by R. S. Paroda
The estimated world population of 5.35 billion in 1991, with an average life expectancy of 66 years, signals projected world population totals of 6.17 and 8.35 billion by 2000 and 2025 A.D., respectively. This growth is believed to bring natural resources under further pressure. Presently, 800 million people in the developing countries, or 15 percent of the total world population, are insecure in their food supplies. Even optimistic projections for 2020 indicate that about 100 million pre-school children would remain protein-energy malnourished. More than half of the world's protein-energy malnutrition problem is in South Asia, and reasonably large numbers are estimated to remain malnourished even by 2020 despite expected increases in production, growth in income and reductions in the population growth rates.
The world production in the major staple food, cereals, has shown a compound growth rate of 3.9 percent during 1966-90. Although the developed economies initially produced the bulk of the world cereals, their share decreased from 54 percent in 1966 to 46 percent in 1990. But Asia's share increased from 33 percent in 1966 to 41 percent in 1990. An FAO study indicates that the trade in agricultural products would increase if there was 1.0 percent higher growth in incomes of the developing countries, and their cereal consumption would increase by 20 million tons, with net imports rising by 8 million tons in 2001. Raising food output in the developing countries is, therefore, a key priority issue which must be addressed appropriately in the future.
The development of agriculture in a given environment entails a skillful management of the basic production assets such as land, water, biodiversity, climate and sunshine. Manipulation of biodiversity involves domestication of plants and animals, selection of superior genotypes, crossbreeding for incorporation of alien genes and, finally, application of sophisticated biotechnological and genetic engineering techniques.
In this scenario, the contemplated eco-regional planning will have to aim at enhancing agricultural productivity and production on a sustainable basis. This would call for an effective collaborative mechanism with responsibility for a higher level of integration in research and development efforts. Thus, a lucid distinction of the collaborative mechanism and a clear distinction between priority setting at the eco-regional level and its effective execution at the local levels would be essential. The conceptual model of deriving the best out of the vast resources--scientific, technical, ecological and environmental--will have to be judiciously used and managed in a way that these resources are in harmony with the environment. The agricultural research institutions will be called upon to develop closer links with agri-business and with the private sector in general, and the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) would be required to assess ground realities for better functioning as a 'Switch On' and 'Switch Off' mechanism in response to changing needs.
Under the given circumstances, a well-thought-of research and development program in a matrix-mode with streamlined priorities, appropriate strategies and thoughtful approaches would be absolutely essential. Thus, the contemplated sustainability would hinge on productivity, profitability, equity, protection of environment and natural production base, efficiency, effectiveness, competitiveness, and a market-oriented and demand-driven production-to-consumption system. This would require synergies of action, reaction and interaction so that the desired results are in tune with the comprehensive policies, priorities, and resource allocation/deployment at the national, regional and international levels. Addressing the research agenda in future at the regional and international levels is likely to be more rewarding.
With reorientation of the national, regional and CGIAR system's agenda, research programs will have to be readjusted with appropriate financial arrangements, governance, implementation and monitoring mechanisms. For each of the missions, so identified, the principal strength of the participating NARS would determine the success of the program. Strong regional fora and networks cannot be thought of with weak NARS. Similarly, the eco-regional orientation, regional fora and regional networks would determine the regional strength and relevance of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in future. Hence, partnership and catalytic role of the CGIAR assumes far more importance than ever before. In fact, the essence of cooperation with removal of apprehensions would be mutually beneficial for the players as partners. Thus, effectiveness of the CGIAR would also depend on the simultaneous growth of the regional fora like the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) and the various NARS. Some of the recent initiatives in this regard are likely to be rewarding in future.
While moving 'up-stream', the system should not lose sight of resource-poor farmers. In this endeavor, the establishment of both the centers of excellence and required networks would be the priority areas in future, where sharing by all concerned will be the cardinal principle. In doing so, it must be realized that problem-oriented commodity centers and resource centers in research are not mutually exclusive. The commodity research must be based on appropriate resources and resources are to be effectively managed for enhancing farm productivity. Cutting across crops and commodities to enhance competitiveness and market access, researches on processing, product development and value addition should in future also receive much needed funding and policy support.
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