In the Andes region there has been an increased interest in high-value products (HVPs), which may represent an interesting opportunity for small farmers, the development community and policy-makers throughout the region, for promoting diversified livelihoods rather than insisting on pushing small farmers into semi-industrial, monoproduct economic systems.
Draft background and terms of reference for the EGFAR Taskforce
Generic brochure on the new EGFAR website
Agricultural research needs assessment is a continuous process in view of the fast changing socio-economic and policy scenarios and emergence of many other stakeholders, not involved earlier. Whereas many agricultural problems are country specific, there are some problems which are common to all the countries in the region (e.g. river water salinity, climate change etc.)
The second review of GFAR has confirmed that there is a general consensus on the validity of the original vision which led to the creation of the global forum. Furthermore, all the stakeholders have recognised the uniqueness of the role of GFAR as a neutral platform for dialogue, advocacy and partnership forging for agricultural research for development. However, the views are also quite unanimous on the need and the urgency to develop new strategies to revitalize and re-engineer GFAR.
Inclusiveness: Encouraging stakeholder participation in setting the research agenda
A Communique summarizing the outputs of the GFAR Retreat held from 30th March to 1st April 2007 in Alexandria, Egypt.