Rome, Italy
March 23, 2007
Mauricio Bellon, Director of the
Diversity for Livelihoods Program of
Bioversity
International recently published a review examining the
technical challenges and tools available to target poor farmers
in marginal areas.
Three fundamental questions underpin the analysis: Why has crop
research not benefited many of the poor farmers in the
developing world? What are the challenges to targeting relevant
and appropriate crop research to serve those farmers? What tools
can be used, or are being used, to reach this goal?
Bellon's research is covered in more detail in the latest issue
of
CGIAR eNews, as an example of how CGIAR scientists are
"nourishing the future through scientific excellence". You can
download a copy of the paper at
http://news.bioversityinternational.org/media/1/Bellon.pdf.
Crop research to benefit
poor farmers in marginal areas of the developing world: a
review of technical challenges and tools
Mauricio R. Bellon
(2006), Bioversity International
CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary
Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources 2006 1, No. 070,
doi: 10.1079/PAVSNNR20061070.
The electronic version of this article is the definitive
one.
It is located at
www.cababstractsplus.org/cabreviews
©
CABI Publishing 2006 (Online ISSN 1749-8848)
ABSTRACT
Despite great successes in
crop research for the developing world, many poor farmers in
marginal areas have not benefited. There is increasing
recognition that crop research can and should benefit these
farmers. This paper reviews some of the key technical issues
related to the challenge of formulating and carrying out
crop research that is targeted, relevant and appropriate to
these farmers, with a particular emphasis on crop
improvement. It examines the reasons that underpin the lack
of research impacts, and some of the key challenges and
tools available to make this happen. The challenges include
breeding for marginal environments, incorporating risk and
vulnerability as important dimensions of crop research,
recognizing the demand for multiple traits and diverse
varieties, as well as addressing neglected and underutilized
species important to the poor. The tools are comprised of a
combination of crop environmental classification systems
with poverty mapping to target and prioritize research at
the global and national levels, the use of participatory
research approaches, particularly in plant breeding, as well
as non-market valuation methodologies to make research
products relevant and appropriate to the poor at the local
level. The paper briefly examines the promise of modern
biotechnology.
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