Targeting Research for Enhanced Impact on Poverty in Marginal Areas: The Representative Case of the Dry Areas of Syria

Agricultural research in marginal dry areas can contribute to reducing poverty through the development of technological, institutional and policy options for poor farmers by addressing diversified opportunities and development pathways. This paper analyzes the diversity of rural livelihood strategies in the Khanasser Valley in northwest Syria, an area representative of marginal drylands. We experimentally define an operational classification of household typologies based on their different livelihood strategies, capabilities, and opportunities by applying a Sustainable Livelihoods framework. Livelihoods diversity has implications on where and how research must be targeted to have impact on poverty. Households less endowed in land and natural resources and with livelihoods only marginally based on farming have to rely on off-farm income or exit agriculture. Poorest households with livelihoods based on migration and scarce land assets can benefit little or only indirectly from agricultural research. Yet the poor laborers with enough assets can benefit more and directly from pro-poor agricultural research. We discuss the pathways that these different groups can undertake to escape poverty, with emphasis on those that use agricultural technologies developed within an Integrated Natural Resources Management approach by a benchmark project of ICARDA in the Khanasser area. Some of the technologies, assessed ex-ante based on extensive experimental data, can contribute to improving livelihoods and preserving the natural resource base. If, however, these are to become part of effective development pathways and impact on poverty, they must meet various policy and institutional conditions, that we discuss vis-a-vis the different typologies of users.Impact, Livelihoods, Marginal Areas, Poverty, Syria, D1, I3, O3, Q12, Q16, Food Security and Poverty,

The challenges on out-scaling participatory methods in agricultural research

For the last decade or so, participatory research has become an attractive mechanism for conducting adaptive agricultural research. This is mainly motivated by the perception that closer association with resource-poor farmers in identifying the problem and involving them in research implementation presents greater chance of success and adoption of research outputs; hence; enhancing the impact of agricultural research. The advantage of participatory research is considered more prominent in, although not limited to, the adaptation of technologies that require local knowledge of the social, economic and biophysical environments or need high level of human capital or require cooperation of different stakeholders. Resource-poor households in the dry and marginalized areas who face complex biophysical and socioeconomic constraints have benefited less from the agricultural research successes, which led to the green revolution, compared to the farmers in well endowed environments. The result is high prevalence of poverty and malnutrition in the dry areas. However, there is potential to improve the welfare of these households through agricultural research and development. The development of participatory research approach and its application came form the necessity of reaching out these resource-poor farmers whom their participation in the research and development process is considered as key in bringing about a desirable change

Impact of land tenure and other socioeconomic factors on mountain terrace maintenance in Yemen:

This paper describes the land property rights and tenure systems in the western escarpments of the Yemeni Highlands, and analyses the impact of land tenure arrangements and other socioeconomic factors on terrace maintenance. Owner-cultivated land is dominant in the terraced area, but more than one-third of the land is sharecropped. Terraces cultivated by landowners have a lower number of broken walls per hectare than those cultivated by tenants under sharecropping arrangements. This is more significant on sharecropped public (state and waqf) than private lands the reason being the lack of clearly defined responsibilities between tenants and landowners for maintenance and cost sharing. These responsibilities are defined in the customary rules of land use, but uneven power distribution, which favors landlords, results in lack of clear rules and enforcement mechanisms. The study recommends government action in strengthening existing local institutions in documenting sharecropping contracts, improving and targeting agricultural credit services, instituting better price policies, and improving technologies for farmers. These measures will likely increase land users' expected returns to investment, particularly for food crops, and increase landowners' willingness to invest in terrace maintenance.

Impact of ICARDA Research on Australian Agriculture

Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Because gender matters : strengthening social and gender analysis in ENRM in the Middle East and North Africa

This project aimed to build the gender research capacity of four teams in national research institutions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Among findings, research in Djelfa, Algeria, confirmed a strong relationship between the degradation of productive natural resources (rangelands) which affects grazing patterns of livestock and the loss of local knowledge related to women's production of traditional garments. As well, analysis of the male-dominated food industry through case studies generated lessons for the Rural Women Cooperatives. Research also shows how men and women farmers cope with climate variability, where coping strategies are shaped by gender dimensions of power relations and decision making

Gendered Dimensions of Key Value Chains in Southwestern Morocco

The Morocco Green Plan (MGP) has delivered significant economic benefits to small farm households. A concentration on improving efficiency and profitability within value chains for key local commodities has, through the creation of women’s cooperatives, also led to positive outcomes in female empowerment. Through qualitative and participatory research methods, our analysis of gendered aspects of value chains for argan, rose, cactus, and saffron in southwestern Morocco suggests that economic empowerment, fostered through existing women’s cooperatives, is fragile and subject to significant threats. In large part, this is the result of a state-driven approach that has not effectively considered the inequities inherent within value chains for key local commodities; and the meshing of existing social and cultural norms with the tenets of a national drive toward ‘modernization’ of the agricultural sector. We suggest that the MGP is gender blind in this respect. Couching value chain enhancement initiatives within an innovation systems framework, as opposed to a state-centric process, is more likely to achieve well-being within rural communities, together with sustainable (social and economic) returns within pro-poor value chains

Importance Socio-économique du safran pour les ménages des zones de montagne de la région de Taliouine-Taznakht au Maroc

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. It has been grown in Morocco for centuries in the region of Taliouine-Taznakht, a region with a great saffron reputation nationally and internationally. It has been used for its culinary, medicinal and cosmetic properties. The objectives of this study are to assess the socio-economic importance of saffron for households of the mountainous areas of this region and to study its role of saffron in poverty and inequality reduction in those areas. We conducted a socio-economic survey among 264 households in six representative rural communities in the region. Saffron is the dominant source of income for these rural households, many of whom are poor. Saffron is a labor intensive crop, and women play a crucial role in the production of saffron. Saffron is a promising way to stimulate local development and help to alleviate poverty and inequality in that region.Le safran est l’épice la plus chère du monde. Il est cultivé au Maroc depuis des siècles dans les zones montagneuses de la région de Taliouine-Taznakht, réputée par son safran de haute qualité à l’échelle nationale et internationale. Il est utilisé pour ses propriétés culinaires, médicinales et cosmétiques. Cette étude consiste à évaluer l’importance socio-économique du safran pour les ménages des zones montagneuses de cette région et son rôle dans la réduction de la pauvreté et de l’inégalité. Une enquête socio-économique a été conduite sur un échantillon de 264 ménages répartis sur six communes rurales représentatives de la région. Les résultats montrent que le safran est la principale source de revenu pour les ménages, qui sont généralement pauvres, et c’est une source importante de travail, notamment pour les femmes. Le safran est une voie prometteuse pour la réduction de la pauvreté et de l’inégalité dans cette région. &nbsp

Factors affecting the goat producers choice of market place and marketing efficiency in Afghanistan

This paper aims to assess the efficiency in marketing goats and to identify the factors influencing the choice of market location for goat producers’ in Baghlan and Nangarhar provinces of Afghanistan. Goat producers (280) were randomly selected in equal proportions for rainfed and irrigated systems from 28 villages in 4 districts in Baghlan and Nangarhar provinces. Shepherd index of marketing efficiency and binary logit model were used to assess the marketing efficiency and to analyze the goat producers’ choice of market respectively. The study indicated that market efficiency was higher in Nangarhar than in Baghlan markets due to lower marketing margins. There is considerable potential for improving the marketing efficiency through capacity building of goat producers in production as well as marketing. Anticipated price per kg live weight of goat, breed, week day, age of goats and production system are influencing goat producers’ choice of market location. The study enables the goat producers to plan their goat sales in district markets to fetch high revenue

The Economic and Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy in the Agricultural Sector: The Case of Morocco

The main purpose of this research was to analyse the potential of solar panels to replace both LPG (butane gas cylinders) and diesel currently used in Morocco for agricultural irrigation. A swap would help Morocco to conserve the environment by using cleaner energy, as well as moving towards meeting Morocco's emission targets. For this purpose, we surveyed 112 farmers in two Moroccan regions, Sidi El Aidi and Fquih Ben Salah. We found that pumping one cubic meter of groundwater with solar energy was in average 33.3% cheaper in Sidi El Aidi, and 60.6% cheaper in Fquih Ben Salah than pumping using LPG. Net present value estimates suggest that investing in solar panels is profitable. Environmental analysis suggested that switching from LPG or diesel to solar energy would save the equivalent amount of energy used by 13–25 million 60-W electric bulbs per year. The government, farmers and the environment would gain by replacing LPG with solar energy. However, once solar panels are installed, pumping cost is virtually zero. Farmers may be tempted to overuse irrigation water, and consequently accelerate the depletion of groundwater. Implementing groundwater regulations to control the amount of groundwater pumped should precede any government program intended to promote solar energy