Technical Challenges for Crop Research

Why has crop research not benefited many of the poor farmers in the developing world? What are the challenges to targeting relevant and appropriate crop research to serve those farmers? What tools can be used, or are being used, to reach this goal? These are some questions that Mauricio Bellon, Director of the Diversity for Livelihoods Program of Bioversity International, answers in a review examining the technical challenges and tools available to target poor farmers in marginal areas.

 Bellon notes that bringing farmers directly into crop research is a most useful strategy. It allows farmers to identify problems, ensure that research is relevant and appropriate for their communities and cropping systems. “Developing and carrying out crop research that benefits poor farmers in marginal areas of the developing world is complex and difficult,” says Bellon. “It requires not only strong technical and scientific skills but also a commitment to creating research that is targeted, relevant and appropriate for these farmers, their families and their communities.”

Additional details available at http://news.bioversityinternational.org/index.php?itemid=1758 and http://www.cgiar.org/enews/march2007/story_14.html.