CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Donald L. Winkelmann
Chair
15 April 1996
Dear Mr. Serageldin,
I am pleased to submit to you the report of the Inter-Centre Review of Root and Tuber Crops Research in the CGIAR. The report has been prepared by an external Panel led by Dr. David MacKenzie. Accompanying the report is the TAC Commentary which was prepared at TAC 68 in December 1995 when the Committee discussed the report.
The review was commissioned by TAC to provide an input into the current deliberations on priorities and strategies. The review was timed so that it could draw on experiences gained from the external reviews of CIP, CIAT and IITA, the three CGIAR centres engaged in root and tuber crops research. The Panel is commended for employing a participatory workshop forum which was attended by representatives of five CGIAR Centres (CIP, CIAT, IITA, IPGRI and IFPRI), and outside specialists to identify key issues of importance to root and tuber crops research in the CGIAR.
The main outcome of the review has been the identification of the main issues relevant to priority setting, and to Systemwide planning, coordination and operations which would further improve coherence of CGIAR's research on root and tuber crops, and make greater use of complementarities among the three Centres concerned. In this regard, one of the recommendations is the formation of an informal Inter-Centre Committee on Root and Tuber Crops Research, and TAC is pleased to note that the three Centres have taken prompt action to set up such a committee to address the terms of reference proposed by the Panel.
I wish to draw your attention to the TAC commentary which has been offered to facilitate follow-up action on future inter-centre collaboration, including the development of a Systemwide strategy for root and tuber crops research, and of research partnership with NARS, advanced research institutions, and private sector on postharvest technology and market research needs.
Mr. Ismail Serageldin
CGIAR Chairman
World Bank
1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington D.C.
USA.
Mail address: 355 E. Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 · TEL: (1-505) 988-1284 · FAX: (1-505) 988-1285 · [email protected]
The review has pointed out the need for the three centres concerned with root and tuber crops research to engage in pre-extension technology transfer activities aimed at overcoming constraints to the dissemination of improved cultivars. TAC is of the opinion that the Centres are aware of the need to engage in such technology transfer activities, but cautions the centres not to become a provider of technical assistance for which there exist more effective international and national development agencies.
I commend the report to you and the Group. The views of the Group will be taken carefully into account in finalizing the recommendations on future strategic directions of the CGIAR's work in this area.
I would like to express sincere thanks to the Panel for the participatory and cost-effective manner by which it conducted the review. I also wish to acknowledge the cooperation that was extended to the Panel by the CGIAR Centres, and by the Chairmen of the external reviews of CIP, CIAT and IITA. Finally, I would like to express the Committee's appreciation to the TAC Secretariat for providing its full support to the Panel.
Sincerely yours,
Donald L. Winkelmann
