Research, extension, and advisory services are some of the most knowledge-intensive elements of agricultural innovation systems. They are also among the heaviest users of information communication technologies (ICTs). This module introduces ICT developments in the wider innovation and knowledge systems as well as explores drivers of ICT use in research and extension
This paper draws lessons from selected country experiences of adaptation and innovation in pursuit of food security goals.
LenCD has prepared a joint statement on results and capacity development (presented in this publication), which stresses that meaningful, sustainable results are premised on proper investments in capacity development and that these results materialize at different levels and at different times, along countries’ development trajectory. To provide evidence in support of this statement, LenCD launched a call for submission of stories.
This report is organized into nine chapters. Chapter one provides the introduction to the report. Chapter two presents alternative approaches to agribusiness development and chapter three discusses the role of agribusiness incubators. Chapter four discusses the challenges of agribusiness incubators and chapter five presents a typology of agribusiness incubators. Chapter six elaborates on the evolution of incubators over time. Chapter seven presents the analysis of impact and cost-benefits. Chapter eight summarizes good practices and lessons learned.
Many experts believe that low-cost mitigation opportunities in agriculture are abundant and comparable in scale to those found in the energy sector. They are mostly located in developing countries and have to do with how land is used. By investing in projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), countries can tap these opportunities to meet their own Kyoto Protocol obligations. The CDM has been successful in financing some types of agricultural projects, including projects that capture methane or use agricultural by-products as an energy source.
Interest in farmland is rising. And, given commodity price volatility, growing human and environmental pressures, and worries about food security, this interest will increase, especially in the developing world. One of the highest development priorities in the world must be to improve smallholder agricultural productivity, especially in Africa. Smallholder productivity is essential for reducing poverty and hunger, and more and better investment in agricultural technology, infrastructure, and market access for poor farmers is urgently needed.
This paper presents a literature review of issues related to recent subsidies and investments in the financial sector that have been designed to address the immediate effects of the crises and to develop the financial institutions necessary to modernize agriculture. Section two of the paper discusses the impact of recent food, fuel, and financial crises on developing countries and the emergency actions taken by countries and international agencies to reduce the suffering inflicted on poor people.
Les enjeux liés au changement climatique et à la sécurité alimentaire confortent la nécessité de mettre au point des démarches de conception/évaluation de systèmes durables, qu’il s’agisse d’améliorer les situations existantes ou d’imaginer de nouvelles voies de développement. En régions chaudes, l’élevage remplit aussi des fonctions non productives et doit s’adapter aux aléas et incertitudes.
Cet article défend l'idée que les petites exploitations agricoles doivent être placées au cœur du processus de développement, principalement dans les pays du Sud, notamment parce que la moitié des populations qui, dans le monde, souffrent de la faim, habitent des zones rurales et disposent de moins de 2 hectares, et parce que près de 2 milliards d'êtres humains dépendent de l'agriculture familiale. L'auteur, éminent représentant de la FAO, préconise l'insertion de la petite exploitation dans les circuits agro-industriels.
El documento que presentamos fue pensado para que los técnicos, asesores, formadores, gestores, capacitadores, coordinadores o líderes, tanto de organizaciones rurales y asociaciones de productores, como de agencias de desarrollo –gubernamentales o de la sociedad civil― cuenten con un instrumento de apoyo para desarrollar unidades pequeñas de producción y de servicios rurales en una región parcular.