Perspectives will provide analytical overviews–often accompanied by commentary, informed opinion, or recommendations–on contemporary issues related to policy and R&D in agriculture.
Executive Summary
International cooperation in Agricultural Research and Development (ARD) was firmly established when the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) was formed in 1971, following focused deliberations in the 1960s. Global support and funding for CGIAR reached its peak during the first decade of the 21st century. Over the past decade, however, both bilateral and multilateral support for ARD have been declining, despite evidence that the rate of return on investment in ARD was high and international cooperation had helped reduce hunger and poverty in developing countries. In this paper, the authors (1) trace the evolution of international cooperation in ARD, (2) list some examples of the impact made and lessons learned, particularly in key areas of crop-based ARD, and (3) provide some perspectives that justify the need for increasing support, with enhanced funding, for international ARD to meet the global sustainable development goals (SDG).
S.V. Raghuram Shetty, Mannava V.K Sivakumar, Samsul Huda, and Hari J. Krishna
Abstract
We provide an overview of the present status of the key agricultural natural resources base, and then recommend a strategic direction for the future of agriculture, by focusing it around Holistic Natural Resource Management (HNRM), which would ensure sustainable economic growth for a post-COVID world.
The prevailing trend of a reductionist, commodity-specific approach to agricultural technologies may have served us well in the past, but it should now be replaced by a more holistic approach that embraces systems-based technologies, to meet the contemporary challenges of food, nutrition, and livelihood security, as well as to provide ecosystem security. National and international agricultural research and development institutions need to reform and reorient their programs accordingly.
The vision for Doubling Farmers’ Income (DFI), recently adopted by India, can be a model for other developing countries if the vision is appropriately modified to integrate sustainability and productivity objectives, and then implemented effectively on the ground.
Goadaritha Krishi and Bio Dynamic Farming to be synched for sustainable exploitation of Natural Resources. Finding out the optimum level of Natural Resources is the real challenge.
This is an important contribution on HNRM.
Dear Dr.Shetty,
Thanks for forwarding an important paper from a team of renowned experts highlighting the need for HNRM approach in the policies and programs to achieve SDGs. You have provided a good historical account of the evolution of agricultural progress and economic growth to match the mounting needs of the increasing population taking natural resources for granted. Nature waited for long, gave alert signals regularly, people pretending to respect nature but soon forgot/ignored alerts because nature remained relatively kind to mankind in general. But Covid 19 pandemic is a serious alert to mankind to mend ways to respect nature. Your paper vividly provides/reminds people about the need to follow HNRM rules, how to play to win. Particularly I liked your suggestions to make DFI Mission appropriately modified to integrate productivity and sustainability objectives, ICAR/SAUs/IARCs to reorient their agenda to focus on HNRM and emphasis on effective implementation of the policies/programs/missions on the ground. Congratulations to you, the whole Team! Sorry for being late in response.
Best regards,
Dr Mruthyunjaya