Points of view: Agricultural research and development – which way now?
Many working in agricultural research and development would agree absolutely with the statements, issued in the 2008 World Development Report, that the rural and agricultural sectors have suffered from underinvestment and neglect during the past two decades. But, if renewed donor interest and greater funding are to be directed towards agricultural development, how can they be put to greatest effect? A wide range of researchers, practitioners, private sector and farmer representatives, and those from international and donor organisations met in December at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), UK, to reflect, review and propose ideas to improve research and development in agriculture. Many of those present had been part of the ‘Farmer First’ and ‘Beyond Farmer First’ movements of the past two decades and have been involved in various forms of participatory farmer research. But there was a general consensus that farmers and farming systems are changing and that there is an urgent n
