v V. I CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy Cables: FOODAGRI ROME - Telex: 610181 FAO I Telephone: 57971 TO: Participants TAC 49 June 12, 1989 FROM: The Executive Secretary, TAC SUBJECT: Establishment of Linkages Between Universities and International Agricultural Research Centres for Development of Third World Countries Enclosed herewith is a Summary prepared by Dr. L.A. Wilson, Chairman, Centre Board Chairpersons, for joint discussion by TAC and Centre Directors on Wednesday, 21 June a.m., under Agenda Item 4. Dr. Wilson's full paper will be tabled at TAC 49. Also enclosed as background information is a document entitled "Mobilization of University Resources in Science and Technology for Agricultural Development in Developing Countries", which Dr. Wilson prepared for the United Nations Advisory Committee on Science and Technology for Development (January 1986). / ESTABLISHMENT OF LINKAGES BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTRES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES by Lawrence A. Wilson 1/ SUMMARY Omission of third world universities from the main stream of research is cited as a major cause for slow agricultural development in many third world countries. Concepts of economic and social development in third world countries are briefly examined and roles for institutions of tertiary education, training, research and development (TETRAD) in societal development proposed. Conflicts between the "intrinsic forces" which sustain national productive endeavour for agricultural development in these countries are described, and the role of institutions of TETRAD in the alleviation of the conflicts noted. Perspectives on international trade and genetic resources are outlined as examples of the importance of agricultural development in third world countries for the benefit of all concerned. It is then proposed that the conviction that research is an unavoidable prerequisite for agricultural development led to the establishment of the CGIAR International Agricultural Research Centre (IARC) System, to stimulate such development in third world countries. However, it is observed that the weakness of university/lARC linkages is a major constraint to the achievement of agricultural development on the global scale envisaged in the System. The strengths and weaknesses of third world universities as agencies of development are then discussed in the context of the necessity for constructive, reciprocal criticism between universities and societal institutions for transformation and development of society. Existing IARC third world university linkages are next briefly described as being IARC-motivated, and prosecuted towards achieving goals related to individual IARC programmes, in areas where the comparative advantage for collaboration is with the university. New university/lARC linkages involving research and training programmes are proposed on a system-wide basis, in six identified regions, with dual objectives of strenghtening NARS and development of a knowledge base for increasing university capability for training professionals in the agricultural sciences for work in development programmes. It is suggested that the first objective might be pursued by promoting the inclusion of universities as integral but independent 1/ Chairman, Centre Board Chairpersons. The University of West Indies, Faculty of Agriculture, St. Augustine, Trinidad, W.I. June 7, 1989. 2 components of the NARS, and supporting of university programmes through bilateral funding sources. The second objective might be prosecuted by including third world universities as part of an expanded system of networked international agricultural research projects, together with IARCs and first world universities for special project funding by donors. Universities participating in training could be funded through IARC programmes. It is envisaged that projects in the expanded network for international agriculture research will be in the areas of sustainable food production, natural resource conservation and preservation of environmental quality, since these are global concerns of agricultural development. A mechanisms for initiating university/lARC projects similar to that adopted in the SPAAR is suggested for six regions of sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, South America and Central America and the Caribbean. <»T3ri r~' 3 • ~~ «3 ■ •••:; : H ESTABLISHMENT OF LINKAGES BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND r; INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE RESEARCH CENTRES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES by Lawrence A. Wilson :fe The University of the West Indies. Faculty of Agriculture,St. Augustine, Trinidad, W.I.m Existing IARC/Third World University linkages SUMMARY are next briefly described as being IARC-motivated, and prosecuted towards Omission of Third World Universities from the main stream of achieving goals related to individual IARC programmes, in areas where research is cited as a major cause for slow agricultural development in the comparative advantage for collaboration is with the University, nany Third World countries, Concepts of economic and societal develop- New Uni versity/IARC linkages involving research and training fr'ent in Third World countries are briefly examined and roles for programmes are proposed on a system-wide basis, in six identified regions, institutions of tertiary education, training, research and development with dual objectives of strengthening NARS and development of a knowledge (TETRAD) in societal development proposed. Conflicts between the base for increasing University capability for training professionals in “intrinsic forces" which sustain national productive endeavour for the agricultural sciences,for work in development programmes. It is agricultural development in these countries are described, and the role suggested that the first objective might be pursued by promoting the Of institutions of TETRAD in the alleviation of the conflicts noted. inclusion of Universities as integral but independent components of the Perspectives on international trade and genetic resources NARS, and supporting of University programmes through bilateral funding are outlined as examples of the importance of agricultural development sources. The second objective might be prosecuted by including Third in Third World countries for the benefit of all concerned. It is then World Universities as part of an expanded system of networked inter­ proposed that the conviction that research is an unavoidable pre- national agricultural research projects, together with IARCs and First requisite for agricultural development led to the establishment of the CGIAR, World Universities for special project funding by donors, Universi tiesInternational Agriculture Research Centre (IARC) system to participating in training could be funded through IARC stimulate such development in Third programmes. ItWorld countries. However, it is is envisaged that projects in the expanded network for International observed that the weakness of Uni versity/1 ARC linkages is a major con- agriculture research will be in the areas of sustainable food production, straint to the achievement of agricultural development on the global natural resource conservation and preservation of environmental scale envisaged in the system. quality, since these are global concerns of agricultural development. The strengths and weaknesses of Third World Universities as agencies of development A mechanism for initiating University/IARC projects similar are then discussed in the context of the to that adopted in the SPAAR Is suggested for six regions of Sub-Saharan necessity for constructive, reciprocal criticism between Universities Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and societal institutions for transformation and development of and the Pacific, South America and Central society. America and the Caribbean. *1 h ' •........... m. ' ;-• -c-.v ' --^gp- -»ti-­ si- i • ' : : i - 3. 4. INTRODUCTION ft Durinj the 900 years of their existence, Universities have perspectives ON DEVELOPMENT: THE THIRD WORLD made tremendous contributions to the development and transformation of Economic versus Societal Development Society in First World countries. There is also no doubt but that the conditions of chronic underdevelopment Economic Development of Third World countries measured inand slow development are both the terms immediate and the persistent problems of the ThirdWorld. of GNP has been a major consideration of the international agencies Moreover, slow rates of agricultural development appear to be a key factor in concerned with development of these countries, However, the spectacle this state of chronic underdevelopment. of graduation of certain of theBut Third World Universities, countries from developing to developed Particularly Faculties of Agriculture, status measured by this criterion, followed a few years later by have not been endowed with the operational resources to tackle relegation back to developing status, engendered by fluctuating oil the problems of development and hence are not Included in the mainstream of prices, attests to the instability and ephemeral nature of development, research for such development. In the meantime, the CGIAR has established assessed exclusively by economic indicators.a system of IARC's which, despite their significant research findings and major development The more comprehensive notion of Societal Development seeks achievements in certain developing countries,have not succeeded in to recognise the "intrinsic forces"which lead to realization of inducing increased rates of agricultural development in a developed society, through stimulation of the national workforce the poorest engaged developing countries. It will be argued in this in productive endeavours. These forces are to be found not only in the paper that, Ineffective NARS, weakened by neglect of the University resource for agricultural economy but, perhaps more fundamentally, in the cultural ethos and social research, is a major reason for the failure of and political mores of a nation, which drive activities for development. many strategies to deal wi th Persistent agricultural underdevelopment in these countries. Indeed,such forces may well explain the considerable gap usually found Strengthening of University capacity for research through establishment between growth in GNP and growth in conventionally measured inputs of °r University/!ARC linkages will be proposed as labour and capital. A major component of these forces in modern society a mechanism for increas- ing the effectiveness both of NARS and the IARC's in pursuit of relates to the collective effect on development of the cultural, social agricultural development. This thesis is pr and political and economic imperatives of science and technology, presented under the following However, neadings: each of these intrinsic forces must be nurtured and supported by appro- Perspectives on development: The Third World priate societal institutions in order to effectively function as agents Perspectives on development: The First World for development. In turn, by analogy with agricultural systems, an Strengths and shortcomings of Third World Universities important criterion of such societal development is its sustainability, - Existing and proposed linkages between Universities • if* anct IARC's. •I - . I .TP ^ . Hjj ■ rxag£t&*r.r; • 15- i •l »i' . ■ ) 5. . 6. sensu Conway, that is to say.* 'I "ability to maintain productivity inspite of a major disturbance such as caused by intensive stress or The institutions of TETRAD charged a large perturbation". with this important responsibility include: The societal institutions concerned with the intrinsic forces for development are, here, interpreted to be : - Universities - Research Institutes Institutions of Religion, Humanities and Creative Arts: for Cultural Development; - Technical Institutes Institutions of Politics, Government, Law and - Institutes for the Humanities and Creative Arts. Social services for Social and Political Development; They also fulfil the important as well as the often quoted: function of initiating dialogue and advancing constructive criticism Institutions of Input Supply, Production, Marketing, of societal institutions and government Commerce and Banking: for Economic Development. policy after due consideration of the relevant issues by experts on the Concern with economic indicators of development may have issues. Disfunction of these institutions very quickly leads to succes­ obscured the interdependence and integrated function of the three sive breakdown of societal institutions, and hence to dissipation of the intrinsic forces for societal development, leading to neglect in the intrinsic forces for societal development. formulation of national institutions concerned with the cultural ethos It is submitted that states of chronic underdevelopment and and social and political mores, in favour of those concerned with the slow development in many Third World countries can often be traced to economy. disfunction of societal institutions, induced by either the absence or, The Role of Institutions in Development often,the uncoordinated rather than the interactive function,of institutions of TETRAD. Moreover, creation In modern developed states, or restructuring of societal institutions are usually national institutions of TETRAD sustained by an interactive has often been well within thesystem of institutions of Tertiary Education capabf11ty of national budgets, if appropriate priority were given to this Training, Research and Development'(TETRAD) charged with the respons- activity.Indeed, even dramatic increases ibi 1 icy of producing the essential in national income through foreign human, technological and sociocultural exchange earnings in the oil boom years did not result resources necessaryfor their effective operation. in significant These resources are: improvement in the TETRAD system in many of the now - Educated Leaders and trained relegated developingmanpower countries. - New and improved options for technoloqy and policy Intrinsic Forces for Literature and other communications for the Agricultural Development preservation and dissemination of culture. Although TETRAD institutions are important for development in all sectors of the economy, the agricultural sector institutions are here 'I 'PTV • “ . •«aeasascor/ m1 (ɧb !» i4■ ì?; 7. 8. selected for attention, In no sector is the effect of neglect of TETRAD institutions on development better demonstrated result in a severe disequilibrium betweenthan in agriculture. the production and distribution This is perhaps so because of the I ' paramountcy of the intrinsic forces systems and consumption patterns for local foods in rural areas, compared and the societal institutions in the agricultural with those in urbansector in their centres. Accordingly, the level of technology collective effect on national development. Institutions of TETRAD in practised in the local food production and distribution system renders agriculture also have positive and far-reaching effects them incapable of competition in on societal terms of quantity, quality or price with development both because of the high percentages of imported food sources, for urban markets in many developing countries, 85*%) engaged in the population (50% - agriculture on the one hand as well The most dangerous resultas the high content of this disequilibrium is the creation of an of imported foods in the diet of many Third World countries on the other. overabundance of economically-imposed food preferences for imported foods Thus, in the agricultural sector, in developing countries, which even now may be difficult to coltura!, social conflicts between intrinsic, neve rse.and economic forces in society often lead It is in this context, to disequi 1i- that agricultural development is bri urn in the paramountProcess of agricultural development. in the progress towards societal development in Third World agriculture, For example, in African countries.tne cultural imperatives of the small, Moreover, it is submitted that the process is critically dependenton the pastoral I, extended family farm on theerder for food preference, food distribution establishment of a strong institutional and food framework for TETRAD in agri­consumption patterns are in conflict with the social imperatives culture in order to ensure the formulation of equally rapid urbanization of the strong societallhat is taking pi ace on this continent. institutions related to the intrinsicAccordingly, cultural . social andmodern urbanization economic forces was induced in western cultures for agricultural development. years in over several hundred Generation of educated leaders response to and trainedtechnological innovations crop and livestock in home-based and colonial manpower as well as the formulation of agricultural technologies appro- production, urban industrializati priate to the cultural ethos.on, and rural agri- social mores and economic imperatives of cultural mechanization, production intensification increases. There and productivity Th’.rd World countries are key prerequisites for their societal develop- were also new methods in ment. food technology, including The paradigm for agricultural methods development envisaged is perhaps for convenient packaging, distribution best captured by quotations and consumption of foods, or abridged extracts from culminating in the al 1 two authors. Thus pervasive supermarket. Vernon Ruttan (1982) states: occurred in These, have, so far, notmany developing countries. Ihmann»r Ity • Vdevel?p and to manage technology in As a result, a manner consistent with a nation's physical andthe economic imperatives of urbanization in va H ahi end0wmen^s 1s the single most important deve loping countries with 50-85% of the productivity'among^ations"!^erenCeS ^ Population engaged in agriculture 'I ---- .. _ . ---- . _•J-. . . " ■1 ■1 t» i - ( 9. ■V ■ ! 10. Carl Eicher (1985) states: j i. - :- >^•$‘4’.. "Agricultural development, leading to a reliable agricultural surplus, is of strategic importance, perspectives on development not only in itself, but as a precondition for the first WORLD expansion of the industrial sector". Expansion and survival of western economies depend, among other things,on the rate of increase of trade with developing countries, It is well known that in open economies, imports tend to increase more rapidly than exports with peaceful development. Thus,Acker (1988) showed that over 1974/85, US agricultural exports to developing countries increased by 70 per cent compared with only 31 per cent for developed countries. It is also acknowledged that the major sources of genetic material for the further improvement in agriculture are to be found in developing countries. Advances in biotechnology make the use of this genetic material the most exciting prospect for the 21st Century. These are only two of the many examples which can be quoted to illustrate the interdependence of First and Third World countries. Therefore, It is considered to be important not only for developing societies but for all concerned to secure the development of Third World countries, Convinced of the role of research in agricultural development both in national and colonial institutions, and faced with the slow rate of development of such institutions in developing countries, First World countries set up the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).to oversee the formulation of a system of Internationa) Agricultural Research Centres (IARCs) ■ for agricultural development in the Third World. The IARCs drew ‘ on experiences both of the international and regional dimension and commodity focus of European.colonial Institutes of agricultural research e.g. in East and West Africa and the Caribbean, on a - - i p 1 é> ■■ 11. 12. the integration of research, training and outreach characteristic of US USS3 million annually on agricultural research,but it is estimated that Land Grant Universities, as well as on the experiences of the Ford and ■ ! more than 5,000 agricultural scientists will be required for develop­ Rockefeller Foundations with international agricultural research in ment programmes by the year 2000 in West Africa alone2. developing countries in the post colonial era. It seems clear therefore that there Commenting on the unique comparative advantage needs to be a greaterof the IARCs for training, because of their intimate measure of collaboration between the IARCs both with nationalinvolvement in applied agricultural research, Professor A.H. Bunting 1 universities for the training of scientists for agriculturalnoted : develop- ment as well as with National Agricultural Research and Development "™co™opUe9rVatiotSn , stpheec1ianl te^rvnaanttages of continuity ional agricultural and Institutions for the formulation and application of ‘fit research system is building up living linkaqes technologies and in a worldwide invisible college, based on 9 policies for such development. But it is most important to recognise pcoanratinlleuiln ga nypwehrseoren ael lsree"la. tionships, which has no in this respect, that Universities in developing countries, like their Thus , some 19,35a candidates have been trained in the IARCs through developed country counterparts, are also, de facto, integral parts of ‘984 (CGIAR, 1986} 0f which 70 per cent were technicians, 16 per cent, the research system and must be so funded for purposes of participation visiting scientists, 11 per cent, postgraduate degree candidates and in development. It is only by this recognition that the efficacy of the three per cent postdoctoral scientists. Only three per cent of these IARC/US Land Grant Research Institute Model as an instrument of develop­ trainees were from developed countries. The considerable research achieve- ment can be fully realised in developing countries on the global scale ment of the IARCs and their contribution to alleviation of poverty and envisaged. This is the objective proposed for the CGIAR system in the last Hunger are also well documented. In Other words, the CGIAR System of 'V decade of the 20th Century and into the 21st Century. }* IARCs, with a total 1987 budget of USS243 million, can yet surpass the US Land Grant University System as the most important innovation in University Development in the 20th Century. But its efficacy ij' frustrated by weak linkages with national Oniversities and research institutes in developing countries', In contrast, more than 50 percent of the countries of West and Central Africa, for example, spend less than .1 2 IITA Medium-Term Plan 1989-1993. 1 ■" .d* »I ITA Medium-Term Plan 1989-1993. 1J I !l 'rfcrr-' I •h; C‘r-''v' ; V * 13. 14. THE STRENGTHS AKId SHORTCOMINGS OF THIRD WORLD UNIVERSITIES management as societal rather than as research institutions and the terms In this section, and conditions of work that result therefrom.lead the strengths and shortcomings of Third World to antagonisms with Universities as University institutions.instruments of agricultural In turn, the antagonisms lead to:development will be briefly reviewed in the context of the necessity for reciprocal misinterpretation of university independence as criticism between intransigence and disregard for authority by University and societal institutions - civil service bureaucrats leading to:and, by implication, the govern- ment of the country - for development. underutilization of university resources for agricultural research and development and The Problem of University Criticism •aalienation of planners and decision makers from the major source of trained agricultural The problem of University criticism manpower in Universities leading to:of the ineptitude of government policies and operations, on the one side, and lack of congruence between thrusts in government training, research and development. accusation of University parasitic irrelevance to the needs of society The overall result is slow on the other side,that or negative development of the indigenous prevails in so many Third World countries has food and agriculture system in competition with imported assumed pandemic sources of foodproportions. It is also a major deterrent to the and methods of food distribution and marketing. establishment of joint University/IARC programmes. However, constructive reciprocal criticisms of societal and Solutions, which must be sought on both sides, will only be University institutions are most important for the found with reason, that such greater maturity of societal and of which University institutions, both criticisms are necessary for the healthy development are usually government- of both institutions, supported in developing countries. But Thus, criticism of Universities by society in the meantime, has led to many innovationsexcessive, destructive reciprocal criticisms by both in University organization, scholarship Parties are most and research and development counter-productive, since they institutionalize anta- strategies. In organization, introduction of scientific gonisms and competitive research and stances, between the institution where synergism and s, in countries graduate study into German Universities as long ago as 1809 as well as cooperation are critical for development. Accordingly, secularization of syllabuses and liberalization it might be argued that of entry policy in the the societal disequi librium: created by the University of London in 1826 occurred in absence of response to societal pressures, cooperation between universities, societal institutions and In University scholarship, introduction of liberal governments is perhaps arts and Common Law a major underlying cause of underdevelopment. to traditional university disciplines of theology and Roman Law in the The case of the agricultural sector is complicated by the loca­ 14th Century; inclusion of surgery in university curricula in the Cion of Agricultural Research Institute in te civil service, where, their 16th Century, and science and technology in 19th and 20th Centuries 'I I • >•: ' :> - -1 ■i.. i... f?■ : . IT;il ' 15. ! 16. were achieved only after considerable university resistance. In the ùrèa of research and development statism versus Friedmanesque supply side monetarism. But the greatest strategies, the socialization of agricultural University contributions in the 20th Century have been in the generation research first emerged in German Univer- ! titles over 1805-1880 and later in of new knowledge in science and technology. lt is argued that, in the the US Land Grant Universities over 1862-1920. final analysis, agricultural research and training are better located Thereafter, the commercialization of industrial research by ihe 194? institution of the Science within such a University setting, than in an agricultural University, 1Park in the University of Stanford, later mushroomed into notwithstanding the current structural advantages of the latter many similar developments in the USA and later in Japan, and Europe universities, in closer linkages with NARS and National Agricultural as well as in a few advanced developing countries in the 1970's and 1980's. Extension Systems.It is argued that both the socialization and coirmerealization of University research originated Unfortunately, it is a fact of the human condition thatfrom the desire to dismantle the ivory tower image of Universities as a result of societal new knowledge creates disharmony and disequilibrium in society either by Criticisms. undermining traditional beliefs and mores, by contradicting existing On the other hand, Universities have policies or by giving economic or other forms of advantage to those who survived over the last 900 years as institutions of scholarship, first acquire it.research and outreach for the In so doing, new knowledge and hence Universities as ■: development of society because they have the unfettered purveyors of the "commodity" are both instruments ofmanaged to retain the capacity for pursuit of new areas of knowledge. Such knowledge is acquired by societal advancement and at the same time potential threats to the unfettered,systematic and painstaking, compilation, analysis, study and existing societal order. interpretation of data, whether experimental, behavioural The apparent paradox is resolved in the 20th Century oy award of or historical by al 1 researchers. However, in addition, University researchers the prize of development only to those countries in which the governmenthave the commitment to discuss the results and its component societal institutions have mastered the art of usingof their researches both with colleagues and students and to the capacity for generation of new knowledge for the benefit ofcommunicate the knowledge gleaned to the wider community. In addition, critical, society, with the minimum of disharmony and disequilibrium. However,commentary ty University scholars nave contributed to the evolution of cultural there is also a reciprocal responsibility on the part of Universities ethos e.g. in religion, literature and music to maintain harmonious relationships with their sponsors and clients into refinement of social and political mores e.g. socialist versus capitalist the society in which they operate. The developed country universities approaches to societal development as well as to the implementation of economic have managed to maintain such relationships* for some 900 years, albeit theory e.g. in Keynesian welfare with some upheavals, by, among other measures, democratization of University entry policy as well as by the invention of mechanisms • V. roxrxcei ^ fé /S pi. ■"' -V •• ?• ' 17. 18. ’ : both for socialization and commercialization of University research, » mentioned earlier, ! The record in provides a tremendous opportunity both for learning of emerging trends developing countries has, so far, been weak in this respect. in the society as well as for recruiting innovative minds for post­ Strengths of Third World graduate research. Accordingly, the most valuable University asset is Universities the postgraduate student, who is recruited for research at little cost, The major strength of Third World Universities as instruments of in return for training in the capacity to identify research problems and agricultural development resides in the quality and^wide disciplinary spread to conduct experiments towards their solution.of available staff, ■ compared with that in other institutions in the These strengths amount to a set of powerful tools for solution of National Agricultural Research System (NARS). Such staff exist not only in both the immediate and longterm location-specific problems of agricultural the Faculty of Agriculture, but also in the agriculture,food,health and development within a single nation as well as those in the region in which nutrition-related Faculties of Engineering, Medicine, Natural Science and the nation is located. Indeed, if the University incentive system is to Social Sciences. Moreover, it is here argued that there is much work to be be faulted, it could be accused of directing too much effort to basic ip. t done in the Humanities on cultural aspects of food and agriculture. vestigations, which are often not immediately related to the current problem- The research incentive system, based on atique of development in Third World Countries. is another the international publication engendered by international ; and perspective Shortcomings of Third World UniversitiesPlication, compliments the necessarily shorter rp",,,e •'unwiu' —- .... The major shortcomings of Third World University Faculties of Agriculture is that the tremendous human resource within their walls, a « socio-culural and s»tl.-economtc ,„per^,ves ^ resource which represents more than 80% of the financial cost of research 7 of indigenous staff, becomes a most powerful tool for'' is grossly under-uti 1 iz.ed because of unavailability of the remaining 20% logical innovation, .'.appropriate, techno- It is also critical for of the cost for infrastructure and equipment. Failure to provide thisthe education and training of Professionals for careers in agriculture. funding is a most serious indictment of the resource allocation policies for Members of the university ■Ì development in Third World Countries.academic staff However,in addition, low University additional establishment have thestrength of commitment to salaries and decimation of equipment and infrastructure fortraining for 25 weeks of the research because which they are forced year into communicate with, be lack of funding in many countries is perhaps a greater indictment of such e interrogated by and to evalu- ate the work of the best icies.young students in the In short, many Universities are not recognised as integralcountry. This exposure 'I .s-.- *'• ^«-Ar**** *m'. .■* ■ • ■ • • _ ■ -r' ■ ■ ?sxcr-rmpr. ■if fi V - 19. -, 20. parts of the national agricultural research system. Indeed disproportion- Thailand in Asia ately low resource allocation often as well as Ethiopia, Malawi, Morocco and Nigeria in render Universities unsuitable Africa. These Universities have had institutions for collaborative many research and development research,because the disparity in available successes since their USAID-induced establishment in the mid-1950 's , resources compared with IARCs and NARS, is, itself a source of institu­ particularly because of their recognition tional disequilibrium and disharmony. as an integral part of the NARSIn this atmosphere, collaboration and through linkages with National Agricultural is made very difficult. Extension Systems, both often denied to their multi-university counterparts. But this is only part of the University problem, The major structuralthe other part weakness of national agricultural relates to the difficulty of galvanizing Universities is the need to duplicate the human resources, particularly disciplines already represented in multi research students, for the disciplined, goal-oriented -universities. The IARCs might research that be interpreted to be the international characterizes the culture of research institutes. version of the AgriculturalThis problem could be University. Developments in the UNU solved in Faculties of Agriculture, are interesting in thisthrough use of appropriate methods respect, It is here suggested that the problem of research project funding and moral suasion by national of accommodation andgovernments legitimization of University agricultural and societal institutions,towards research for national develop-increasing University contributions to went, that is, the recognition and Inclusion the immediate problems of development. of Faculties of AgricultureUniversities are in a weaker in multi-universities as Integral parts of the national position to solve the problem because they cannot dictate areas of agriculturalresearch system, is in need of research work to staff without providing urgent solution.research funding and at the same time require international publications as a precondition for academic advancement. -, But many governments are still struggling with the management of NARS and have apparently decided to ignore the problem of Universities for the time being, perhaps because of attendant difficulties of their involvement in sociopolitical criticism of government policies. This latter difficulty may be one of the reasons for the'establishment of Agricultural Universities in many developing countries including, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Mexico, in Latin America; India. Indonesia 1 and ■■J ; >1 t . ir .:3a£SV> ì 21. U 22. # EXISTING AND autonomous members ofV PROPOSED LINKAGES BETWEEN . an expanded network for international agricultural universities and IARC1S research, conducting research on longterm issues of agricultural develop- ■ ment. The purpose of CGI A?! research executed by the IARC's is: "to improve the quantity and quality of food Accordingly, the overall purpose of the proposed linkages production in developing countries", between Universities and IARC towards alleviation •*! 's must be the strengthening of Universitiesof rural poverty, hunger and malnutrition. This both as part of the WARS, and as members of purpose 1s pursued through conduct an expanded I ARC network of International agricultural research towards improving the Quality of life as well as training and outreach of poor, rural farmers throughactivities towards strengthening of MRS. realization of sustainable food production and natural Although this central resource conser-purpose may soon be extended to Include vation. It is submltteS that such Sustainability of food production strengthening would realize 1 and natural quantumresource conservation, leaps in the capacity of both particular ly the forest of the NARS and of the 1 ARCresource, the r. system.overarching objective of Increas- ing the quality of rural life Existing IARC/Univers1ty Linkagesin developing countries will stlll be valid. Therefore, it is within this context,that Uni versity/IARC 1 ink- The major existing JARC/University linkages have, for the ages must be pursued. most part, been IARC-1nsp1red and effected for the purpose of accomplish- Since the common activities between Universities Ing individual rather thanand IARC's system wide IARC goals, Thus, many examples ■ are agricultural research, training and outreach and the of linkages in postgraduate training through objective of co-supervision of research Inter-institutional linkages 1s the strengthening of the linked students have the objectives of advancing the work of IARC research activities, then the linkages between universities and IARC's must seek programmes as well as contributing to the development of educated to strengthen the common activities of research, training and outreach. leaders and trained manpower in the NARS, familiar with the culture of University research in agriculture usually includes two components, the IARC research. The IARC record in training has, however, been Impressive one related to the immediate objectives and,of national development as such,has made a tremendous contributionand the to the strengthening of other related to the education the NARS.of professionals for life-long careers In agriculture, Therefore, Uni versi ty/IARC research linkages must have Research linkages are also, often pursued more vigorously both the immediate objective of strengthening national agricultural when there is comparative advantage with the University for their research systems without which development wlll^ot be possible, as well pursuit. Thus, there are many instances of IARC/Un1versity research as the long term objective of encouraging Universities to become linkages for example in socio-economic research because of the weakness In the capacity for such research In the ,NARS, Alternatively, linkages for adaptive, technological research e.g. in networks are often pursued l '■*1 ----—~■ .... .................. ...... WSOBSSB' •;; $y ■ 23. 24. with NARS, because of the greater resources for such research 1n these that such inclusion of Universities should in no way frustrate the insti tut i oris. Also, linkages 1n applied research are often not pursued exchange of constructive, reciprocal, Criticism between University and with Universities because of their poor resources and infrastructure and societal institutions, so necessary for the transformation and develop­ more poorly paid staff. On the other hand, linkages in basic,upstream ment of society. Therefore, the model proposed may be described in : research are pursued with developed country Universities and institutes, terms of :- because of their comparative advantage in manpower and science and independent University/IARC linkages, prosecuted technology capability. within the context of national objectives and for purposes, circumscribed by the goals of the CCIA.F. In the area of outreach, joint seminars and joint training system. programmes often include both Universities and NARS and the pro­ However, in large countries with many Universities e.g. India, Nigeria, ceedings of such activities are published by the IARC involved. linkages with a coordinated or networked University System either on However, in their anxiety to disseminate information, IARCs have some- a national or subregional basis will be mandatory. Al terna tively. in times used their superior resources to .embrace outreach opportunities small countries with a single University, networking across national initiated by Universities and NARS,for their own purposes. borders to achieve regional and ecological University/1 ARC linkages In other words, although many individual cases of successful seems to be advisable, Of course, these linkages can only be established and beneficial lARC/University linkages may be quoted, it is not clear on a voluntary basis. that such linkages strengthen University capacity for participation in The second purpose of the proposed linkages is the strengthen­ activities either as an integral component of NARS or as members of an ing of that component of University research, related to the tertiary international agricultural research network, Rather, such linkages have education of agricultural professionals. Such professionals will be the been driven by pursuit of IARC1s objectives. major source of the educated leaders and trained manpower for manning of Proposed Linkages University/IARC Linkages both societal and TETRAD institutions at national level, These research linkages could well be in the area of :- If it is accepted that the major purpose pf University linkages sustainable food production, national resource conservation with I ARC1s is the strengthening of NARS, then it js here argued that and maintenance of environmental quality, since these are C the single most important activity that will major longterm concerns of agricultural education worldwide.advance this objective is The linkages could be developed between lARCs, Third World Universities the FORMAL INCLUSION OF UNIVERSITIES AS AN INTEGRAI. PART OF THE NARS. and advanced laboratories and centres of research in developed country Accordingly, the primary purpose of University/IARC linkages must be the Universities. achievement of this objective. However, it is important to note It is also suggested that University/IARC linkages for training at production level, and particularly at postgraduate level, which are 'I I ■ ' r*;” li t-. 25. >1 already In place should be continued, 26. r expanded and strengthened. (1) Subsaharan Africa (SPAAR However, whether for training, for the strengthening of NARS nay be the appropriateor for group) strengthening of that component of University research related to !i (it) North Africa professional education and the Middle Eastand training, University/IARC linkages should (Hi) South As.ia have the following characteristics: (1v) South Ea>t Asia 1. linkages should be voluntary and the Pacific \ (v) South America 2. linkages should include only Universities in which (vi) Central America there are mature relations with and the Caribbean.societal institutions and The scheme might, be started Governments in two or three regions on a pilot 3. basis, using projects linkages must be jointly funded by the national with both regional and system-wide imp]ications. government, the University and international donor(s). 2. Invitation of Universities funding of and IARC's to developlARC/Universitv Linkanpc projectproposals within the context of the six identified regions. Many of the CGIAR donors 3.are involved in bilateral funding of Projects with the objective of Strengthening NARS should national research and development projects as well as in the funding of be separately Identified and should have the approval of the what used to be termed"special projects", in the pre-strategic planning NARS and IARC for bilateral funding, era of CGIAR system. It is suggested that it is from Projects forthese sources that strengthening research for purposes of education funding mignt be sought for IARC/University projects, in which the should be developed in collaboration with developed country respective roles of the institutions will be clearly defined, Inter­ Universities and IARC s for "special project" funding. national funding should be the major component of the provision for the Training projects should be developed jointly with NARS, linkages in the first instance. Bilateral funding could be allocated to Universities and IARC 'S for IARC funding. University projects geared to 4.strengthening NARS and special project Submission of projects to TAC or a similar body for scrutiny, funding earmarked for education-related University research projects. evaluation, rationalization and recommendation to donors for Implementation funding. 5. Verification of the existence The basic thrust of the scheme appropriate mechanisms within is a network of University/IARC projects linked on Universities for project management anda system-wide basis through the following accountability.measures : 6. 1. Formulation of the A meeting 0f international donors (similar appropriate mechanisms betweento SPAAR) to deter- Universities,IARC's for networking of projects. mine the available funding on a regional basis e.g. 7. Project review after 3-5 years. % ............ . . .... . - ----- ' : • ■*?« ■ ■ ; ------------------,.? \ •vi ■ %■. - " ii . •V ‘ ff! - I. : 27. i f REFERENCES I 4 ACKER, D. 1988. Aid, USAID and U.S. Agriculture. T Agriculture Newsletter, 1_17., 1-3. International CG,“- sx ■ EIGHER, C.K. 1985. 2*2 “.«“Sis» TùrT- £ictir;s(s: RUTTAN, V.W. 1982. Agricultural Research Policy. iMiv. of Minnesota Press. Minneapolis. : ’ 1 : ? :• —nllitwn, liM—li Uk»v - * TP c 4^ TAC MISSION TO NON-ASSOCIATED CENTRES Preliminary observations on papers presented relating to the International Network for the Improvement of Bananas and Plantains (INIBAP) N W Simmonds Edinburgh, April 1989, for TAC Mission planned to visit Montpellier 8-9 May 1989 Note: the substantive report to TAC will be prepared by the TAC members of the Mission. These notes are by the ‘External Expert' and represent his personal and preliminary thoughts only, for use or not by the Mission proper at its discretion. jj 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 History. TAC in 1987 said of bananas that "a major research effort was justified". By then, an initiative from IITA (1981) had resulted in meetings in Ottawa (1982), Washington (1983), Rome and Washington (1984). Nestel 's paper presented to the Rome (1984) gathering presents the clearest statement of background. INI BAP was inaugurated in 1984 but initial appointments, establishment of procedures and agreements with host countries have taken up to the present time and are not, even now, quite complete. However, the network has a headquarters, a Board of Trustees, a Director and an outline programme and has completed several introductory tasks/missions. 1.2 Mandate. Briefly paraphrased, the mandate covers the improvement of smallholders' bananas, research to that end, dissemination and trials of good genetic material, promotion of information and documentation on the crop (hereafter info-doc), and training. 1.3 Clients. INI BAP conceives its clients as being smallholder/producers and local consumers/purchasers of their products, Direct contacts with them, it is recognised, must be largely by way of NARSs. 2. PROGRAMME 2.1 Strategy. INI BAP strategy is described in its five-year plan, also in a pamphlet dated 1987 and in the 1987 Annual Report. Allowing some condensation, the essentials are given here in Figure 1. A group of four technical specialists are to pursue 'thematic activities' while based in Montpellier and four 'regional co-ordinators' are to oversee INI BAP activities in the field in collaboration with NARSs. There are also to be specific research studies contracted out to universities and research institutes. The research network thus comprises four main elements, with the NARSs collectively as the principal route to the St smallholder-customers. 1. 2.2 Constraints. Much of the emphasis in INI BAP documentation so far relates to diseases and pests, conspicuously to: Panama disease, Black Sigatoka, Bunchy Top, nematodes and weevi1-borers. These are, indeed, problems worthy of attention but I wonder (see below) whether they are not being rather overemphasised. One recalls that pathology per se does not figure explicitly in the mandate but it does figure (5-year plan, p 27) as one of two key strategic elements identified by INI BAP. Other possible constraints which would be less accessible to a strictly technocratic analysis would relate to farming systems and social factors. Bananas are perennial crops characteristic of static systems rather than shifting ones; per contra, some of the old, rather stable systems that used bananas so well have suffered violent socio-economic change in recent years. Again, banana consumers are critical about what they eat; maybe they sometimes simply lack acceptable varieties? Broadly, constraints must surely go wider than diseases. 2.3 Programme. Structure and operation are summarised in Figure 1. Research concentration is on germplasm (classification, exchange, evaluation, improvement) and pathology (see Technical Specialists A and B in Figure 1). Research programmes will be carried out in regional (NARS) establishments or research institutes or universities, whichever might be appropriate, The functions of the technical specialists in Montpellier and the co-ordinators in the regions in developing projects and helping to ensure that they go forward smoothly seem clear enough (Figure 1). As to the programmes themselves, they are, I think, too recent and yet insufficiently defined to justify detailed comment. Nor do I find the official .4 2. categorisation into 'strategic', 'applied', 'adaptive' very helpful. All agricultural research is applied but time scales vary. Under germplasm, the principal elements identified are taxonomy, exchange, evaluation and breeding. All must be thought of as longer-term/continuing processes. The pathological studies, principally on Black Sigatoka and Bunch Top, should, in my opinion, be regarded as shorter term; spraying regimes are not in prospect for smallholders, so the disease studies will have done what is needed when they shall have identified workable screening methods for the selectors/breeders. 2.4 Training. Training appears in the 5-year plan and must certainly be pursued but ideas have yet to be developed and little useful comment can be made. It is reasonable to treat Info-doc in the siime general category, INI BAP's intention to develop a comprehensive database on bananas seems sensible and the notion of promoting current awareness in the regions by way of informal sheets such as Musarama seems reasonable too. 2.5 Support programmes. These do not seem to call for comment here. 2.6 Regional distribution. In principle, the chosen regional distribution seems good. CATIE is hardly central to its region geographically but has good, well-established experience in research on perennial plants. Onne is well set up as part of IITA and is right in the piantain belt1. Davao seems a good centre for southeast Asia, has a major banana collection and good PCARRD connections. I don't know Gitega; it is in an important banana smallholder area but may need considerable building up as a scientific centre. 2.7 Future plans. Since INI BAP can hardly be said to have properly started, the preceding paragraphs all refer essentially to future plans. 3. 3. RESEARCH RESULTS AND IMPACT There are no research results to speak of yet, though the sorts of shapes those results might take begin to emerge from the reports of various missions and workshops held since 1986, namely: missions to East Africa (1986, 1987), India (1988), West Africa (1988) and workshops at Cairns (1986), Bogota (1987), Bujumbura (1987), Costa Rica (1988), Los Banos (1988). I would hope that the shape of research results should begin to emerge in the next very few years in roughly the following form: (1) Improved knowledge of cultivars and means of identifying and naming them unambiguously. (2) Universal distribution (ie to places in all four regions) of about 50, fairly arbitrarily selected, clones in a clean, healthy condition. (3) Routine use of in vitro shoot tip culture as a technical aid to safe transmission. (4) The beginnings of local (emphasise local ) evaluation of the ca 50 clones for domestic use. (5) The beginnings of local food-crop breeding in several (2,3?) places and the first look-see growings of new clones (hardly 'trials') by smallholders. (6) Some understanding of the socio-economic place of the crop in local cultures, with special reference to its character as a kind of perennial tuber crop adapted to stable, non-erosive agriculture. 4. (7) Some enhanced pathological understanding of pests and diseases but not more than is necessary to help the breeders to provide useful clones to farmers. 4. GOVERNANCE ETC 4.1 Governance and structure. INI BAP has a Board of Directors (numbering 11 in 1987) but, curiously, the by-laws (dated 1987) do not seem to provide rules whereby members are identified and appointed. Elsewhere (eg 5-year plan), the Donor Support Group, established under the Convention of 1988, seems to be the formal appointing authority, The Director is a member of the Board and Figure 1 shows connections with the technical staff. 4.2 Methods of operation. The structure (Figure 1) looks quite sensible but I think it is too early to judge as to how it works. 4.3 Relations with other institutions. Figure 1, I think, says most of what can usefully be said on this matter, Specific provision (via the regional co-ordinators) is made for regular contacts with NARSs. One IARC is in the system ((F) I ITA at Onne); others will presumably be accommodated should occasions present themselves but the only obviously likely candidate is CIAT. Some adjustment of regional responsibilities might be implied but the position of new IARCs would be more likely to be technical than regional, As to "institutions in advanced countries", Australian participation in Bunchy Top research is already mooted and no doubt several short-term specialised jobs of this kind will emerge over time. 5. PROFILE OF RESOURCES 5.1 Physical facilities. 5. 5.2 Staff resources. Only the Director and two regional co-ordinators are yet in post so it is far too early yet to comment under these headings. 5-3 Funding resources. The budget projects expenditure in the range 18-23 M$ over five years (say 4 M$ per year) but funds in 1987 were underspent by about 461 k$ out of a revenue of 1.04 M$. Since the system is not yet operational, any attempt to identify resource allocation to specific heads in the CGIAR Glossary would obviously be fruitless. But one can list the relevant heads, as follows:- 4. Germplasm a. Conservation methodology* b. Collection* c. Maintenance* [d. Enhancement - irrelevant] e. Evaluation and Breeding *** f. Distribution*** 6. Crop Systems*** 9. Plant Protection* 16. Meetings* 17. Info-doc** 20. NARS assistance** 21. Network co-ordination The asterisks give rough evaluations of importance from * little to very great. I should suppose that the four leading items ( , 4e, 4f, 6, 21 ) ought to take some two thirds of the budget when fully operational. 4 6. 6. ISSUES AND CONCERNS The central short-term objectives of IN I BAP are to disseminate diverse banana clones very widely, get them to some degree evaluated and get them into the hand of and actually used by smallholders, Banana taxonomy and pathology are valuable adjunct activities but essentially subsidiary, In the longer term, banana breeding will be an essential extension of the first step (which is merely to use what's already available). The initial interest in and uptake of new bananas by small farmers will be generated only if their promotion is based upon a sound understanding of the present socio-economic circumstances of the crop in diverse societies, Hence the early insistence (eg Nestel's paper, Rome 1984) of the two essential elements: understand smallholder banana agriculture, disseminate and exploit germplasm. I have certain concerns that the key objectives are not quite as clearly recognised as they should be. They are listed as follows ((l)-(7)). (1) In the paper before us I see only hints (eg 5 year plan p 51, re East Africa) that the socio-economic circumstances and farming systems of smallholder foodcrop agriculture are clearly in view, It may be that regional activities will increasingly tend to this subject but this is not stated. (2) The chosen customers being food-crop producing smallholders, export banana producers, it would be agreed, should not be the explicit recipients of research assistance. Several exporter associations are listed among the bodies concerned with the establishment of the American regional component centred on CATIE. INI BAP will no doubt be wary of pressures to do work on their behalf. Benefits to exporters should be no more than accidental side effects of research directed towards the interests of local food producers. j- 7. As a minor socio-economic point, I should like to see properly substantiated the statement (Ann. Rep. 1987, p 11) that bananas are remarkably cheap to produce in comparison with other staple foodstuffs, If correct, it deserves much emphasis. (3) Sensible cultivar systematics is certainly essential and there are many varieties previously unknown to scientific study yet to be properly classified. But it is not correct to say that banana taxonomy is a "sea of confusion". The bases have been perfectly clear for decades, however carelessly and uncritically names are used. I doubt whether chemotaxonomy or computers have much to offer and short-term prospects are all too likely to be wasteful of resources. The best way to clean up banana taxonomy would be simply to ensure that two or three devoted botanists (free of bureaucracy) lived with1 really good collections for at least five years, travelled a good deal and exchanged experiences. (4) Pathology is a significant activity and must have a place, primarily to define tests useful for cultivar evaluation, also to help in achieving safe, clean international transfer. But there seems to me to be a danger of letting pathology loose, so that it becomes an end in itself. One administrative problem is that it is relatively easy to define nice, 'tidy short-term projects well adapted to grant-aid. I believe INI BAP needs to be wary of coming to be regarded as a source of grants for plant pathology, And one should recall the pathologists undoubted penchant for proposing chemical regimes that would surely be irrelevant to smallholder agriculture. (5) The fundamental first task for INI BAP, namely to disseminate the cultivars already in existence, is accepted but I find it hard to judge how vigorously it is yet being pursued. The technique of in vitro shoot tip culture is well 4 8. established (good!) and the papers before us refer to "hundreds" of transmissions thus. But it is not clear that a large, orderly, well-defined and well-reported flow is yet in hand. I believe that the Network should define a set of (say) 50 cultivars to be established in (say) 20 sites within a period of (say) 4 years and report regularly on progress, Only when cultivars are on the ground can local evaluation and exploitation make a proper start. (6) There are two breeding programmes with real experience (Honduras, Jamaica) and two more starting up (Martinique, Nigeria). Many international agencies have, in recent years, expounded the principle of freedom of movement of genetic materials and INI BAP certainly accepts the idea for bananas. But it is nowhere made clear, I think, that the products of past breeding from Honduras and Jamaica have been distributed. Have they? If not, what is INI BAP going to do about it? The point is not academic because all breeding programmes will need male parent material and Jamaica has tetraploids (AAAA) stated to be vigorous, productive, semi-dwarf, resistant to PD, RS, LS and BS diseases and having fruit that cooks green very well. Such clones should be among the very first to be distributed; are they? (7) Clean in vitro culture seems well established (cf (5)) and this is good. Somaclonal variation (whatever that phrase means!) occurs and has been proposed as a means of banana improvement. No successful use of such variation in any crop has ever been recorded (so far as I am aware) and I think INI BAP should be very cautious about allocating resources to it. It is a 'fashionable' activity favoured among the grant-hunters. As an extension of in vitro culture, various bits of biotechnology are being proposed. Some (eg disease diagnosis by RFLPs) may be worth modest INI BAP support. Other, more elaborate, projects, such as the use of coat-protein virus DNA to confer resistance, are being talked of but should, in my opinion, be treated by INI BAP with great caution. BBTV 9. may be a spherical luteovirus but this is not proved; it may be amenable to such a constructed resistance procedure but this has only once been done (for a very different virus), The project is speculative, probably very expensive and any results far distant, IN I BAP must surely be aware and watchful of developments in the field and should be prepared to support if/when prospects of economic results were favourable. Meanwhile, I think that there are more pressing calls on funds. 'Biotechnology', unfortunately is fashionable and has been the subject of much 'hype', not only by commercial exponents but also, and very regrettably, by scientists and bureaucrats (who ought to know better). To summarise these seven points, I list them and add the proviso that they are based solely on reading the papers before me, so I may have missed or misrepresented some points. (1) Socioeconomic/FS understanding, a critical element of INI BAP responsibility, seems to have been rather neglected. (2) There is a slight but perceptible risk of commercial bodies pressing for support for their private interests. (3) There seems to be a risk of making banana systematics more complicated than it need be. (4) There seems to be a risk of doing too much pathology per se: its proper place is peripheral. j* 10. (5) One would like evidence of a large orderly effort to disseminate very widely a good array of clones already available and evaluate them for local use. (6) One would wish to have absolute assurance of freedom of movement of genetic resources, both 'natural' and 'bred', but this does not seem to have been given. (7) There seems to be a risk of supporting too much 'biotechnology', which is fashionable, elegant and expensive but probably far off as to practical results. 11. $trafrzL^si- ^ P&wr CjrsiLA} hT&yhrr \/ 7\ JÒErCilor^S /f/KJLf. ftfrtWs.) /Yfnù-v/fru^ 7\ t/sCrts' /,£ (YPrR£? £ //TU1 W^. \/ ^f) pUhrlv^y T) (X^r • \/ £y (yys_-^C ' 14/i /Vvwf— W? Background Document (Not for Public Citation) CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO BANANA AND PLANTAIN RESEARCH TAC SECRETARIAT January 1989 INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO BANANA AND PLANTAIN RESEARCH 1/ I. INTRODUCTION Banana and plantain belong to the genus Musa. These originated in Asia where they are still fairly important. They are major food staples in many parts of Uganda, Rwanda, Zaire, Tanzania, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon and Nigeria. In the Caribbean and Latin America they are grown for both export and local consumption. The majority of cultivated banana and plantain originated from _M_u_s_a_ _a_c_u__m_i_n_a_t_a and _M_u_s_a_ _b__a_l_b_is__ia__n_a . There are three major sub-groups of triploids among the edible types: AAA for dessert bananas and the East African cooking bananas (types with low starch and high sugar content when ripe); AAB for true plantains (generally starchy even when ripe and are only eaten after cooking); and ABB for Bluggoes and Sabas (starchy cooking bananas). Genome A is derived from M. acuminata and genome B from M. balbisiana. The term plantain is widely used for all sorts of starchy bananas. The total world production of banana and plantain in 1985 was estimated to be over 67 million tons of which some 24 million tons are grown in Africa, 25 million tons in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 17 million tons in Asia. This global production comprised 42 million tons of banana and 25 million tons of plantain. It is estimated that over 60% of the world's plantain is produced and consumed in West and Central Africa. Banana and plantain are highly perishable. They do not transport and store well to be competitive at distances away from the area of production. Consequently they are largely consumed locally. The production of banana and plantain increased in all regions (except plantain for Oceania) while the consumption decreased in all regions except Asia between 1971 and 1983 (Table 1). Consumption of banana and plantain in the top ten developing countries with the highest levels of consumption ranged from 70 kg/head in Jamaica to 221 kg/head in Papua New Guinea per annum between 1982-84 (FAO, 1987). 2/ INIBAP, IITA and IBPGR are the principal international institutions working on banana and plantain. INIBAP has the global mandate for banana and plantain while IITA confines its research to plantain, the genomic sub-group AAB. IBPGR has primary responsibility for germplasm collection, characterization and conservation. 1/ Background paper for the preliminary assessment of INIBAP for possible support by the CGIAR. TAC Secretariat, FAO, Rome, January 1989 2/ Root and Tuber Crops, Plantains and Bananas in Developing Countries: Challenges and Opportunities. FAO, Rome, 1987 2 Table 1. Growth rate of production and per caput consumption of banana and plantain (1971-83) by region In developing countries Banana Plantain Production World 2.37 0.96 Africa 2.59 0.43 North & Central America 1.01 1.61 South America 0.75 2.13 Asia 4.67 3.11 Oceania 1.34 -10.25 Consumption World 0.8 Africa -0.5 North & Central America 1.3 South America -0.8 Asia 2.5 Oceania -0.1 Source: Root and Tuber Crops, Plantains and Bananas in Developing Countries: Challenges and Opportunities. FAO, Rome, 1987. This paper provides a brief analysis of research and research- related activities by IITA, IBPGR and INIBAP. It is based on the Strategic Plans and medium-term proposals of the centres. These should be consulted for further details. Additional documentation on INIBAP is available in document AGR/TAC:IAR/88/28 Rev. 1. II. RESEARCH PROGRAMMES/ACTIVITIES AT IITA Plantain research is one of the many commodities included in the formal mandate of IITA. But other than germplasm collection and evaluation, there was very little breeding work at IITA before 1988. Through special project funding, IITA has been involved in a West African Regional Cooperative for Research on Plantain since 1983. 3 IITA has accepted responsibility for breeding plantain (genomic constitution AAB) for resistance to Black Sigatoka in Africa. This decision was based on IITA's Strategic Plan 1989-2000. Black sigatoka is a virulent fungal disease caused by the Mycosphaerella fijiensis. Production losses associated with the disease range between 30% and 50%. There are now 227 accessions of Musa in the IITA genebank at Onne sub-station. Scientists located at IITA's Onne sub-station are working on plantain breeding, germplasm collection, in-vitro preservation, international transfer of material, "yield decline syndrome", somaclonal variation, rapid multiplication, plantain in alley farming systems, and nematodes. The work is being carried out in collaboration with the Honduras Agricultural Research Foundation (FHIA) and INIBAP. The major constraints to increased plantain production are: (a) Black Sigatoka disease; (b) Yield decline: nematodes and other pathogens affecting the roots are implicated, but basic nutrient problems may be involved in some situations; (c) Banana weevil/borer; (d) Slow suckering, which increases costs and restricts the availability of planting material; (e) Lodging, or "tip-over", caused by "high mat" (elevation of the corm above the soil surface); (f) Seasonality in marketing and prices; (g) Fruit perishability, and the concomitant need for improved storage and preservation (processing). In addition to breeding for resistance to Black Sigatoka disease other breeding objects include dwarfism, improved harvest index, resistance to nematodes and avoidance of yield decline. The research activities are shown in Table 2. The plantain research capability at IITA will consist of three senior scientists from 1989 - an agronomist/ breeder, a breeder and a pathologist. During 1988 there was provision for 1.5 SSY for plantain breeding/improvement. (Table 3). III. RESEARCH PROGRAMMES/ACTIVITIES AT IBPGR Banana and plantain are among the range of crop species for which IBPGR has accorded high priority. IBPGR cooperates closely with IITA and INIBAP and is working with regional institutions like the Centro Agronomico Tropical de Invesigacion y Ensenanza (CATIE), and the Institut de Recherche Agronomique et Zootechnique (IRAZ). 4 Table 2. Programme/Activity by Centre Programme/Activity IITA IBPGR INIBAP Germplasm - Taxonomy X X - Exchange X X - Evaluation X X - Improvement X X Pathology - Black Sigatoka X X X - Banana Bunchy Top Virus X X - Other Diseases X X Information/Documentation/ Training X X Regional Networks - East Africa X - West & Central Africa X X - Latin America/Caribbean X - Asia & the Pacific X - Specialized Institutions X 5 Table 3. Resource Allocation by Programme/Activity in SSY and/or (US$ *000) (1988) Programme/Activity IITA 1/ IBPGR 2/ INIBAP 3/ Germplasm/Breeding 275 (1.5 SSY) 50 (1 SSY) Pathology 30 (1 SSY) Information/Documentation/ Training 20 (2 SSY) Regional Networks (3 SSY) Total 275 (1.5 SSY) 100 (7 SSY) 1/ From 1989 to 1993 IITA plans to allocate 3.0 SSY annually for plantain improvement. 2/ IBPGR activities in germplasm collection, characterization, disease indexing, and information/documentation. 3/ In 1987 INIBAP received some US$ 1.03 million from donors, but only spent US$ 578,000. The cost of a senior scientist year at INIBAP has still to be determined. Proposed requirements during the first year of full operation assumes an essential budget of US$ 3.1 million. 6 IV. RESEARCH PROGRAMMES/ACTIVITIES AT INIBAP 1. Mandate INIBAP coordinates banana and plantain research worldwide and plays a major role in the transfer of germplasm and information. The mandate of INIBAP states: "The general objective of INIBAP is to increase the productivity and the stability of production of bananas and plantains grown on smallholdings. INIBAP's specific objectives are: to initiate, encourage, support, conduct and coordinate research aimed at improving the productivity of bananas and plantains; to strengthen national and regional programmes and facilitate the interchange of improved and disease-free genetic material through assisting in the establishment and analysis of regional and global trials of new and improved cultivars; to encourage the collection and exchange of documentation and information relating to bananas and plantains; and to support training for researchers and technicians from developing countries." INIBAP is implementing the mandate through a series of regional research networks, contract research, information, conferences/workshops, and training activities. 2. Research Programmes/Activities In accordance with INIBAP's strategy the initial focus of research activities is on germplasm improvement and disease control. A number of important initiatives have been undertaken since the establishment of INIBAP in 1984: (a) Workshops were organized each in the Asia, Africa and Latin America regions to establish national and regional research priorities, and to identify an initial research agenda for regional networks. As a result, regional collaborative research networks have been established for East Africa, West and Central Africa, and Latin America. A network for Asia and the Pacific is in the process of being established. (b) Thematic activities INIBAP supported and facilitated international germplasm exchange. Third country quarantine centres were established in France and Belgium; 7 INIBAP supported research work on the genetic diversity of the genus Musa; INIBAP organized a workshop on virus indexing work (bunchy top virus) - meeting sponsored jointly by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Resources Research and Development, IBPGR and INIBAP in 1988; INIBAP organized and sponsored seminars (e.g. banana and plantain breeding strategies, co-sponsored by INIBAP and ACIAR in 1986; and a meeting on germplasm exchange and improvement in Bogota, sponsored by INIBAP in 1987) INIBAP supported studies on Musa taxonomy: a workshop on the taxonomy of Musa was organized in September 1988 to clarify issues relating to the classification of banana and plantain, and their nomenclature; research on the chemo-taxonomy of Musa has been commissioned by INIBAP. (c) Information and documentation through a special project, INIBAP is establishing a comprehensive information and documentation system for banana and plantain a publications programme is now in place for a newsletter, brochures, an annual report and workshop proceedings. 3. Future Plans INIBAP plans to support research and research-related activities as shown in Table 2. The resource allocations/requirements are shown in Table 3. The main areas for INIBAP's activities will be: (a) Germplasm Activities These will include taxonomic studies of the genus Musa; developing safe methods for germplasm exchange; evaluating genotypes for pest and disease resistance, yield and consumer acceptability; and germplasm improvement. (b) Pests and Diseases Work will concentrate on Black Sigatoka and banana bunchy top virus. Studies on banana weevils, nematodes, and Fusarium might be introduced later in those regions where they are major constraints to production. (c) Information and Documentation - develop an inventory of research programmes - Thesaurus, terminology, taxonomy and data banks - collect documents - establish a central data base - publish a newsletter 8 (d) Publications - Musarama - a quarterly periodical of abstracts, news and comments - Proceedings of conferences, symposia and workshops - monographs, etc. (e) Training - Train technicians and scientists from national programmes (f) Regional Networks - At least four regional networks are planned, three of which are already operational. V. INTER-CENTRE COLLABORATION There is close collaboration between IITA, IBPGR and INIBAP. IITA is concentrating on plantain improvement for the humid zones of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in West and Central Africa (Table 1). INIBAP ensures the global coordination of research on bananas and plantain and coordinates the West and Central Africa Network in cooperation with IITA. The INIBAP regional coordinator for West Africa is located at IITA's Onne sub-station. IBPGR assists with germplasm collection, characterization and disease indexing. VI. ISSUES AND CONCERNS In 1983 the Second External Programme Review Panel of IITA recommended that the Centre should include starchy bananas in its operational mandate. TAC and the CGIAR decided that IITA should not be involved in too many crops and should continue to concentrate on the humid and sub-humid zones of Africa. In its 1985 CGIAR Priorities and Future Strategies document TAC considered that a major international research effort on banana and plantain was justified for the following reasons: the importance of banana and plantain as a food and cash crop and as a component of farming systems in the humid tropics; the upward trend in demand; the need to develop new and more efficient production systems; and the need to find economic solutions to the problems of storage, transportation and processing. TAC recommended that the System should increase its activities in sub-Saharan Africa in collaboration with INIBAP. TAC took the position that the CGIAR should not be involved in breeding work, but continue to focus on evaluation and testing, and on agronomic and cultural practices, including pest management. 9 IITA now has an active breeding programme on plantain research. This development was endorsed by TAC and the CGIAR when they considered and approved IITA's strategic plan and its medium-term programme proposals in 1988. In so doing TAC and the CGIAR have changed their previous position with respect to CGIAR involvement in banana and plantain breeding. The issue to be resolved is whether IITA could assume the primary responsibility for banana and plantain research in the CGIAR. t 1 SCI.DOC 16.3.1989 Mechanisms for Assessing CGIAR Priorities with Particular Reference to a Possible Expansion of the CGIAR. • -.V Report of the Standing Committee for Priorities and Strategies for discussion at TAC 48. March, 1989 . I ». I 2 Mechanisms for assessing CGIAR priorities with particular reference to a possible expansion of the CGIAR. 1. Introduction At TAC 47 in Washington D.C. the Committee approved the broad outline prepared by the Chairman of a paper entitled "The possible expansion of the CGIAR: A draft outline of possible approaches for TAC and the CGIAR". The Standing Committee for Priorities and Strategies was subsequently given the task of refining and operationalizing the analytical procedures for considering CGIAR priorities which had been proposed in the Chairman's outline. If adopted by TAC the recommended procedures will be used for a major revision of CGIAR priorities for the allocation of resources across commodities, activities, and regions to be completed by 1992. However, by September 1989 TAC needs to make a qualified judgement on the need for an expansion of the CGIAR to incorporate some or all of the activities of the so-called non-associated centers. Due to this time constraint a less rigorous process has to be used to assess priority research needs and gaps in the current CGIAR research portfolio. Reports from the teams visiting the non-associated centers will be assessed against this context in order to make a preliminary evaluation of whether NAC programs fill such gaps. The crucial problems faced by the CGIAR are, food supply, income generation, natural resource conservation and 3 sustainability of agricultural production. Mechanisms for assessing constraints which prevent the solution of these problems, will be based on an identification of pressures on natural resources. Within agro-ecological zones, constraints arise because of pressures imposed. If nobody wants to live there, there are no constraints. Pressures are created by the aspirations of a burgeoning population and by the demands of* national policy objectives. Constraint analysis can be undertaken at several levels of a system hierarchy: global - continental/regional - agro- ecological zonal - national - country region - farming system - crop/animal enterprise. A characteristic of the hierarchy is that each level contributes to and draws from adjacent levels. National boundaries are important because they restrict mobility and impose additional pressures on natural resources. What are rated as poor natural resource endowments in one country may be the best another country has to work with. These factors should be contained in a fully effective process of constraint analysis. After assessing constraints one may embark on the formulation of international research activities that may help to relax them. Subsequently, a procedure is necessary to rank the importance of constraints and international research activities using weights for criteria important to CGIAR goals and strategies. 4 The following sections of this paper present a proposal on how TAC might proceed in CGIAR priority setting, both in the short run while assessing a possible expansion of the CGIAR, and in the longer run for the continuing assessment of CGIAR priorities. Given the present status of information a compromise, which largely ignores the complications of local economic circumstances and to a certain extent the pressures created by national boundaries, has to be made. Priority setting has to be undertaken downwards from the global level of the system hierarchy, to the agro-ecological zone and sub-regional levels, as available quantitative information supplemented by experienced judgement will allow. 2. Analytical Procedures for Considering an Expansion of the CGIAR 2.1. Background paper on constraints to increased production to meet demand for food at the global, regional and agro-ecological zone level By June 1989, a background paper would be prepared on constraints to increased sustainable production to meet demand for food at the global, continental/regional and sub regional level. This paper would be based on essays prepared by both Secretariats, and may involve members of TAC and of the Standing Committee for Priorities and Strategies, for each of the major regions: sub-Saharan Africa, WANA, Asia and Latin America. In each of these essays, the major pressures would be discussed at the agro-ecological zone and sub-region level 5 to identify the main constraints, The grouping of constraints provided in Annex 1 would serve as a checklist. Inputs would be sought, on an informal basis, from selected experts with experience in the particular region. In reviewing the major constraints, an evaluation would be made of international research activities to help relax these constraints, The existing CGIAR glossary of activities will be used (Annex 2)* for this evaluation. The analysis would be largely qualitative, based on reviews of relevant literature and informal interactions with knowledgeable experts. Also by June 1989 work on the following, more formal approach should have been advanced to allow the feasibility of the approach to be judged during TAC 49. Progress will, however, be dependent upon the availability of staff resources from both Secretariats. 2.2. Use of more formal methods to assess the relative importance of constraints and research activities' with particular emphasis to activities and commodities of the NACs As far as possible in parallel, this qualitative assessment would be supplemented by the analytical approach suggested in the introduction; moving down the system hierarchy to the agro-ecological zone and sub-regional levels. A weighting procedure based on the size of the populations that exert the pressure within the agro-ecological zones will allow evaluation of the relative importance of constraints. These weights are carried over to mandated activities of both 6 CGIAR and non-associated centers that address these constraints. Weighting is done at the very end of the exercise, so that alternate methods and alternative weights may be experimented with. The process would be designed to allow aggregation across ecological zones, and across regions to identify a desirable set of international research activities. The desirable set of activities would be compared with the actual set of CGIAR activities; as already indicated both sets would be based in common on the existing CGIAR glossary. Gaps identified will be confronted with the activities of non-associated centers. Also identified would be research areas where major overlaps in activities appear to exist. This approach would be complemented by congruence analysis to assess the importance of different commodities. The value of the overall exercise would be not so much in the numbers derived but in the systematic review of constraints and desirable mix of research and related activities to relax them, and in the sense of perspective gained through the process. The output will enrich TAC's collective judgement in considering an expansion of the CGIAR during the special TAC meeting in September 1989. / 7 3 . Priority Setting in the Longer Term The Standing Committee is convinced that any top down constraint analysis should be complemented by a bottom-up approach from a level at which the environmental, economic and social factors shaping development decisions can be considered. This bottom-up approach and the discussed top- down approach would meet each other at the national level. The bottom-up part of the analysis would be based on information available through the Geographic Information System (GIS) of the FAO. The ability of the GIS to locate specific areas within key agro-ecological zones would be used to develop and evaluate a case study approach, Field work within identified areas could supplement information available in the more aggregated data bases. Pilot studies of one or two key locations in one or two countries would allow evaluation of this approach. In particular it would indicate the cost of obtaining this kind of data collection and analysis for sufficient case study situations to improve constraint analysis and subsequent priority setting, It would also provide an evaluation of the efficacy of other, more rough and ready procedures, at the agro-ecological zone level. Pending the outcome of the pilot studies, for the revision of CGIAH priorities planned for 1992, the study of a complementary procedure based on such a bottom-up approach would be recommended to TAC. 8 I I The problem with the suggested approach is that TAC as a non-research organization sets foot in uncharted research territory. The Standing Committee also recommends a continuing watching brief on the development of more sophisticated methods for the assessment of international agricultural research priorities, Authors of such studies should be invited to discuss their results and implications for CGIAR priority setting within TAC. * ; idbìc 1 • Ka"Kln8 ut Production Constraints by Commodity In the (ARro-Ecologlcal Zone) of (Region) V commodities' («) c c 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 CONSTRAINTS 8 Value Production NATURAL RESOURCE BASE: Land and Water: “ Poor Watershed Management - Limited Avai 1 labi 11ty of Arable Land - Degradation of Arable Land* - Degradation of Non-Arable Land - Depletion of Water Resources - Land Use Policy PHYSICAL: Soil: - Acidity - Low Fertility (non-acid soils) - Salinity - Low Moisture Supplying Capacity - Other Structural Deficiencies - Erosion Water: (a) Rainfall: » - Poor Distribution - Excess Water/Flooding - Poor Water Management (b) Irrigation : - Poor Management - High Cost Temperature : - Excess Heat - Excess Cold Low Solar Radiation BIOLOGICAL: Genotypic (Plants): - Limited Unexploited Yield Potential - Low Product Quality - Inadequate Genetic Variability - Unsuitable Plant Type Genotypic (Livestock): - Limited Unexplolted Yield Potential - Inadequate Genetic Variability Genotypic (Aquatic Animala): - Limited Unexplolted Yield Potential - Inadequate Genetic Variability Biotic (Pianta): - Pests - Dlseai 18 - Weeds Biotic (Livestock): - Pests - Diseases - Nutrition - Reproduction Biotic (Aquatic Animals): - Peats/Diseases - Nutrition - Reproduction - Water Problems IN EFFECT IVE SYSTEM ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT:- Annual Crops - Perennial Crops - Livestock - Aquatic Animals POST HARVEST: - Storage - Processing ECONOMIC/POLICY: Farm/Household : - Labour - Draught Poa#er - Low Energy Resources (Fuelvood, Dung, etc.) - System Management Sectoral: - Inadequate Infrastructure - Access to Markets - Input Availability and Policy - Uncertain Land Tenure - Price Distortions INSTITUTIONAL: Human Capital: - Number of Trained People - Level of Training Deficiencies in Research Organization: - Research Management and Funding - R&D Linkages - Information Generation/Dissemination * Describe the major causes of degradation and list examples: e.g. declining fertility. : . v’> «w,.1 4 ». ANNEX II Table 2. CGIAR Activities Included in Ma ìor Research Thrusts I . RESOURCE CONSERVATION S< MANAGEMENT 1 . Water Management Research 2. Soils Management & Conservation 3. Agroclimatology 29. Agroforestry 4. Germplasm a. Research on Conservation & Diversity b. Collection , •« ■ c. Conservation, Characterization 8< Documentation II. CROP PRODUCTION RESEARCH 4. Germplasm d. Enhancement e. Breeding/Improvement f. International Trials 5. Seed Production 6. Crop Systems Research 10. a. Plant Nutrition * b. Plant Nutrient Development Technology 11. Machinery Research & Development 9. Plant Protection 8. Crop-Livestock Systems III. LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION RESEARCH 4. Livestock Germplasm Enhancement and Breeding 7. a. Livestock Systems 12. a. Livestock Nutrition 13. a. Livestock Reproduction 14. Livestock Diseases * III.A FISH PRODUCTION * 4. g. Fish Production Germplasm Enhacement & Breeding * 7. b. Fish Production Systems * 12. b. Fish Nutrition * 13. b. Fish Reproduction * 14. b. Fish Diseases * Activities suggested -for addition f \' . ì Annex II - Page 2 IV. COMMODITY CONVERSION ?< UTILIZATION 28. Commodity Conversion 8< Utilisation Analysis V. ANALYSIS HUMAN NUTRITION LINKAGES 25. Nutrition Analysis VI. FOOD Z< AGRICULTURAL POLICY RESEARCH 22. Economic & Social Analysis Micro Level 23. Market Analysis 24. Policy Analysis VII. EXPLORATORY, IMPACT 8< METHODOLOGY RESEARCH ) 18. Research on Approaches, Concepts 8< Methods 26. Research on Research 27. Exploratory Research * 30. Research on Institutional Management VIII. INSTITUTION BUILDING, TRAINING 8< NETWORKING 15. Training 16. Conferences & Seminars 17. Documentation 8< Dissemination 19. Counselling & Advising NARS 20. Technical Assistance 21. Coordination of Networks TOTALS * Activities suggested for addition • >