Rethinking Agriculture in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
How to sustainably meet food needs, enhance ecosystem services and cope with climate change.
Robyn Johnston - International Water Management Institute
Priorities for Public Sector Research on Food Security and Natural Resources Report Presentation by Frank Place, ICRAF and Alexandre Meybeck, FAO
on April 12, 2013 at the Food Security Futures Conference in Dublin, Ireland.
Dr. Andrew Noble, Program Director of the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems, presented “Feeding 9 Billion People without Destroying the Planet: It is Possible,” on his trip to the US.
Priorities for Public Sector Research on Food Security and Climate Change, Report presentation by Leslie Lipper, FAO and Philip Thornton, ILRI on April 12, 2013 at the Food Security Futures Conference in Dublin, Ireland.
Priorities for Public Sector Research on Food Security and Natural Resources Report Presentation by Frank Place, ICRAF and Alexandre Meybeck, FAO
on April 12, 2013 at the Food Security Futures Conference in Dublin, Ireland.
Dr. Andrew Noble, Program Director of the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems, presented “Feeding 9 Billion People without Destroying the Planet: It is Possible,” on his trip to the US.
Priorities for Public Sector Research on Food Security and Climate Change, Report presentation by Leslie Lipper, FAO and Philip Thornton, ILRI on April 12, 2013 at the Food Security Futures Conference in Dublin, Ireland.
AN OVERVIEW of the CHALLENGES of AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH in SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA:...Premier Publishers
This study, analyzes the challenges of national agricultural research institutions (NARIs) in Eritrea from organizational perspective. It examines the institutional and research capacities, and the human and financial capabilities of NARIs. The data for this study was taken from a study conducted in June 2017 in the Ministry of Agriculture. The study used both survey and case study methodologies. The study seeks to answer the following two research questions: what are the challenges of NARIs in Eritrea? What can be learned from the experience of SSA countries NARIs? In this study, it is found that NARI has inadequate human, material and financial resources and limited research agenda. NARI has shortage of operational funding and trained personnel in specialized areas, which require higher education level. The current agricultural research system under NARI is less responsive to the various challenges and constraints of agricultural production and development in Eritrea. NARI should focus on participatory demand driven research methodology and integrate the needs of small-scale and commercial farmers, and improve its management, planning, monitoring and evaluation systems, including physical and human capital, and its research agenda. There is a need for the development of strategy that integrates elements that reinforce and build the present capacity of the agricultural research system.
the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA) summoned a symposium on “Convergence of policies and programs for sustainable and climate resilient agriculture and role of agricultural economics association in contemporary world” on December 13, 2014 as part of Joint Annual Research Forum at Hectare Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The aim of the symposium was to bring together researchers from South Asian countries to present the policy measures taken within their countries regarding climate –smart agriculture and to explore the convergence among them for the near future.
Improving diet diversity, quality and ecosystem sustainability. By Federico Mattei Bioversity International. Read more about Bioversity International’s work on diet diversity for nutrition and health. http://www.bioversityinternational.org/research-portfolio/diet-diversity/
Metrics and sustainable diets was the focus of a presentation by Thomas Allen of Bioversity International delivered at the Joint Conference on Sustainable Diet and Food Security co-organized by the Belgian Nutrition Society, The Nutrition Society and Société Française de Nutrition on 28 and 29 May 2013 in Lille, France under the auspices of the Federation of European Nutrition Societies, a conference on Sustainable Diet and Food Security. : A system approach to assessing Sustainable Diets. Read more about Bioversity International’s work on diet diversity for nutrition and health
http://www.bioversityinternational.org/research-portfolio/diet-diversity/
Agriculture in developing countries must undergo a significant transformation in order to meet the related challenges of achieving food security and responding to climate change. Projections based on population growth and food consumption patterns indicate that agricultural production will need to increase by at least 70 percent to meet demands by 2050. Most estimates also indicate that climate change is likely to reduce agricultural productivity, production stability and incomes in some areas that already have high levels of food insecurity. Developing climate-smart agriculture is thus crucial to achieving future food security and climate change goals. This seminar describe an approach to deal with the above issue viz. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and also examines some of the key technical, institutional, policy and financial responses required to achieve this transformation. Building on cases from the field, the seminar try to outlines a range of practices, approaches and tools aimed at increase the resilience and productivity of agricultural product systems, while also reducing and removing emissions. A part of the seminar elaborates institutional and policy options available to promote the transition to climate-smart agriculture at the smallholder level. Finally, the paper considers current gaps and makes innovative suggestion regarding the combined use of different sources, financing mechanism and delivery systems.
Renewable Energy and Agriculture: A Partnership for Sustainable DevelopmentIJMERJOURNAL
ABSTARCT: Agriculture is the sole provider of human food. Most farms machines are driven by fossil fuels, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and in turn, accelerate climate change. Such environmental damage can be mitigated by the promotion of renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, biomass, small hydro, and biofuels. These renewable resources have a huge potential for agriculture industry. The concept of sustainable agriculture lies on a delicate balance of maximizing crop productivity and maintaining economic stability, while minimizing the utilization of finite natural resources and detrimental environmental impacts. Sustainable agriculture also depends on replenishing the soil while minimizing the use of non-renewable resources, such as natural gas, which is used in converting atmospheric nitrogen into synthetic fertilizer and mineral ores, e.g phosphate or fossil fuel used in diesel generator for water pumping for irrigation.Hence, there is a need for promoting use of renewable energy systems for sustainable agriculture e.g solar photovoltaic water pumps and electricity, greenhouse technologies, solar dryers for post harvest processing and solar hot water heaters. In remote agricultural lands, the underground submersible solar photovoltaic water pump is economically viable and also an environmentally friendly option as compared with a diesel generator set. This article details the role of renewable energy in farming by connecting all aspects of environment, societal change and ecology
Agricultural Water Management: The Key to Food Security in a Changing World - David Molden, Deputy Director General, International Water Management Institute
AN OVERVIEW of the CHALLENGES of AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH in SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA:...Premier Publishers
This study, analyzes the challenges of national agricultural research institutions (NARIs) in Eritrea from organizational perspective. It examines the institutional and research capacities, and the human and financial capabilities of NARIs. The data for this study was taken from a study conducted in June 2017 in the Ministry of Agriculture. The study used both survey and case study methodologies. The study seeks to answer the following two research questions: what are the challenges of NARIs in Eritrea? What can be learned from the experience of SSA countries NARIs? In this study, it is found that NARI has inadequate human, material and financial resources and limited research agenda. NARI has shortage of operational funding and trained personnel in specialized areas, which require higher education level. The current agricultural research system under NARI is less responsive to the various challenges and constraints of agricultural production and development in Eritrea. NARI should focus on participatory demand driven research methodology and integrate the needs of small-scale and commercial farmers, and improve its management, planning, monitoring and evaluation systems, including physical and human capital, and its research agenda. There is a need for the development of strategy that integrates elements that reinforce and build the present capacity of the agricultural research system.
the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA) summoned a symposium on “Convergence of policies and programs for sustainable and climate resilient agriculture and role of agricultural economics association in contemporary world” on December 13, 2014 as part of Joint Annual Research Forum at Hectare Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The aim of the symposium was to bring together researchers from South Asian countries to present the policy measures taken within their countries regarding climate –smart agriculture and to explore the convergence among them for the near future.
Improving diet diversity, quality and ecosystem sustainability. By Federico Mattei Bioversity International. Read more about Bioversity International’s work on diet diversity for nutrition and health. http://www.bioversityinternational.org/research-portfolio/diet-diversity/
Metrics and sustainable diets was the focus of a presentation by Thomas Allen of Bioversity International delivered at the Joint Conference on Sustainable Diet and Food Security co-organized by the Belgian Nutrition Society, The Nutrition Society and Société Française de Nutrition on 28 and 29 May 2013 in Lille, France under the auspices of the Federation of European Nutrition Societies, a conference on Sustainable Diet and Food Security. : A system approach to assessing Sustainable Diets. Read more about Bioversity International’s work on diet diversity for nutrition and health
http://www.bioversityinternational.org/research-portfolio/diet-diversity/
Agriculture in developing countries must undergo a significant transformation in order to meet the related challenges of achieving food security and responding to climate change. Projections based on population growth and food consumption patterns indicate that agricultural production will need to increase by at least 70 percent to meet demands by 2050. Most estimates also indicate that climate change is likely to reduce agricultural productivity, production stability and incomes in some areas that already have high levels of food insecurity. Developing climate-smart agriculture is thus crucial to achieving future food security and climate change goals. This seminar describe an approach to deal with the above issue viz. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and also examines some of the key technical, institutional, policy and financial responses required to achieve this transformation. Building on cases from the field, the seminar try to outlines a range of practices, approaches and tools aimed at increase the resilience and productivity of agricultural product systems, while also reducing and removing emissions. A part of the seminar elaborates institutional and policy options available to promote the transition to climate-smart agriculture at the smallholder level. Finally, the paper considers current gaps and makes innovative suggestion regarding the combined use of different sources, financing mechanism and delivery systems.
Renewable Energy and Agriculture: A Partnership for Sustainable DevelopmentIJMERJOURNAL
ABSTARCT: Agriculture is the sole provider of human food. Most farms machines are driven by fossil fuels, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and in turn, accelerate climate change. Such environmental damage can be mitigated by the promotion of renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, biomass, small hydro, and biofuels. These renewable resources have a huge potential for agriculture industry. The concept of sustainable agriculture lies on a delicate balance of maximizing crop productivity and maintaining economic stability, while minimizing the utilization of finite natural resources and detrimental environmental impacts. Sustainable agriculture also depends on replenishing the soil while minimizing the use of non-renewable resources, such as natural gas, which is used in converting atmospheric nitrogen into synthetic fertilizer and mineral ores, e.g phosphate or fossil fuel used in diesel generator for water pumping for irrigation.Hence, there is a need for promoting use of renewable energy systems for sustainable agriculture e.g solar photovoltaic water pumps and electricity, greenhouse technologies, solar dryers for post harvest processing and solar hot water heaters. In remote agricultural lands, the underground submersible solar photovoltaic water pump is economically viable and also an environmentally friendly option as compared with a diesel generator set. This article details the role of renewable energy in farming by connecting all aspects of environment, societal change and ecology
Agricultural Water Management: The Key to Food Security in a Changing World - David Molden, Deputy Director General, International Water Management Institute
A keynote address by Dr. Alain Vidal of the CPWF to the Spiritual Transformation for
Sustainable Development: a Forum focusing on Carbon Dioxide Reduction and Efficient Use of Water, hosted by Thailand's AIT on November 3-4, 2009.
The conference seeks to discuss how spiritual values can complement political and economical processes and what can be done to increase the impact of ethical values on carbon dioxide reduction and efficient use of water. The primary purpose is to find ways and means for securing a sustainable society based on the long term ethical values common to all world religions.
Resource utilization and managing conflict in the pastoral community of Ethio...ILRI
Presentation by Dr Tilahun Amede for the 5th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture and the 18th Annual Meeting of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP), Addis Ababa, October 25-28, 2010.
Presentation by Claudia Ringler, Hartwig Kremer and Cheikh Mbow at the UNEA Science Policy Interface, May 19-20
Presentation focuses on the concept of the water, food and energy nexus and its importance within the development context. It also provides a number of cases highlighting nexus issues.
Ensuring climate resilience of agro-ecosystems and sustainable management of ...ICARDA
Dr. Rachid MRABET
Research Director
INRA Rabat
Cop 22 - Session November 16th 2016, Coping with Climate Change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region Meeting future food demand through SCIENCE & INNOVATION
The CGIAR Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, with the Environmental Change Institute, gave this presentation on enhancing climate resilience of food production in the Greater Mekong.
Presentation by Jeremy Bird, DG, International Water Management Institute, at the CCAFS Workshop on Institutions and Policies to Scale out Climate Smart Agriculture held between 2-5 December 2013 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Effectiveness of Adaptation Measures Taken by Farmers in the Field of Effects...IJEAB
It is evident that climate change affects the well being of farmers and increases their vulnerability in the future if no action is taken into account by them. In fact, Various adaptation measures, such as crop diversification, changes in the dates of semi and crops, use of seed and fertilizer varieties, irrigation, use of tractors etc. are carried out by Farmers. However, these different measures have not yet had the same effect in reducing the negative effects of climate change on agriculture. Thus, this paper aims at evaluating empirically assess the effectiveness of these measures or strategies of adaptations on the performance of farms in Benin. Using the estimation technique of MCO, estimating the technical efficiency of farmers' production reveals that the use of improved seeds and fertilizers also reduces the negative impact of climate change In addition, land irrigation and the number of weeding remain influential factors for which we do not have the necessary statistics to assess their efficiencies
Presented by IWMI's Thai Thi Minh as part of the Small Scale Irrigation Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues: Bundling innovations for scaling farmer-led irrigation in Ghana (organized by ILSSI)
• Bundling innovations for scaling farmer led irrigation in Ghana – by IWMI
• Solar irrigation bundles: prospects and challenges – by PUMPTECH
• GCAP’s Experience with Bundling Innovations and Services to Support Farmer-led Irrigation: A Case of the Peri-Urban Project: Michel Camp Irrigation Scheme – by Food Systems Resilience Project (FSRP)
Presentation slides for the event titled 'Promoting sustainable groundwater irrigation for building climate resilience in West Africa' held on 18 March 2022. The event was jointly organized by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - Water Resources Management Centre, and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS).
How to design your interventions to build sustainable and climate-resilient food production systems.
Presented at the Virtual forum. More information is available at https://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/events/operationalizing-farmer-led-irrigation-development-at-scale/
Presentation by IWMI Kakhramon Djumaboev about the application of the water-food-energy nexus concept on transboundary rivers of Central Asia. Presented at the 10th anniversary PEER program on August 17, 2021
Presented by IWMI's Maha Halalsheh as part of a series of training workshops held in 2021 entitled 'The safe use of wastewater' explaining the modules in the ' Governance and Reuse Safety Plans' handbook developed as part of our ReWater-MENA project.
Presented by IWMI's Maha Halalsheh as part of a series of training workshops held in 2021 entitled 'The safe use of wastewater' explaining the modules in the ' Governance and Reuse Safety Plans' handbook developed as part of our ReWater-MENA project. More about our work: https://rewater-mena.iwmi.org/
Presented by IWMI's Maha Halalsheh as part of a series of training workshops held in 2021 entitled 'The safe use of wastewater' explaining the modules in the ' Governance and Reuse Safety Plans' handbook developed as part of our ReWater-MENA project. More about our work: https://rewater-mena.iwmi.org/
Presented by IWMI's Maha Halalsheh as part of a series of training workshops held in 2021 entitled 'The safe use of wastewater' explaining the modules in the ' Governance and Reuse Safety Plans' handbook developed as part of our ReWater-MENA project. More about our work: https://rewater-mena.iwmi.org/
Presented by IWMI's Maha Halalsheh as part of a series of training workshops held in 2021 entitled 'The safe use of wastewater' explaining the modules in the ' Governance and Reuse Safety Plans' handbook developed as part of our ReWater-MENA project. More about our work: https://rewater-mena.iwmi.org/
Presented by IWMI's Maha Halalsheh as part of a series of training workshops held in 2021 entitled 'The safe use of wastewater' explaining the modules in the ' Governance and Reuse Safety Plans' handbook developed as part of our ReWater-MENA project. More about our work: https://rewater-mena.iwmi.org/
Presented by Olufunke Cofie at the National WASH Action Plan Research and Capacity Building Agenda Setting Workshop in Abuja, Nigeria on February 17-18, 2020.
This webinar was jointly organized by the African Union (AU), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The World Bank on October 15, 2020. More info: http://bit.ly/IDAWM20
31052024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdfFIRST INDIA
Find Latest India News and Breaking News these days from India on Politics, Business, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Lifestyle and Coronavirus News in India and the world over that you can't miss. For real time update Visit our social media handle. Read First India NewsPaper in your morning replace. Visit First India.
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01062024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdfFIRST INDIA
Find Latest India News and Breaking News these days from India on Politics, Business, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Lifestyle and Coronavirus News in India and the world over that you can't miss. For real time update Visit our social media handle. Read First India NewsPaper in your morning replace. Visit First India.
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An astonishing, first-of-its-kind, report by the NYT assessing damage in Ukraine. Even if the war ends tomorrow, in many places there will be nothing to go back to.
03062024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdfFIRST INDIA
Find Latest India News and Breaking News these days from India on Politics, Business, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Lifestyle and Coronavirus News in India and the world over that you can't miss. For real time update Visit our social media handle. Read First India NewsPaper in your morning replace. Visit First India.
CLICK:- https://firstindia.co.in/
#First_India_NewsPaper
‘वोटर्स विल मस्ट प्रीवेल’ (मतदाताओं को जीतना होगा) अभियान द्वारा जारी हेल्पलाइन नंबर, 4 जून को सुबह 7 बजे से दोपहर 12 बजे तक मतगणना प्रक्रिया में कहीं भी किसी भी तरह के उल्लंघन की रिपोर्ट करने के लिए खुला रहेगा।
हम आग्रह करते हैं कि जो भी सत्ता में आए, वह संविधान का पालन करे, उसकी रक्षा करे और उसे बनाए रखे।" प्रस्ताव में कुल तीन प्रमुख हस्तक्षेप और उनके तंत्र भी प्रस्तुत किए गए। पहला हस्तक्षेप स्वतंत्र मीडिया को प्रोत्साहित करके, वास्तविकता पर आधारित काउंटर नैरेटिव का निर्माण करके और सत्तारूढ़ सरकार द्वारा नियोजित मनोवैज्ञानिक हेरफेर की रणनीति का मुकाबला करके लोगों द्वारा निर्धारित कथा को बनाए रखना और उस पर कार्यकरना था।
In a May 9, 2024 paper, Juri Opitz from the University of Zurich, along with Shira Wein and Nathan Schneider form Georgetown University, discussed the importance of linguistic expertise in natural language processing (NLP) in an era dominated by large language models (LLMs).
The authors explained that while machine translation (MT) previously relied heavily on linguists, the landscape has shifted. “Linguistics is no longer front and center in the way we build NLP systems,” they said. With the emergence of LLMs, which can generate fluent text without the need for specialized modules to handle grammar or semantic coherence, the need for linguistic expertise in NLP is being questioned.
34. Proposed Don Sahong dam at Khone Falls Spawning Feeding Fish and dams Eggs, larvae, juveniles, adults Adults 60-90 % of migrating fish must pass upstream to maintain viable populations We were unable to find evidence in the literature to suggest that the necessary rates of upstream passage success to sustain even the small species … have been achieved elsewhere Halls and Kshatriya (2009)
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Editor's Notes
Report commissioned by Sida to look at issues around agriculture and environment in the region, in context of climate change - in particular, looking at security of food production over next 20 – 30 years. A lot of CC literature has focused – quite rightly – on long term; wanted to look at the immediate future, period that is being shaped now – out to 2050.
5 big messages from the report. Breathing space in next 20-30 years to reshape agricultural systems to deal with more extreme changes expected after 2050.
GMS region comprises 5 countries of mainland SE Asia plus Yunnan; 5 major river basins inc Mekong and Irrawaddy. Geographically and culturally diverse, but in agro-ecological terms, zones with common production systems and constraints, following similar development trajectories – eg mega-deltas, plains.
Agro-ecological zones with common production systems, biophysical constraints and risks Similar development trajectories Transferable technologies and lessons
Agriculture in the region is changing very fast. Lots of influences, but 4 big drivers: population growth, urbanisation, global trade and ec development. Population growth – not as fast as in past, but 25% more people by 2050. That means at least 25% more agricultural production is needed. Global assessments suggest more like 50% because of dietary changes
Urbanisation –20-30% of people in the region now live in cities. This has a huge impact on the way food is produced and consumed. 50 years ago most of population grew most of own food; means that agriculture has to move to different modes and different products. Also means that many people in rural areas depend on income from work in city, or remittances from family who have move - money flowing back from cities; over a million Burmese work in Thailand, remitting an average of US$300 per person annually to their home villages.
Trade and investment. Devt of rice exports transformed rice production in Mekong and Chao Phraya during 80’s and 90’s. Transformation of similar magnitude going on now with China opening up to imports. Example is rubber – buying from VN and TH; but investing in plantations in Lao, MY and CAM. N. Laos is transforming at very rapid rate. Some very significant shifts – small scale to plantation; smallholder to commercial; food to non-food; replace forest cover. Debates about land ownership, biodiversity, food security, national sovereignty. . (Ag can no longer be seen as a local or regional issue – biggest markets for rice exports from VN and TH are in Africa, so production in region is very much a part of global food security).
How does climate change fit with all this? As part of study, reviewed current studies, plus IWMI scientists analysed historical trends and projections from global models. Lot of rhetoric about dire consequences of CC in the region. T is definitely rising, with consistent trend of 1 degree rise in mean annual T over 30- 40 years – for comparison, 2 degree difference in MAT between Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen. Change singificant but not catastrophic
Rainfall much less clear cut. Rainfall in region is very variable from year to year – flood in 2008, drought this year. BUT No clear trend either over last 50 years or in projected rainfall patterns to 2050. Hier T, more demand for water, but otherwise very uncertain. Sensible approach is to plan for uncertainty – recognise that variability might increase, make water management a priority. No regrets approach
Sea levels are also rising – this is a serious issue in area where major productive areas of mega-deltas lie at less than 5m above SL. Risen about 20cm since 60s, expect another 30 cm to 2050, beyond that more rapid 1 m SL rise in VN could affect as much as 5% of land area (mostly in highly productive deltas) and 10% of population. In short term, rise in slow and can be managed; in longer terms, becomes a very significant threat to production.
Context of rapid change, where climate change is one of a number of drivers. Agriculture in region is already transforming – production has doubled over last 20 years in many sectors, using techniques of green revolution – intensification, irrigation, improved seed varieties, fertilizers, pesticides. BUT has been a significant environmental cost: deforestation, erosion, declines in soil fertility and WQ. What are the elements of a second green revolution that can sustain increasing production without depleting environment? Intensification, diversification, integration across sectors and across landscapes.
At least 25% more food is needed, but clearly don’t have 25% more land for agriculture – so intensification will have to be at least part of the solution; in a lot of the region, that translates to a second dry season irrigated crop. So Governments and investors very focussed on providing large scale irrigation BUT Rainfed ag still provides 75% of production in region; these are areas with greatest yield gaps and best prospects for significant increases in production. Irrigation very successful in some areas, not technically or economically feasible everywhere; and in some areas has been spectacularly unsuccessful. Eg in Cambodia, a recent study found that only 6% of irrigation schemes working properly, 62% not working at all. Despite this, over a billion in irrigation investment proposed. One way to increase production in rainfed areas is to make better use of the full range of water storage options…
Important to take a broader view of water in ag – irrigation is not the only way to get water to crops - whole range of proven technologies that have an important role to play in increasing production in rainfed area..
For example – this field trial that IWMI was involved in in NE Thailand; used clay additives to improve retention of both water and nutrients, very significant increases in yield.
Second element is diversification. Green revolution was about increasing efficiency of monocultures, but in context of change and uncertainty, diversification of production is very important for lots of reasons. All eggs in one basket argument, both for food and livelihoods. Diverse systems more resilient to climate change. Tradiationally in the region, rice provided bulk and calories; most of the high nutritional value foods came from wild capture and collection – fish for protein, vegetables and fruit from wetlands and forests. Rising population, land tenure issues, deforestation, clearing of wetlands mean that access to wild resources / common pool resources is decreasing. Have to build nutritional balance into ag systems.
Fish. Provides 40-80% of protein; even in mtns >50% are fishers. Importance of the natural capture fishery to region can’t be overstated. It is an integral part of food production systems. It is a free resource. It is available to the poorest. Under pressure from overfishing, but just as much (or more) from loss of habitat – clearing of wetlands, disruption of floodplains, and blockage of migration paths. It is CRITICAL that fishery be managed as part of the food production systems. Food security of region rests on fishery. Aquaculture an important developing sector, but still only 10% of production and relies on capture fishery for stock and feed. Bnd b/w aqc and capture hazy anyway – studies in Cambodia indicate that even in Battambang value of fish caught from paddy field more or less equals value of rice. Important to take that into account when thinking about intensification.
Fish are a free resource – but still have to be managed. If you don’t protect their habitat, you lose the fish. Mekong system has one of the largest inland fisheries in the world, based largely on migratory fish species that spawn in the river and tribs, but feed in Tonle Sap – big, diverse, interconnected system. Currently proposal to build dams on mainstream Mekong - even small ones such as Don Sahong will block fish passage. WorldFish study from last year found that there were 58 migratory species, almost 40% of the total catch weight, >US $1,000 million per annum ; to maintain populations need 60 – 100 percent passing upstream. Very important study – indicates that very little likelihood that impacts of dams can be mitigated - that is, mainstream dams will inevitably lead to a significant decline in the migratory fishery of the Mekong. Need to give very serious consideration to whether that is a price we are prepared to pay.
So this brings us to another of the big messages from this report. Agricultural landscapes provide lots of benefits other than crop production. Term “ecosystem services” is coming into common use, and it is an important concept. Some of these are about protecting or enhancing production – like protecting fish habitat – but some are about other things.
Eg landscapes provide and regulate water supply. If you do this (PHOTO) you get this (PHOTO). Cyclone Nargis illustrated that if you clear mangroves, much more vulnerable to storm damage – as well as losing fisheries habitat. If you put roads and levees through floodplains, you get floods in places you used not to. Need to recognise and value these functions of the landscapes, and move to a model where we manage agricultural landscapes to retain them – because NOT to do also threatens the productive capacity.
SO – important message is that ag landscapes have to be managed for multiple purposes, not just for crops and livestock. Two aspects to this. First, integrating and optimising production across sectors – rice / fish is one example; small scale aquacutlure; integrating livestock into grain production systems; livestock grazing in upland forests. Traditional small holder agriculture has actually been very good at this – aim is to retain that while scaling up production. Intensification often focuses on optimising single crop – have to look more broadly than that.
Second is need to integrate and optimise across landscapes, to ensure best use of land and best mix of land uses, taking into account functions other than straight agriculture. You can only push the crop productivity of a field so far – but if look at a whole landscape, and move production to the most suitable areas, you have much better chance of both improving production and protecting the resource base. First green revolution was about mazimising field productivity and individual farmers; second will need to be about working with communities to optimise productivity across a broader landscape.
All sounds very sensible and straightforward – and there are very good examples within the region, for example, community forestry initiatives in Cambodia to conserve forests while managing access to grazing on a community basis; and community fisheries groups which work to protect habitat as well as control access and catch. But in many cases, you are seeking change from poor farmers who have very few options. Change is not going to happen of its own accord. Government, companies and communities have to work together. It will take changes in the way we view and value ecosystem services, and in the way common property resources are managed and owned; changes in land tenure arrangements; and changes in markets. For example Growing understanding of importance of forests in sequestering carbon, and schemes are being established to pay communities to retain their forests – agricultural landscapes can also play an important part in that, as well as regulating water and nutrients. Payment for environmental services, and other financial mechanisms are ways to kickstart change.
5 big messages from the report. Breathing space in next 20-30 years to reshape ag systems to deal with more extreme changes expected after 2050