KATHMANDU, OCT 13, 2012
Spending in agriculture research in Nepal has been fluctuating each year due to the dependency on donors, hurting its growth, according to a newly published report by International Food Policy Research Institute.
Prolonged recruitment freezes, loss of senior staff, limited training opportunities, and an ageing population of researchers, have all weakened the capacity, it said, adding that research staff in South Asian countries are also less likely to hold postgraduate degrees.
In view of the major challenges including rapid population growth, climate change, land and water scarcity, and volatile agricultural markets, South Asia urgently needs to revitalise its agriculture sector with effective and well-targeted agricultural research and development (R&D) that could play a key role.
Despite greater government commitment to agricultural research throughout South Asia, investment levels may be insufficient to meet the considerable food supply challenges in the horizon. It added that India continues to be the region’s largest player in agricultural research and technology development.
India’s annual investment in agricultural R&D has doubled since the late 1990s, reaching $2.3 billion in 2009 (in 2005 purchasing power parity rates). Other aspects of agricultural R&D that sets India apart from its neighbours include the relatively important role of the private sector and the sweeping reforms underway to encourage more effective partnerships and entrepreneurship.
On the less positive side, weakened research capacity at state agricultural universities has contributed to an eight per cent decline in total research staffing in India since 2000.
Compared to India, other South Asian nations face greater challenges in bolstering agricultural R&D. Relative spending levels in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are lower than in India, and year-to-year fluctuations in funding are extreme due to greater donor dependency.
The report also recommended an increase in investment levels, and better management of those investments to ensure maximum impact on productivity growth and poverty reduction; diversify funding sources through sales of goods and services, and private sector participation.
It basically means that governments need to provide the necessary enabling policy environment and develop stronger links to connect agricultural research agencies with farmers to ensure that research outputs are effective and respond to end-users’ needs.
The report also added that there must be more subregional collaboration to streamline allocation of limited resources and reduce duplication, and promote policy and institutional reforms that enhance good governance.
Source: THT
Spending in agriculture research in Nepal has been fluctuating each year due to the dependency on donors, hurting its growth, according to a newly published report by International Food Policy Research Institute.
Prolonged recruitment freezes, loss of senior staff, limited training opportunities, and an ageing population of researchers, have all weakened the capacity, it said, adding that research staff in South Asian countries are also less likely to hold postgraduate degrees.
In view of the major challenges including rapid population growth, climate change, land and water scarcity, and volatile agricultural markets, South Asia urgently needs to revitalise its agriculture sector with effective and well-targeted agricultural research and development (R&D) that could play a key role.
Despite greater government commitment to agricultural research throughout South Asia, investment levels may be insufficient to meet the considerable food supply challenges in the horizon. It added that India continues to be the region’s largest player in agricultural research and technology development.
India’s annual investment in agricultural R&D has doubled since the late 1990s, reaching $2.3 billion in 2009 (in 2005 purchasing power parity rates). Other aspects of agricultural R&D that sets India apart from its neighbours include the relatively important role of the private sector and the sweeping reforms underway to encourage more effective partnerships and entrepreneurship.
On the less positive side, weakened research capacity at state agricultural universities has contributed to an eight per cent decline in total research staffing in India since 2000.
Compared to India, other South Asian nations face greater challenges in bolstering agricultural R&D. Relative spending levels in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are lower than in India, and year-to-year fluctuations in funding are extreme due to greater donor dependency.
The report also recommended an increase in investment levels, and better management of those investments to ensure maximum impact on productivity growth and poverty reduction; diversify funding sources through sales of goods and services, and private sector participation.
It basically means that governments need to provide the necessary enabling policy environment and develop stronger links to connect agricultural research agencies with farmers to ensure that research outputs are effective and respond to end-users’ needs.
The report also added that there must be more subregional collaboration to streamline allocation of limited resources and reduce duplication, and promote policy and institutional reforms that enhance good governance.
Source: THT
1 comment:
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