Role of networking for strengthening maize research in Asia
Material type:
TextPublication details: Los Baños, Laguna (Philippines) PCARRD : 2000Description: p. 38-46Subject(s): Summary: Asian region is a major region to enhance food security but it is predominantly rainfed. Globalization calls for competitiveness and efficiency in crop production and countries in this region have been strengthening their National Agricultural Research Systems (NARs). Effectiveness of NARs can be enhanced by sharing successful experiences since these countries have similar problems in their agricultural production and development. This necessitates establishment of strong and viable research infrastructure systems and cross-fertilization of their experiences. Steps taken in the past have resulted in the emergence of autonomous research councils in some of these countries with major responsibility for research policy, planning and coordination. Some of these councils manage and fund a large network of federal research institutes in a coordinated set up to link national goals, research capabilities and farmers needs. They have developed farm worthy technologies that have enhanced regional food security. Major NARs have solved infrastructure and personnel development issues and are faced with issues of efficiency and effectiveness. This calls for appropriate research management strategies and processes. A lot remains to be done in the area of effective improved cultivar development and coverage in both conventional and non-conventional maize hybrids. Also, seed technology research and seed production aspects need to be spruced up. In the long run, areas for linkage would include targeted germplasm exchange, collaboration in maize biotechnology training and development related areas, post-harvest processing requirements and human resource development. In India, agricultural research networking has been a grand success-taking cue from the first successful efforts through the All India Coordinate Maize Improvement Project which has generated production technology information and improved cultivar development. This concept is now finding acceptance among other Asian countries both within institutions in the country as also between and among countries. Networking includes coordination, resource exchange and allocation to meet common objectives. Tropical Asian Maize Network is one such NARs driven initiative in operation for elite material testing and knowledge dissemination through collaboration with international institutions like CIMMYT and FAD. Impact of networking is visible through availability of improved materials from CG centres. Constraints include resource crunch, effective participation and diverse administrative structures. Regional networking of NARs would avoid research duplication and compliment research capacity and reduce costs. It would also use scarce resources effectively and lead to technology generation, information dissemination and human resource development.
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Asian region is a major region to enhance food security but it is predominantly rainfed. Globalization calls for competitiveness and efficiency in crop production and countries in this region have been strengthening their National Agricultural Research Systems (NARs). Effectiveness of NARs can be enhanced by sharing successful experiences since these countries have similar problems in their agricultural production and development. This necessitates establishment of strong and viable research infrastructure systems and cross-fertilization of their experiences. Steps taken in the past have resulted in the emergence of autonomous research councils in some of these countries with major responsibility for research policy, planning and coordination. Some of these councils manage and fund a large network of federal research institutes in a coordinated set up to link national goals, research capabilities and farmers needs. They have developed farm worthy technologies that have enhanced regional food security. Major NARs have solved infrastructure and personnel development issues and are faced with issues of efficiency and effectiveness. This calls for appropriate research management strategies and processes. A lot remains to be done in the area of effective improved cultivar development and coverage in both conventional and non-conventional maize hybrids. Also, seed technology research and seed production aspects need to be spruced up. In the long run, areas for linkage would include targeted germplasm exchange, collaboration in maize biotechnology training and development related areas, post-harvest processing requirements and human resource development. In India, agricultural research networking has been a grand success-taking cue from the first successful efforts through the All India Coordinate Maize Improvement Project which has generated production technology information and improved cultivar development. This concept is now finding acceptance among other Asian countries both within institutions in the country as also between and among countries. Networking includes coordination, resource exchange and allocation to meet common objectives. Tropical Asian Maize Network is one such NARs driven initiative in operation for elite material testing and knowledge dissemination through collaboration with international institutions like CIMMYT and FAD. Impact of networking is visible through availability of improved materials from CG centres. Constraints include resource crunch, effective participation and diverse administrative structures. Regional networking of NARs would avoid research duplication and compliment research capacity and reduce costs. It would also use scarce resources effectively and lead to technology generation, information dissemination and human resource development.
English
0208|AGRIS 0201|AL-Maize Program|R01PROCE
Juan Carlos Mendieta
CIMMYT Publications Collection