research priorities for the CGIAR

Abstract The CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) is a small but significant component of the global agricultural research system. With its limited financial resources, it has to be selective in its role and choice of research portfolio. An updated report on CGIAR priorities and strategies is produced every five years by TAC (Technical Advisory Committee to the CGIAR) to guide system-wide resource allocation taking into consideration an appropriate balance between centers, activities, commodities, regions and agro-ecological zones. In considering priorities, TAC is guided by several important factors such as the CGIAR mission and goal, emerging trends in world agriculture, and the evolution of scientific capacity in developing countries. The current approach has been modified to account for the expanded mandate of the CGIAR, greater emphasis on sustain-ability and resource management issues, allow for meaningful interactions with stakeholders, ensure transparency in decision making, and develop mechanisms which facilitate CGIAR priority setting as a continuing activity. The analytical framework used by TAC has three dimensions: first, an activities dimension, including the five categories of CGIAR research and research-related activities: second, a spatial dimension with nine agro-ecological zones and four geographic regions; third, a product dimension, with four main production sectors and their respective commodities. Quantitative tools have been used in addition to informed judgement and decision making. The implications of TACs views on CGIAR priorities are discussed and conclusions made on outstanding issues and current TAC views on the future structure of the CGIAR.

Towards a regional approach to research for the CGIAR and its partners

At its International Centres Week in October 2000 (ICW2000), the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) adopted a new Vision and Strategy. This paper is about Plank 4 of the CGIARs Vision and Strategy which calls for the adoption, in collaboration with national and regional partners, of a regional approach to research planning, priority setting and implementation. Given the poverty and impact focus of international public goods research, both national agricultural research systems (NARS) and the CGIAR have advantages in pursuing a regional approach as a component of their respective activities. For the NARS in the region, this means seeking advantages at the regional level that they could not derive solely from a national-level approach. For the CGIAR, this means seeking complementary gains that it could not achieve exclusively through a global or ecoregional approach. These mutual advantages open the door for partnerships in regional research between NARS and their regional organizations, and the CGIAR. The paper highlights the advantages as well as risks and limitations of a regional approach to research. Since ICW2000, all regional and sub-regional organizations and CGIAR Centres have taken action to facilitate consultation processes that could eventually lead to the establishment of a regional approach to research for the CGIAR and NARS. The paper notes some emerging lessons, and takes a forward look.

A Regional Approach to Setting Research Priorities and Implementation: Towards Satisfying National, Regional and Global Concerns

ABSTRACT Regionalization of agricultural research across countries has received considerable attention in recent years, with the establishment of regional and sub-regional organizations in most regions. Recently, the CGIAR System has called for a regional approach to research, involving bottom-up priority-setting and implementation, and integrating this with global priority-setting. This paper explores the possibility of developing an approach for research priority-setting that would satisfy national, regional, and global expectations of regionalization and allow the regional and sub-regional organizations to assume a bigger role. The paper also considers how the CGIAR Centres may support this priority-setting process and how they may use it to define their regional activities. A review of existing regional research initiatives shows the many models in use, with different extents of collaboration and with different challenges and promises. Regional priorities can strengthen the relevance of agricultural research in a region or sub-region. A description of a relatively generic approach to establishing regional priorities is presented. Different research organizations that are present in a region can use the research priorities to enable their work, and it is possible for CGIAR Centres to participate in the regional agenda while respecting the global nature of the CGIAR System. The integration of regional priorities into the CGIAR global research agenda is an area in which there is little experience in the CGIAR System. The challenge for the CGIAR is to determine how to maintain a global focus in its agenda, while promoting a coordinated regional approach to research planning and implementation. Priority-setting in the CGIAR will become even more of an ongoing process while the bottom-up regional approach to research planning, priority-setting, and implementation is established in all regions.

Food safety considerations for CGIAR research

ABSTRACT In view of the CGIARs identification of food safety as an area requiring priority attention to safeguard the economic interests of smallholder farmers and the poor, this paper aims to provide a general overview of the level of research and development attention accorded by the scientific and development community to this theme. This baseline survey of work undertaken exposes the nature of the problem; the food safety situation of the poor; food safety concerns in technology and policy research in the CGIAR; the role of capacity-building; and, subsequently, attempts to provide pointers to the CGIAR research community along which it could proceed. It is clear that within the CGIAR System, there has been no set strategy to provide guidance on the topic, and that work done to date has been largely of an ad hoc nature. The formulation of a strategic framework to guide the incorporation of food safety considerations in CGIAR research is now essential and would prevent duplication, capture synergies from the currently isolated activities and promote greater efficiency.

Water and the CGIAR: A Strategic Framework

Abstract Among the many institutions addressing development issues at the international level, the 16 research centers of the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) focus on the goal of reducing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition by sustainably increasing productivity of resources in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. The CGIAR has certain comparative advantages in carrying work in water at the various scales, from the farm up to global, that should be offered to the international community. This discussion paper addresses the question: what are the major water issues relevant to the CGIAR goal? The paper also presents a justification of the research needs and opportunities as well as some initial ideas for the development of a specific research agenda on each area. While other international organizations are very active in many international initiatives, the CGIAR is one of the few that could contribute much needed research information in many world areas. The CGIAR must focus more on water in relation to the plight of the poor in particular. There is a need to increase the adaptive capacity of the poor, and to manage the water supply and quality constraints. This could be achieved by focusing at the community level and by developing inexpensive, easy to use monitoring tools that would alert the communities of forthcoming problems and provide them with means to take remedial action. This action is often needed long before there is any hope of changes in policy and other macro-level interventions. The fundamental issue of water as a food requires that attention be given to the quantity and quality of water available for domestic use in poor households and communities. Health issues associated with domestic supply and with irrigation management have been important research themes in the CGIAR and demand increasing attention. Given the current composition, activitiesm and comparative advantages of the CGIAR, it is proposed that research on water management should focus on the following four broad general areas: (1) improving the efficiency of water use in agriculture through increased water productivity; (2) management of watersheds for multiple functions; (3) management of aquatic ecosystems, in particular those sharing boundaries with terrestrial ecosystems; and (4) policy and institutional aspects of water management. As the aim of water management research is to address water constraints and issues in an integrated manner, the four areas cannot be treated in isolation from each other. There is thus a need for the fifth area for achieving integration at and across different scales.

Information and communication technologies (ICT) and the consultative group on international agricultural research (CGIAR): A discussion paper

ABSTRACT This paper is a preliminary note to facilitate discussion on (1) the opportunities arising from advances in ICT for CGIAR in conducting its main business of research, and (2) the role of CGIAR in capacity building to help national partners use ICTs in their research and related activities.1 The paper takes a look at ICT in relation to the new CGIAR vision and strategy and examines the use of GIS-based ICTs in CGIAR. A short summary of ICTs used by CGIAR Centres for access and dissemination of information from their research and related activities is also presented. There is a need for CGIAR to analyse opportunities arising from advances in ICT in terms of: research inputs; research methodologies and processes; research outputs, delivery and outcomes; research support; communication, research collaboration and partnership; and as an activity to strengthen capacity of national partners. The paper draws some conclusions and makes recommendations regarding the next steps towards analysing ICT opportunities for CGIAR in the context of the CGIAR vision and strategy.