Presentation made at the Stakeholder Workshop on Tracking Investment in Agricultural Research for Development 20 January 2012, Berlin.

1. Srinivasacharyulu Attaluri
Coordinator, APARIS
APAARI, Bangkok
Stakeholder Workshop on Tracking Investment in Agricultural Research for Development
20 January 2012, Berlin.
Tracking Investment in AR4D
in the Asia-Pacific Region
Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural
Research Institutions (APAARI)

2.  Context
 Challenges
 Reorienting AR4D in the Asia-Pacific Region
 Knowledge on Investment and Human Capacities
 Data Management, Analyses and Institutional Issues
 Planned Activities in 2011-2012
 Recommendations
Presentation Outline

3.  Promote the exchange of scientific and technical know-
how and information in agriculture
 Facilitate the establishment of appropriate research and
training programs based on regional, bilateral or national
needs and priorities
 Assist in strengthening research organization and
management capacity of member institutions
 Strengthen cross-linkage among national, regional and
international research centers organizations including
universities through jointly planned research and training
programs.
APAARI Objectives

4. 4
South Asia
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Nepal
Bangladesh
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Chinese Taipei
Republic of Korea
Japan
South East
Asia
Australia
The Pacific
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Samoa
New Caledonia
Middle
East
Iran
Bhutan
APAARI Members
Regular (NARS):20
Associate (CG Centers/IARCs):17
Affiliate : 11
Reciprocal:8
Total: 56

5.  58 % of the World’s population
 74 % of the Agricultural population
 80 % of the World’s small and marginal farmers
 50 % of the World’s poor (<$1/day)
 38 % of the World’s agricultural land
The Context
(APAARI, 2010)

6. Asia-Pacific is a major supplier of food, accounting for:
 38% of the world’s arable land
 90% of the world’s rice, 40% of its cereals and
40% of its meat
 70% of the global food and vegetable market
 80% of the aquaculture market
Asia feeds nearly 60% of the world’s population from 1/3rd of
geographical area
The Context

7.  70 % of the World’s undernourished children and women
 Income divide between farmers and non-farmers
continues to widen – 1:2 (1970) to 1:4 ( 2010)
 Fast declining water and agro-biodiversity resources with
environmental footprint of agriculture intensifying
 Climate change- extreme weather, increased risk, bio-
insecurity and vulnerability
 Global economic downturn and market volatility
 Competing land use: food grain vs fuel vs feed.
Challenges
(APAARI, 2010)

8.  70 % of the World’s undernourished children and women
 Income divide between farmers and non-farmers
continues to widen – 1:2 (1970) to 1:4 ( 2010)
 Fast declining water and agro-biodiversity resources with
environmental footprint of agriculture intensifying
 Climate change- extreme weather, increased risk, bio-
insecurity and vulnerability
 Global economic downturn and market volatility
 Competing land use: food grain vs fuel vs feed.
Challenges
(APAARI, 2010)

9. Expert Consultation on
AR4D in Asia - Pacific– The Way Ahead
Bangkok, 30-31 October, 2009
Reorienting AR4D in the
Asia-Pacific Region

10.  Clients: small farm holders, poor producers, poor
consumers
 Primary production level:
(i) Ecosystems framework – diversification
(ii) Integrated natural resource management - especially
land and water
(iii) Climate change: adaptation and mitigation
 Holistic: food supply chain (inputs sector primary
production  post harvest/ processing/ marketing 
markets )
 Cross cutting: knowledge based, socio-economic, policy
research, participatory .
Key Messages

11. Not Business as Usual
 Innovative partnerships and networking (NARES,
NGO, Private Sector, Farmers)
 Outscaling of innovations in a participatory mode
 Value chain development and management for
linking farmers to market (Farmers Self Help
Groups/ Associations/Cooperatives/ Companies)
Investments in agricultural research in the
region need to be doubled from its current
level of about US$10 billion.

12.  Accelerated science and innovation-led agricultural growth
through better understanding of socio-economic factors,
effective management of human and financial resources
 Agricultural research planning, priority setting, monitoring
and evaluation and impact assessment
 Policy formulation and policy debate
 Strengths, weaknesses, and potential opportunities of
agricultural S&T systems at different levels (institutional,
sectoral, national, regional, international)
Knowledge on Investment and
Human Capacities

13. Assessment of regional investments and capacity building
for AR4D : Southeast Asia-
 Assessing the current support for AR4D investments
 Partnerships built among stakeholders for sharing
information
 Comparison of investments will help in increasing
resource allocations for AR4D
 Better understanding of research & development
initiatives among stakeholders established.
Bridging Knowledge Gaps
Implementing GCARD Roadmap with the support of GFAR

14.  Collaboration with ASTI to collect and assess data
through:
Full force survey in 5 countries:
• Cambodia, Loa PDR, Malaysia, PNG and Vietnam
Planned Activities in 2011-2012
A. Institutional details
B. Human Resources – Researchers, Age,
Retirement, Time spent on research,
Education, Staff, Female Researchers
and Staff
C. Financial Resources – Salaries, Operating
and Program, Source of funding, Donors
D. Research Focus –Programs, Commodity,
Thematic Areas
Govt. and Non-Profit
A. University / Faculty Details
B. Human Resources – Faculty, Age,
Retirement, Time spent on research
Education, Staff, Female Faculty and
Staff
C. Research Focus– No. of Faculty assigned
for research, Programs, Commodity,
Thematic Areas
D. Students Population- No. of Students, No.
of Students graduated
Higher Education

15. Macro-level survey in 3 countries:
• Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand
Planned Activities in 2011-2012
1. Institutional details
2. Website
3. Research Staff by Degree
4. Time spent on research
5. Technicians by Degree
6. Female Researchers and Staff
7. Research Expenditure
8. Source of Funding
9. Financial year
Govt. and Non-Profit
1. Organizational details
2. Website
3. Research Staff by Degree
4. Time spent on research
5. Technicians by Degree
6. Female Researchers and Staff
Higher Education

16.  Workshop on Agricultural R&D in the Asia–Pacific
region: The Need to Monitor Investments,
Capacities and Institutional Changes, 16-17
February, 2012 in Bangkok
 Report on AR4D investments circulated among
NARS partners in SE Asia
 New global update for the Global Conference on
Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD2)
in 2012.
Planned Activities in 2011-2012

17.  No regular data collection and publications like
FAOSTAT, WDI, or S&T indicators for European
Union/OECD countries
 Private sector data is missing or limited
 Extension and Advisory not covered
 Poor Research Management Information Systems
 Quality of data ?
 Data standards and definitions
 Updation of data – Annual updates?
Issues in Data Collection and
Management

18.  Less role for National collaborators
 Data providers, but not data interpreters – do they
have capacities?
 Not much information for policy making / actions at
national level
 Lack of understanding on users’ needs ( aid agencies,
policy makers, stakeholder groups, data providers,
general public etc.,)
Issues in Data Analyses

19.  Ownership of data collection and analysis or one time
affair?
 Lack of awareness on the use of investment data and
apprehensions about the purpose- ‘close data’
 Little response from agencies surveyed, some don’t
respond
 No clarity on wherefrom investment coming- multiplicity
of funding sources
 Lack of political and institutional support
 Who will do?
 Lack of capacities in weak NARS
Institutional Issues

20. National Level:
• Convincing Nations about the benefits of maintaining
ASTI datasets through presenting evidence
(pathways, cases, instances where data used in
policymaking, research management etc.,)
• Institutionalizing and internalizing of monitoring
investment at National level through National Focal
Points
• Increasing the ownership of National collaborators by
involving them in data analysis and synthesis
Recommendations

21. • Developing capacities of National collaborators and
staff involved in data collection, analysis and
synthesis
• Embedding the process of data collection and
analysis in the work plan
• Incentives for documenting investment and
capacities
• Creating awareness on the use and benefits of ASTI
data among participating agencies thru
presentations in national level seminars/workshops
etc.
Recommendations

22. Donor Level:
• Advocating “Openness” in sharing data by Donors–
‘Open Data’
Regional Level:
• Regional Fora should be more active in analyzing
data, capacity building and dissemination for policy
planning
• Compiling pathways, cases, success stories for
advocating the use and application of data.
• Establishing Forum for Policy Dialogue on AR4D
issues.
Recommendations

23. ASTI
• Involving the policymakers from the beginning to
promote institutionalization of the process
• Organizing training / workshop programs for national
collaborators on data collection, analysis and
synthesis methods in collaboration with Regional
Fora
• Co-sponsor meetings / seminars to popularize use
and application of datasets
• Providing incentives and financial support to
collaborating agencies at least for a reasonable time
Recommendations

24. Recommendations
• Aggressive Information Dissemination through
communication strategies
Access to Data
• Making available and accessible minimum datasets in
the ‘public domain’
• Harvesting Data from different sources
• Promoting ‘Open Data’ approach with Donors and
National collaborators
Indicators
• Common indicators of investment

25. • Clear guidelines to respondents
• Coverage of private R&D, at least large companies
• Investment shares of basic, applied and adaptive
research
• Information on process indicators, eg:-IP
management, partnerships, competitive funding
Mechanism and Systems
• On-line system for data updation through National
Nodal /Focal Points
• Easy search and download options of data for
different purposes
Recommendations

26. Capacity Development
• Analysis and synthesis of data
• Interpretation, use and application of data by users
• Capacity to orient /sensitize respondents
Dissemination
• Communication strategy to popularize the use and
application of data/information
• Targeting policymakers through relevant information
products/services with the involvement of National
Nodal / Focal Points.
Recommendations

27. www.apaari.org