Research innovations can only impact hunger and poverty if they reach the farmer and are adopted by them. ICRISAT, a member of the CGIAR Consortium, is currently preparing a photo exhibition entitled “Innovate against hunger” which will be on display later this month at the Convergences Conference in Paris (19th – 21st September).
The exhibition covers the projects of ICRISAT and partners working to ensure successful research solutions help poor farmers in Asia and Africa grow more and diverse food, sell surpluses at the market, have a harvest even when rainfall is unpredictable or scarce and resist pest attacks. The images take us from India to Mali, via the Ethiopian highlands, where farmers like Niruji, Mariam and Temegnush, the faces of smallholder agriculture, show us what impact agricultural innovation has had on their farm and household food security.
ICRISAT works closely with farmers, local governments, national research institutions, NGOs and the private sector to make innovations accessible even to remote farming communities. The farmer is firmly a the centre of ICRISAT’s research which means that their feedback is integrated and successful solutions are more easily adopted by them. As illustrated, farmers are involved in seed research trials, soil fertility testing, land and water management as well as taste tests of new varieties.
Best practice and tools are spread through communities via farmers, NGOs, extension workers, agricultural entrepreneurs and policy makers using creative approaches such as small seed or fertilizer packets, farmer-to-farmer videos, self help group networks and mobile telephone advice services.
ICRISAT and partners show it is possible to ‘innovate against hunger’ by ensuring farmers can access and adopt tools like drought tolerant and pest resistant seed varieties, practices like better water and soil fertility management and opportunities like market demand.