FAO and ICARDA link research and development

Development and research actors must give more critical attention to providing solutions to the smallholder agriculture problems. This is particularly true for the challenges faced by many of the 2.5 billion people living in the world's dry areas, which comprise 40% of the earth's surface. A range of practical solutions exist today, created by agricultural research partners.  But these options still remain out of reach to many people living in the dry areas.

To move research into use on a large scale, and improve the lives of many more smallholder farmers, new approaches to research and partnership are required. Approaches and strategies were discussed at a special meeting of FAO and ICARDA (The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas), with country representatives at the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East on May 16th.

At the session, FAO leaders in research, knowledge management and plant protection consulted with ICARDA management and representatives of FAO's Near East member countries. They reviewed  directions  that the two organizations can take  to improve the uptake of agricultural research innovations for rural communities and smallholders.

Read the full article on CGIAR website

PowerPoint Presentation given during the FAO ICARDA side event are available on the website of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East 31st Session