Opportunities for Farmer-Led APAARI Processes

Dr. Bhag MalConsultant

Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI)

MissionOur mission is to promote the development of National Agricul-tural Research Systems in Asia-Pacific region through facilita-

tion of inter- regional, inter-institutional and international partnerships.

VisionARD in the Asia-Pacific region is effectively promoted and facili-tated through novel partnerships so as to contribute to sus-tainable improvement in the productivity of agricultural systems and to the quality of the natural resource base that underpins agriculture, thereby enhancing food and nutrition se-curity, economic and social well being of communities and the

integrity of the environment and services it provides.

Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI)

APAARI

A neutralplatform for

strengthening of AR4D through innovative

partnerships among

stakeholders

Policy Advocacy

Regional Research Networking

Human Resource Develop-

ment

Information Dissemina-

tion

Technology Transfer

Building Research

Partner-ships

APAARI - Strategic Thrusts

Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI)

APAARI Membership

Category Members

Regular (NARS) : 20

Associate (CG Centers/IARCs): 16

Affiliate : 09

Reciprocal : 10

Total : 55

Implementing APAARI VISION 2025

Knowledge Sharing - APARIS Biotechnology - APCoAB Research Prioritization and Strengthening AR4D -

Bangkok Declaration, Agrobiodiversity – Suwon Framework Climate Change – Tsukuba Declaration Post Harvest Management – LFM Biofuel – Expert Consultation Biosafety and Biosecurity –Taichung, Bangkok Consultation Trans-boundary Diseases – Delhi Consultation

GCARD Road Map

Focus on small holder farmers

Research emphasis on Farming Systems’ Mode

Increased investments in AR4D (Triple)

Linking Farmers to Market (LFM)

Role of Women and Youth

Emphasis on Conservation Agriculture

Enhanced Partnership with Stakeholders (Farmers, NGOs, Private Sector)

Key Messages

Priorities for Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) in South Asia – Policy BriefNew Delhi; 2 July, 2012

• Policy Dialogues: Bangladesh, India and Nepal• Regional Synthesis Report for South Asia developed

and Presented in GCARD 2, in Uruguay• Regional Strategy - AR4D Priorities

– Enhance AR4D investment (3-4 times)– Intensify agricultural research and innovations– Higher priority on research on natural resource

management– Ensure functional autonomy of NARS– Strengthen human resource development – Re-orient current agricultural education system– Strengthen translational technology management and de-

livery systems, and agro-advisory services

– Skill development for research planning, visioning and implementation

– Strengthen agricultural engineering research inputs and services

• Need for National Action Plan on genetic resources management

• Involvement of local communities for in situ conservation

• Need for expansion of Annex. I crops of the Treaty

Key Recommenda-tions

Global Consultation on Use and Management of Agrobiodiversity for Sustainable Food Security

New Delhi; 12-14 February, 2013

• National Biodiversity Laws need to be enacted• Avoid duplication of samples in gene banks• Need to harmonize regulations under CBD and ITPGRFA• Training and capacity building in PGR be encouraged• Strengthening partnership among NARS-CGIAR• Greater thrust on prebreeding initiatives

Regional Dialogue on Conservation AgricultureNew Delhi; 1-2 November, 2011

• Concerted efforts need to be made for easy access to region-specific technologies so as to expand CA adoption to over 20 mil-lion ha area in South Asia.

• Efforts need to be made to develop appropriate mechanisms for capacity building on CA

• A mechanism of ‘Single Window Service’ needs to be established for large scale acceleration of CA.

• Suitable incentives need to be provided faster adoption of new and innovative CA technologies

• An appropriate mechanism needs to be established for ensuring the minimum quality standards of CA machinery

• Multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder partnerships should be de-veloped for better delivery of the benefits to the farmers.

Key Recommenda-tions

Regional Consultation on Improving Wheat Productivity in AsiaBangkok; 26-27 April, 2012

• Developing varieties resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses• Strengthening research on developing synthetic wheat, hybrid wheat, GM wheat• Basic and strategic research on integrated use of crop modeling, sensors, GIS,

remote sensing, decision support systems and ICT• Enhancing farming system based productivity• Established regional research networks for transboundary diseases and pests

resilience • Developing databases, knowledge and service banks for• Strengthening capacity building• Establishing Regional Alliance on Wheat (RAW) • Higher investment, policy support, ecoregional/farming system based research

Recommenda-tions

Expert Consultation on Promotion of Medicinaland Aromatic PlantsBangkok; 2-3 December, 2013

• Traditional knowledge and technologies be documented and shared

• Need for effective linkages between research and industry

• Regulatory mechanism for biosafety and enhanced international trade

• Establish a Regional Network on MAP in Asia-Pacific region

Major Recommendations• Prioritize medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) in each country for

concerted research and development

• Rare and endangered species to be identified on priority for conservation

• Develop regional database on MAP under wild conditions and their collection

• Build strong institutional base to undertake systematic research on MAP.

• Investment on MAP to be tripled supported by proper policy advocacy

Key Recommendations Making importance of gender in agriculture more

visible and recognized Strengthening evidence and knowledge to address

specific needs of farm women Increase knowledge sharing, access to technologies

and capacity development Promote collective action and leadership of rural

women and address effectively existing discrimina-tion.

Establishing rights to ownership and access to resources to ensure inclusive growth

Promoting partnership through coordination and convergence at the national, regional and global scale (GAP)

Engendering agriculture to be a priority by NARS

Global Conference on Women in AgricultureNew Delhi; 13-15 March, 2012

Foresight and Future Pathways of Agricultural Research

through Youth in IndiaNew Delhi; 1-2 March 2013

Foresight and Future Pathways of Agricultural Research through Youth in IndiaNew Delhi; 1-2 March 2013

Major Recommendations Research• Reorient agricultural research towards inter-institutional and inter-disciplinary mode

• Joint research with private sector through common facility development • Seed grant (10-15 lacs) for the newly recruited scientist to initiate research program• Collaborative research with advanced foreign institutions• Special grant for young scientist through competitive basis• Encouraging scientist on patents and usage of newer innovative scientific toolsDevelopment• Short to long-term trainings for young scientist at advanced global institutions• Institutional grant to present research work in International Conferences• Young scientist as member in decision making committees• Provision of training program for developing scientific leadershipPolicy• Human resource development through a bottom up approach• Balancing funding resources for basic, applied, strategic and participatory research• Creating ICT facilities to discourage the repetitive research• More scientific and administrative freedom through a bottom up approach• Creating centralized research facilities in collaboration with private sector

• Reorient agriculture through agri-innovation, agri-business and entrepreneurship• Greater involvement of youth to achieve second green revolution for household nutrition security• Special emphasis on secondary /speciality agriculture • Linking agriculture with health, environment, nutrition and basic sciences• Innovative approaches in developing and transferring technologies• Enhance capacity of youth, through vocational trainings and education • Involve youth in decision making processes for R&D programs • Higher investments to motivate youth to adopt agriculture as a profession• Policy support for inter-institutional and public-private partnership• Need for creating awareness through media about opportunities in agriculture• Strong political will and enabling policies for youth involvement in AR4D• Establish a Regional Network for future agricultural growth through youth

Regional Workshop on Youth and Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities in Asia-Pacific Region23-24 October, 2013, Islamabad

Major Recommendations

NARS-CGIAR Interactive Session for Strength-ening Partnership in South Asia22 October 2013, Islamabad

Major Recommendations• Need for greater consultations by

CRPs with NARS in the region• Flow of germplasm and prebreeding

materials from CG Centers to NARS to be accelerated

• CGIAR Centers to target on new innovations, while NARS should work for their faster adoption, refinement and validation

• Knowledge sharing and capacity development should be priority of CG Centers

• Interactive sessions/workshops need to be organized more fre-quently

• Partnership with agricultural universities in the region needs to be strengthened

• Involve and empower both women and youth especially for sec-ondary/ speciality agriculture, extension services, value addition and marketing

• New mechanisms to share/transfer knowledge/technology for outscaling innovations

• CGIAR to play greater role in policy advocacy for strengthening partnership

Major Recommenda-tions• Countries need to adopt promising GM crops particularly

to address the needs of smallholder farmers• Greater commitment by public sector organizations to

GM technology development and biosafety compli-ance

• Make use of farmer champions for outscaling proven biotechnologies

• Regional and sub-regional cooperation and collaboration in modern biotechnology and biosafety in the Asia-Pa-cific region

• Financial assistance mechanism at the regional level

Stakeholders' Dialogue on Biosafety Regula-tions inthe Asia-Pacific RegionBangkok; 16-17 April, 2013

Major Recommendations

Asian Food and Agribusiness Conference 2013: Biotechnology and Global Competitiveness15-18 July, 2013, Taipei

Governments should provide financial support, proper policy environment, and infrastructure for biotech innovations

Governments should put in place appropriate science based biosafety regulatory frameworks

There is a need to address concerns on cultivation of biotech/GM crops through appropriate communication strategies

Countries need to prioritize biotech applications appropriately to meet their needs

Countries will have to use biotechnology for green food production in order to deter food insecurity and address the anticipated effects of climate change

Countries are urged to use the experience gained from public acceptance of non-GM applications such as biofertilizers, biopesticides, molecular breeding and micropropagation

Stakeholders’ Interface on GM Food Crops19 May 2011, New Delhi

Major Recommendations • Adoption of GM technology is important for food and nutritional se-

curity• Issues of biosafety, public perception and communication need to be

addressed.• National Biotechnology Authority be established soon• The technology should move forward to bring benefits to farmers and

the society through:• Partnerships• Advocacy and information dissemination• Intellectual property/licensing resolution• Science based and transparent regulatory system.

Major Recommendations • Adoption of GM technology is important for food and nutritional se-

curity• Issues of biosafety, public perception and communication need to be

addressed.• National Biotechnology Authority be established soon• The technology should move forward to bring benefits to farmers and

the society through:• Partnerships• Advocacy and information dissemination• Intellectual property/licensing resolution• Science based and transparent regulatory system.

• Identify collective actions that can be taken by various actors at national, regional and international levels in opening and sharing useful and relevant agricultural data, information and knowledge

• Share good practices to guide national organizations to generate and open access to relevant and useful agricultural information for smallholder resource-poor farmers and producers in small and weak countries of the region

• Strengthen institutional commitment, partnerships and networks in support of open-ing access to agricultural information and knowledge in the region

Recommenda-tions

Expert Consultation on Managing Trans-Boundary Diseases of Agricultural ImportanceNew Delhi; 10-12 October, 2012

Asian Farmers' Regional Consultation on AR4DBangkok ; 10-11 Sept., 2012

•Focus on Smallholder farmers

•Low-cost and low-input agriculture

•Capacity development

•Regional cooperation

•Access to information and knowledge

• Need for farmer exchange visits

•Need to strengthen links between research, advisory & extension

• Need for higher investments in AR4D

• Empower women farmers in farming & marketing activities

•Partnership with APAARI to strengthen AR4D issues in the region.

Recommendations

3-5 September, 2013, New Delhi

and marketing reforms• Creation of a cadre of young technology agents for custom hire services• Incentives and rewards to farmers though “Farm Innovation Fund” • Institutional reforms for better co-ordination, convergence and efficiency• Establish self-help groups (SHGs), co-operatives and farmers’ companies • Replicate successful public-private-partnership models• Innovative farmers’ to be recognized as “Farm Professors”• Provision of credit at low interest rates and insurance against risk factors

National Workshop on Outscaling Farm Innov-ation

3-5 September, 2013, New DelhiMajor Recommendations• Paradigm shift in AR4D with renewed em-

phasis on “Farmer First”• Outscaling of innovations based on techno-

economic feasibility, relevance and utility and adopting in a mission-mode

• Identify , test and refine farmer led innova-tions

• Effective and efficient extension mechanism

Establishing a regional network for extension services

Enhancing quality of extension services

Creating space for research-extension interface

Expert Consultation on Strengthening Linkages between Research and extension to Promote Food and Nutrition Security Bangkok ; 11-12 December, 2013

Action Framework

Fostering enabling policy initiatives Adapting to a new research-extension environment Mobilizing resources and establishing stakeholder partnerships Documenting evidence and promoting awareness

Publications

Proceedings Success stories APAARI on CD, NL

Documentation and dissemination of agricultural infor-

mation and knowledge

Links

News and Announcement

Upcoming Events

> 50 success stories

44 issues of APAARI newsletter

> 60 reports and proceedings

Publications

APAARI Website

Directories

Research network Project database ASTI databases Etc.

ARD Databases

APCoAB website

Collaboration

CGIAR

GFAR

FAO

COA

AFA

APIRAS

AARINENA

CACAARI

CAPSA

FARA

ACIAR

YPARD

GFRAS

Inclusive Growth of Agricultural Research for Development

Stakeholders’ Involvement in Governance :

National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS)

CGIAR Centers/International Organizations

Agricultural Universities

Regional Fora/Organizations

NGOs

FOs

FOs on APAARI Executive Committee IFAP (2009-2010) (Mr. Raul Montemayor)

AFA (2013-2014) (Ms. Esther Penunia)

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (2013-2014)

Chairman Dr. Simon Hearn, ACIAR, Australia

Vice-Chairman Dr. Masa Iwanaga, JIRCAS, Japan

Members Dr. S. Ayyapan, ICAR, India

Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, PARC, Pakistan

Dr. Sae-Jung Sur, RDA, Republic of Korea

Mr. Misa Konelio, MAFFM, Samoa

Dr. Mark Holderness, GFAR, Italy

Dr. Thomas Lumpkin, CIMMYT, Mexico

Dr. Mahabub Hossain, BRAC, Bangladesh

Ms. Esther Penunia, AFA, Philippines

Executive Secretary Dr. Raj Paroda, India

Supporting Extension Activities to Promote Food & Nutrition Security

GFRAS

Highlights of Teleconference (25 March 2014): Invite one another to events Join one another’s networks Sharing information on each others activities - events, meetings, confer-

ences Have consultation among stakeholders on important extension related is-

sues APIRAS

Regional Forum on Strengthening Rural Advisory Services in Asia-Pacific Islands, Philippines, 14-15 September, 2011

Strategic activities

Policy Advocacy

Create mechanism/platform for knowledge sharing

Generate and synthesize lessons learned/good practices in RAS

Capacity building in RAS

Establish database and communication mechanism

Strengthen National RAS Networks

Supporting Extension Activities to Promote Food & Nutrition Security

On-going initiatives & upcoming activities

Regional Workshop on Family Farming AFA, APAARI, GFAR, FAO

Concept Note – Ms. Esther Penunia

Success Story on Innovative Technologies including Extension/Delivery Systems planned for 2014: E-Irrigation Nano Ganesh

Farmer to Farmer Knowledge Sharing : A Short Film

ICT e-Choupal

Mobile GAP for Rice Assessment

E-Krishok Service

Information and Communications Technology for Small-Scale Fishers and Fishing Administration

• World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (2011)

• Progressive farmer from India

• Regional Dialogue on Conservation Agriculture (1-2 November, 2011)

• Farmers from Bangladesh, India and Nepal

• Regional Workshop on Improving Wheat Productivity, Bangkok (2012)

• Farmers from India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh

• Regional Workshop on Youth & Agriculture, Islamabad, New Delhi (2013)

• Farmers from Indian and Pakistan

• National Workshop on Outscaling Farm Innovations, New Delhi (2013)

• 78 Farmers from all over India

• Expert Consultation on Research and Extension, Bangkok (2013)

• Progressive Farmer from India

APAARI supported participation of farmers and Fos in workshops/consultations/training pro-grams