The Asia Pacific region is agriculturally the most vibrant globally. At the same time it sustains more
than fifty percent of the world population as well as the maximum of poverty. The Green and White
Revolutions have also been witnessed in this region which have provided the means to cope with the
rapidly increasing population and ensure household food security.
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Fortunately, all these accomplishments could be possible due to the cutting edge of science. The
National Agricultural Research System CNARS) have indeed played an important role in this context.
The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions CAPAARI) strengthens partnership
in Agricultural Research for Development CARD) in the region and works with NARS and other keyplayers
in ARD. In 1995, a perspective plan was adopted which included the guidelines for intensifying
cooperation in science and technology, human resource development, technology transfer, information
networking, policy advocacy and publications.
The turn of the Century provides a good opportunity to look backwards, evaluate the performance
and think about the future. In order to accomplish this task, APAARI had initiated an extensive
consultative mechanism for having in place a Perspective Plan for the next 25 years. This Vision 2025
is an outcome of such an exercise. An Expert Consultation on the subject was organized involving
all stakeholders of APAARI. It contains input of all partners at the national, regional and international
level, i.e. NARS, CGIAR, GFAR, FAO, IFAD, ACIAR etc.
APAARI has developed into a neutral regional forum that provides NARS a platform to exchange
views and information on agricultural research for development. It has played an important facilitating
role in developing this document. We do hope that this exercise will further strengthen the ARD in
the Asia-Pacific region.