Fourth International Meeting of FORAGRO "Technological Innovation and Agribusiness

Priorities:  Developing a new Institutional Dimension in the Americas,"

Panama in April 13-15

Foro de las Américas para la Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico Agropecuariowww.iica.int/foragro

To contribute to the enhancement of agricultural and rural development in the region through fostering agricultural research and technology development and by strengthening collaboration in this regard within and outside the region to achieve greater degree of self-reliance in food and agriculture, and to improve the nutritional well being and overall welfare of the people of the region, while at the same time sustaining and further improving the productive capacity of the natural resource base.

AARINENA SubRegionsAARINENA SubRegions

MoroccoAlgeria

Libya

Mauritania

MaltaTunisia

Maghreb Sub-Region

Iraq

Syria

Palestinian Auth.

Jordan

CyprusLebanon

Mashreq Sub-Region

Kuwait

OmanUAE

Bahrain

S. Arabia

Qatar

Arabian Peninsula

Sub-Region

Egypt

YemenSudan

Somalia

Nile Valley & Red Sea Sub-Region

Djibouti

IranPakistan

Turkey

Western Asia Sub-

Region

Afghanistan

Status of Agriculture sector in WANA Region

The Near East and North Africa Region is a “food deficit region”, and perhaps the largest “net food importer” among developing countries.

The food gap in the region is expected to increase due to limited supply compared to effective demand, and therefore food insecurity has become a very serious problem in some countries

Approximately 60% of the population in the region lives in rural areas and is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, and therefore the decreasing agricultural production has a negative impact on food security, as well as on efforts toward poverty alleviation.

Status of Agriculture sector in WANA Region

The region is characterized by high population growth rate amounting to 3% , which is higher than the world rate (1.7%) and the industrialized countries rate (0.7%).

The population growth varies greatly from 4.2% in Libya, 3.5% in Yemen, 3.1% in Syria, and 1.9% in Egypt.

The population in 23 countries in the region was estimated as 385 millions in 1995, and expected to reach 582 in 2015

Main Problems & Bottlenecks of the Agriculture Main Problems & Bottlenecks of the Agriculture Sector:Sector:

Weak Linkages in WANA Region are Caused by:Weak Linkages in WANA Region are Caused by:FarmersFarmers

ResearchersResearchers

By 4By 4PartnersPartners

The SystemThe System

Extension WorkersExtension Workers

EXTENSION WORKERS Bottlenecks Causing EXTENSION WORKERS Bottlenecks Causing Weak Linkages in WANA regionWeak Linkages in WANA region

Inadequate TrainingInadequate Training on the following issues: on the following issues:• Reporting,Reporting,

• Effective communication with other stakeholders,Effective communication with other stakeholders,• Effective means of technology transfer & monitoring,Effective means of technology transfer & monitoring,

• Problems diagnostic analysis,Problems diagnostic analysis,• Evaluating and assessing results,Evaluating and assessing results,

• The use of IT as an important tool in extension activities.The use of IT as an important tool in extension activities.

Physical IsolationPhysical Isolation

Low WagesLow Wages

Weak Extension VisionWeak Extension Vision

Confusion of new graduatesConfusion of new graduates due to due to irrelevant education and the reality of either irrelevant education and the reality of either traditional or sophisticated modern farmingtraditional or sophisticated modern farming

““Jack of all trades”Jack of all trades” approach approach thus losing farmers confidencethus losing farmers confidence

RESEARCHERS Bottlenecks Causing Weak RESEARCHERS Bottlenecks Causing Weak Linkages in WANA RegionLinkages in WANA Region

Irrelevant Motivation as it is mostly Irrelevant Motivation as it is mostly for developing personal career. for developing personal career.

ThusThusResearch Agenda is based on Research Agenda is based on

literature irrelevant of actual field literature irrelevant of actual field needs.needs.

Week Tendency for Cooperation Week Tendency for Cooperation with other Stakeholders with other Stakeholders

ThusThusReluctant to listen to suggestions or Reluctant to listen to suggestions or

ideas especially from Farmers.ideas especially from Farmers.Ineffective Interaction Ineffective Interaction

with other Stakeholderswith other Stakeholders

SYTEM Bottlenecks Causing Weak LinkagesSYTEM Bottlenecks Causing Weak Linkagesin WANA Regionin WANA Region

Poor Functioning due to:Poor Functioning due to:

• Lack of perspective and clear agreed-upon policy,Lack of perspective and clear agreed-upon policy,• Organizational structure lacks clear job descriptions,Organizational structure lacks clear job descriptions,

• Inadequate communication of policy makers with other Inadequate communication of policy makers with other stakeholders,stakeholders,

• Insufficient funds for applied research,Insufficient funds for applied research,• Unclear methodology for technology transfer,Unclear methodology for technology transfer,

• Unclear methodology for evaluation & assessment of results,Unclear methodology for evaluation & assessment of results,• One direction flow “top down policy”,One direction flow “top down policy”,

• InadequateInadequate representationrepresentation ofof stakeholders especiallystakeholders especially farmers.farmers.

Regional Networks In Strengthening Agricultural Sector Regional Networks In Strengthening Agricultural Sector And Inter-regional CollaborationAnd Inter-regional Collaboration

Private Sector, FOs and NGOs Private Sector, FOs and NGOs voices are heard loud and clear voices are heard loud and clear

which helps bridging the gap which helps bridging the gap between researching & farmers,between researching & farmers,

ThereforeTherefore

Bylaws of Regional Organizations Bylaws of Regional Organizations such as (such as (AARINENA)AARINENA) which sponsors which sponsors

Networks are flexible and allow for Networks are flexible and allow for participation of non-public entities participation of non-public entities

into Agriculture Developing Activities.into Agriculture Developing Activities.

Develops a neutral platform for all Develops a neutral platform for all stakeholders both National and stakeholders both National and

Regional to discuss problems and Regional to discuss problems and propose creative non-traditional propose creative non-traditional

solutions to divert scientific research solutions to divert scientific research more towards development,more towards development,

and with self and with self momentum itmomentum it

Strengthens partnership Strengthens partnership among all stakeholders.among all stakeholders.

and through this and through this platform itplatform it

Enhances the exchange of Enhances the exchange of scientific and technical scientific and technical

knowledge and know how.knowledge and know how.

and consequently,and consequently,

Technical cooperation networks have become an increasingly important means of action and were initiated by AARINENA and supported by GFAR. These networks have become a generic model for the establishment of functional mechanisms for collaboration and enhancement of communication and exchange of experiences among different countries in one region and/or different regions of the world.

Established: October, 2002 Established: October, 2002 11 Countries11 Countries

Established: September, 2004 Established: September, 2004 8 Countries8 Countries

Established: February, 2004 Established: February, 2004 7 Countries 7 Countries

Established: April, 2002 Established: April, 2002 10 Countries10 Countries

Secretariat: Secretariat:

Cotton Research Institute of IranCotton Research Institute of IranVaramin Branch - Varamin Branch - IranIran

Secretariat:Secretariat:

Agriculture Research CenterAgriculture Research CenterCairo - Cairo - EgyptEgypt

Secretariat:Secretariat:

UAE UniversityUAE UniversityAl-Ain - Al-Ain - UAEUAE

Secretariat: Secretariat:

Olive Tree InstituteOlive Tree InstituteSfax – Sfax – TunisiaTunisia

The Importance of Regional Networks In Strengthening The Importance of Regional Networks In Strengthening Linkage on both National ,Linkage on both National ,

Regional &Inter-regional levels Regional &Inter-regional levels

AARINENA through its ties with AARINENA through its ties with other International Organizations can other International Organizations can support national and regional ARD in support national and regional ARD in

many areas.many areas.

Fund raising for adaptive research,Fund raising for adaptive research, Provision of experts from other Provision of experts from other

regions,regions, Organize training courses, workshops Organize training courses, workshops

and seminars,and seminars, Exchange of personnel,Exchange of personnel,

Strengthen cross-linkages between Strengthen cross-linkages between national, regional and international national, regional and international research centers and organizationsresearch centers and organizations.

Such asSuch as

Example of Networks’ Structural Organization of Example of Networks’ Structural Organization of AARINENA MODEL: AARINENA MODEL:

“Regional Network Linked to Other Regional Similar Network”

Coordinating Board Coordinating Board of the Olive Networkof the Olive NetworkAARINENA NetworkAARINENA Network ESCORENA (Europe)ESCORENA (Europe)

SecretariatSecretariat

FF FFFFFF FFFFFF 22 1133Regional States Level

11

Morocco: Scio-Economic & Commercialization WORKING GROUP

Egypt: Production & Protection

WORKING GROUP 22

33

Jordan: Post Harvest Processing Technologies

WORKING GROUP

NGOs

Research Institutions

Universities

Private Sector

FFFocal Point

1. AARINENA RAIS-Web Site was established in July 2002 operating from AREO Iran in

collaboration with GFAR .

2. Then ICT Steering Committee was established to strengthen RAIS .

3. The Members of the steering committee are composed from representatives of the five sub

regions and representatives of AOAD, FAO, GFAR, and ICARDA .

The Committee adopted the strategy which consists of the following:

Framework of Action to develop the WANA-RAIS Implementation Plan Collaborative Programs Implementation Priorities

The committee achieved the following:• Data on the status of NAIS and human resources

have been collected and analyzed• AARINENA Web site has been enhanced• A project Proposal has been prepared and ready for

donors

The ICT Steering Committee held its second meeting at AREEO, September 8-9,2004

The Challenge to Agricultural Research in the WANA Region

The main research themes and projects that need to be conducted in collaboration with researches from developing countries as well as from developed industrialized world :

• Germplasm Enhancement

• Production Systems Management

• Natural Resource Management

• Socioeconomic and Policy

• Institutional Strengthening

• Information System Management