The second freedom for women

Does investment in agricultural research really benefit the rural poor? Photo by Neil Palmer (CIAT)

In the wake of green revolution, notable increases in agricultural incomes and subsequent contributions to food security were noticed among many farmers in the world. Amidst all this, a majority of rural dwellers still wallow in poverty. This differential poverty is what has fueled a growing need to embrace new sources of innovation that are capable of shifting from conventional technological solutions to improving the lives of millions of these rural dwellers.

Desarrollo indivudual, desarrollo nacional

La familia Mora en su predio, Uruguay.

Cuando pensamos en el desarrollo individual de los pequeños productores muchas veces perdemos de vista lo que ello significa en forma global.
Por cada productor que puede mejorar su rendimiento, gracias a las asistencias técnicas y económicas significa dos cosas, un mejor nivel de vida para el y su familia, y una mayor cantidad de producción para el país.

El “GRAN HERMANO” de los frigoríficos

Frigorífico San Jacinto, Uruguay.

A partir del 2007 Uruguay cuenta con un “Sistema Electrónico de Información de la Industria Cárnica” (SEIIC) mejor conocido como “Cajas Negras”. Tal como bromeaba Daniel Abraham en nuestra visita al Frigorífico San Jacinto, se trata de una especie de “Gran Hermano” de los frigoríficos, que todo lo ve y lo controla.

El objetivo principal del SEIIC consiste en la recaudación de datos sobre la faena y el desosado de bovinos, pero más que nada, apunta a otorgar transparencia e igualdad de condiciones operativas y tecnológicas en el gestionamiento  de los distintos establecimientos.

GCARD2: Getting a better understanding of complexity

David Hoisington (ICRISAT)

As GCARD2 draws to a close, ICRISAT’s Deputy Director General, David Hoisington, answers three questions:

1. The CGIAR has made a huge transition recently. What do you think of the new system and will it be better suited to addressing the challenges farmers are facing today?

DH: I think the new CRP-based structure provides a more harmonized perspective to the work that the entire CGIAR is conducting. This will allow partners to better see how they ‘fit in’, and result in a more effective research portfolio that addresses the priorities of smallholder farming. There is still a lot that needs to be done to better define the expected outcomes, especially the intermediate development outcomes, that can be used to measure progress across the CRPs.

Young professionals rule!

Don’t count the youth out of agricultural research for development. Photo: CIMMYT

The Second Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD 2012) brought together all groups of stakeholders: from researchers to donors such as the FAO, EC or IFAD, to farmers organizations or the private sector.

The surprise at the conference co-organized by GFAR and the CGIAR Consortium was the recognition of the role that young professionals play in AR4D. For the first time in such a high level event, an international organization by youth for youth had the opportunity to be “the voice” of young professionals in this field of expertise. GCARD 2012 was the place where YPARD (the Young Professionals’ Platform for Agricultural Research for Development) was given the opportunity to organize both a full day pre-conference meeting on “Engaging with youth and working with them to shape the future of ARD” and participating in a live webcasted session on “Individual Learning and the Empowerment of Women and Youth” where YPARD had the possibility of presenting its opinion on the aging population in ARD and the measures that should be taken in order to involve more young professionals in both agriculture and agricultural research.