Adopting a Cohesive Land-Grant Approach

Transcription

1 Adopting a Cohesive Land-Grant Approach to facilitate International Agricultural Research and Development Anthony K. Yeboah, Ph.D. Professor and Chair North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

2 Department Agribusiness, Applied Economic and Agriscience Education International Background International Collaborating Universities» EARTH University (Costa Rica)» Institut Polytechnique Rural de Formation et de Recherche Appliquee (Mali)» Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana)» McGill University (Canada)» University of Belize (Belize)» University of Benin (Benin)» University of Ege (Turkey)» University of Liberia (Liberia)» University of Montreal (Canada) 2

3 Department Agribusiness, Applied Economic and Agriscience Education International Background US Agencies and Universities International Collaboration» USAID» US Peace Corps» USAID/NIFA» USDA/FAS» University of Illinois (Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services) - Benin & Liberia» Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - Mali 3

4 Department Agribusiness, Applied Economic and Agriscience Education Countries where our faculty and students work or study:»azerbaijan»benin»cambodia»costa Rica»Ecuador»Ghana»Liberia»Mauritania International Background Belize Burkina Faso Canada Cyprus Ethiopia Guatemala Mali Turkey 4

5 Farming Systems Research and Extension (FSR/E) Project Mali, West Africa Farming systems research is an approach for generating appropriate technologies for studying existing farming systems and involving the technology users - usually the small farmers in the planning and evaluation process. SECID -(South Eastern Consortium for International Development). U.S. institutions including Auburn University, Fort Valley State University, Virginia Tech, & NC A&T State University 5

6 Farming Systems Research and Extension (FSR/E) Project Approach Justified Based on Three Vital Considerations: 1. The farmer and his or her family are rational in their decision-making, 2. The production systems of small farmers embody an integrated set of husbandry practices, and 3. A farming system belongs to the goalsetting and purposeful category of systems and its direction is determined by the farmer and his family. 6

7 Farming Systems Research and Extension (FSR/E) Project (Mali) The Project Methodology and the Tripartite Mission of Land Grant Universities Rapid Reconnaissance Survey (RRS) Four zones or research domains were identified These zones were determined principally by food crops, cash crops and level of equipment ownership. Research team working closely with the extension personnel 7

8 Farming Systems Research and Extension (FSR/E) Project (Mali) The Integration of Research, Extension and Education Tripartite mission of our land grant institutions. Interdisciplinary approach -core of project research team Agronomists, animal scientists, sociologists, economists, soil scientist, information technology specialist and many other related disciplines. Strong partnership between Research and Extension Strong academic component through its links with the Institut Polytechnique Rural de Formation et de Recherche Involvement of Students 8

9 Project Successes Project achieved intermediate impact including identification of relevant solutions to production problems, addressing gender issues and issues pertaining to children and young adults. Project enhanced manpower development within the Ministry of Agriculture through short-term and long-term training of personnel. 9

10 Opportunities and Challenges Success of Land Grant Model Opportunity for BIFAD to encourage USAID to continue with this model for international agricultural development. Opportunity for manpower development through formal and informal training. Opportunity for the 1890 institutions to strategize to form partnership among themselves and the private sector to engage in international research activities. 10

11 Opportunities and Challenges Reduced emphasis of agricultural research in place of issues of democracy and primary health care. Sustainability of projects due to lack of resources on the part of the host countries. The effects or potential effects of climate change on agricultural production and other issues. 11

12 QUESTIONS 12