CRP 3.4 roots, tubers and bananas for food security and income

Abstract

Context: Aims to increase availability and use of high-quality seed, thus contributing to agricultural development and food security. The Platform uses available information and technologies, brings key stakeholders of seed systems in contact with knowledge, scientific tools and best practices, creates favourable learning conditions and provides the necessary elements for stakeholders to apply this knowledge in decision-making (Gonsalves 2012).

Interface: CGIAR researchers are becoming more integrated in local knowledge exchange but not happening fast enough. For instance, decision support and analysis and soils, water and ecosystems researchers are very receptive but breeding and biotech is very far away.

Learning: CGIAR researchers need to identify vulnerable groups and listen, in order to make linkages between what is heard and the research that is done and to include communities and groups in prioritization of needs.

Family is a unit in agriculture. Family members, women and youth, are involved in production, post-harvest and market activities. The Strategic Research Framework of the CGIAR is changing the institutional approach. Now responsible for development outcomes, impact pathways or interim development outcomes over three years. Receptive research is being done in CGIAR but not moving quickly enough. For instance, there have been no significant differences in nutrition or farmers’ changes in practices to adapt to climate change, but this takes time to trickle down.

Channel: Role of extension agents is critical for transmitting relevant information from researcher to community and back to researcher.

Outcome: Tracking outcomes is difficult. CGIAR’s intermediate development outcomes do not provide a sufficient amount of time to anticipate outcomes beyond demonstration projects (annually or 3 years). Need more time to track and account for mainstreamed outcomes.