These proceedings relate to a regional workshop which was held in Muscat, Oman, in January 2008.
Disasters are increasing worldwide, with more devastating effects than ever before. While the absolute number of disasters around the world has almost doubled since the 1980s, the average number of natural disasters in Middle East and North Africa (MNA) has almost tripled over the same period of time. In the MNA, the interplay of natural disasters, rapid urbanization, water scarcity, and climate change has emerged as a serious challenge for policy and planning.
The purpose of this paper is to summarize the challenges and the practical successes that a selected number of countries are experiencing in moving towards 'climate-smart' agriculture while also meeting the food requirements of a growing population, broader economic development and green growth objectives. It complements papers prepared in 2010 on technologies and policy instruments, research, and farmers' perspectives.
What are key characteristics of rural innovators? How are their experiences similar for women and men, and how are they different? To examine these questions, this study draw on individual interviews with 336 rural women and men known in their communities for trying out new things in agriculture. The data form part of 84 GENNOVATE community case studies from 19 countries. Building on study participants’ own reflections and experiences with innovation in their agricultural livelihoods, we combine variable-oriented analysis and analysis of specific individuals’ lived experience.
Literature is scanty on how public agricultural investments can help reducing the impact of future challenges such as climate change and population pressure on national economies. The objective of this study is to assess the medium and long-term effects of alternative agricultural research and development investment scenarios on male and female employment in 14 African countries. The authors first estimate the effects of agricultural investment scenarios on the overall GDP growth of a given country using partial and general equilibrium models.
L’objectif de cet article est d’explorer les défis et les contraintes de l’adoption des technologies de l’agriculture de précision, en se plaçant du point de vue des entreprises opérant dans le secteur des nouvelles technologies agricoles. L’étude s’appuie sur une approche qualitative moyennant une analyse de contenu issue de huit entretiens semi-directifs.
L'adoption des nouvelles technologies dans le secteur agricole marocain est devenue aujourd’hui une impérative nécessité. D’une part, pour suivre la tendance mondiale en matière d’innovation et rester compétitif, et d’autre part pour répondre à des enjeux purement agronomiques, économiques et environnementaux. L’objectif central de cet article est de s’interroger si le secteur agricole marocain dispose d’un environnement favorable pour l’introduction des innovations technologiques.
Pour accompagner les efforts d’adaptation au changement climatique couplé à la rareté des ressources en eau et promouvoir une agriculture durable à forte valeur ajoutée, la TIL est l'un des moyens les plus significatifs pour améliorer la productivité de l'eau en agriculture. Au Maroc, En dépit des efforts et incitations financières pour accélérer l’adoption de la TIL, les superficies actuellement équipées de cette technologie ne représentent qu'une part négligeable du potentiel.
The IFAD Innovation Strategy does not set new objectives for staff, but rather defines what is needed to create an innovation-friendly environment and to support staff in achieving the expected results.To strengthen its innovative capabilities and become a better catalyst of pro-poor innovation, IFAD will focus on four clusters of activities: (i) Building capabilities and understanding of challenges requiring innovation; (ii) Nurturing partnerships and facilitating an innovation network; (iii) Embedding rigorous innovation processes and the related risk management into IFAD’s core business
This regional workshop was designed to strengthen the capabilities of representatives of NIFUs for analyzing the situations of their NAIS, and to use their national experiences to identify strengths, weaknesses, and threats/challenges affecting seven key areas influencing development of NAIS, namely: (i) strategy/policy, (ii) institutional aspects, (iii) stakeholders, (iv) content, (v) people, (vi) infrastructure, and (vii) financial aspects. Possible solutions for the key weaknesses and threats /challenges were defined by participants.