« Le riz, c’est la vie ».
Telle était la devise choisie, en 2004, par l’Organisation mondiale pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (FAO) afin de célébrer l’année internationale du riz. Nul qualificatif ne peut en effet mieux décrire le rôle stratégique joué par ce petit grain. Qu’il soit blanc, jaune, rouge, violet, gluant, consommé en grains, en pâte, en soupe, ou en dessert, le riz constitue un enjeu de taille pour la sécurité et la souveraineté alimentaires des pays en développement.
Este libro se propone mostrar el modo en que la construcción de sentido en torno al concepto de interdisciplina en equipos de trabajo, es eje de un proceso de comunicación que acompaña cambios organizacionales. Dichos cambios no son estructurales sino que intervienen en las relaciones entre los sectores de investigación y extensión, las dos ramas fundamentales del Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), organismo nacional dedicado a la generación y transferencia de tecnología.
El estudio se realizó para conocer la contribución de la escuela de campo a productores en la capacitación y divulgación de la tecnología milpa intercalada en árboles frutales (MIAF). Una tecnología que contribuye en aumentar la producción de maíz y frijol e incorporar la producción intensiva de frutales de calidad comercial, eleva los ingresos, el empleo familiar y la captura de carbono del medio ambiente.
Investigadores de la Facultad de Agronomía de la Universidad de Buenos Aires participan desde 2003 en este proceso, aplicando el método de Interacción del Saber Técnico Popular (STP) y el Saber Científico (SC). Esta metodología complementaria de investigación se fundamenta en reconocer la validez y la utilidad del saber técnico popular y la fuerza y eficacia que puede generar su interacción con el saber científico.
Maize production is of critical importance to smallholder farmers in Ghana. Various factors limit the productivityof smallholder maize farming systems undergirded by the lack of capital for critical investments both at the farmand at national policy levels. Using a value chain approach, this diagnostic study explains how a complex configuration of actor interaction within an institutionally and agro-ecologically challenged value chain leads tothe enduring absence of maize farming credit support.
High elevation páramo (wetland) ecosystems in the Andes are important water sources for local communities and downstream agricultural and urban users. These headwater catchments, however, are often impacted by human activities (eg agricultural production) that affect both stream water quality and flow. Knowledge about water availability, quality, and use is essential for effective management but is often lacking, particularly in smaller mountain communities.
The privatization of agricultural research and extension establishments worldwide has led to the development of a market for services designed to support agricultural innovation. However, due to market and systemic failures, both supply side and demand side parties in this market have experienced constraints in effecting transactions and establishing the necessary relationships to engage in demand-driven innovation processes.
This paper examines the role of postsecondary agricultural education and training (AET) in sub-Saharan Africa in the context of the region’s agricultural innovation systems. Specifically, the paper looks at how AET in sub-Saharan Africa can contribute to agricultural development by strengthening innovative capacity, or the ability of individuals and organisations to introduce new products and processes that are socially or economically relevant, particularly with respect to smallholder farmers who represent the largest group of agricultural producers in the region.
This paper presents a case study of the work carried out by CIAT to facilitate the creation of a community of practice, using Dgroups and taking advantage of this virtual space to apply a qualitative monitoring technique called Most Significant Change. The experience reported here mixed key ingredients to create and facilitate a community of practice to facilitate knowledge sharing and communication flow among 14 learning and knowledge sharing centres in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Since 2004, the Institutional Knowledge Sharing (IKS) Project, managed by CIAT, has focused on scaling up project activities in CGIAR Centers and Programs, with the aim of mainstreaming knowledge sharing (KS) principles and tools. The overall objective is to contribute to organizational development, and improve CGIAR effectiveness by promoting collaborative learning and innovation, and supporting effective use of KS approaches and tools throughout the CGIAR.