From Farm to Market: The importance of smallholder farmers for the agricultural value chain in the MENA region: Experiences from ICARDA’s Research for Development Efforts

FAO side event at the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture

Abu Dhabi 20-21 March 2017

From Farm to Market: The importance of smallholder farmers for the agricultural value chain in the MENA region: Experiences from

ICARDA’s Research for Development Efforts

Andrew NobleDeputy Director GeneralICARDA

2 billion smallholder farmers—men, women and children -have been the engine of growth producing 70% of all global food

ICARDA supports research and innovative science for improving the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers in the dry areas to reduce poverty, food and nutritional insecurity and environmental degradation

in the face of climate change….

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How Does ICARDA Support Smallholders?

Produces cutting-edge science

Promotes technologies, knowledge, capacity development & policies

Develops and enhances strategic partnerships across the R-D continuum

Supports functional value chains and viable off-farm activities for diversified incomes and improved livelihoods

Focuses on women & youth empowerment for inclusive & equitable growth

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ICARDA Unleashes the Productive Potential of Small Farmers in the Drylands

In low potential and marginal drylands: helping smallholders to develop strategies and tools to minimize the risk they face and reduce their vulnerability

Higher-potential drylands regions: supporting smallholders to sustainably intensify their agricultural production systems

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Examples of Research Achievements to Support Smallholders in the Dry Areas

Crop Improvement for yield potential & for abiotic and biotic stresses

Intensification & diversification of cropping systems

High value crops & protected agriculture Improving water availability and

management & grey water use Integrated livestock/rangelands/crops

production systems & added value dairy products in marginal dry areas

Drought Tolerant Chickpea Variety Survived 2007 Drought in Turkey• Kabuli chickpea, ‘Gokce’, developed by

Turkish and ICARDA scientists withstood severe drought in Turkey and produced when most other crops failed in 2007.

• A yield advantage of 300 kg/ha over other varieties, and world prices over USD 1000/t, this represented an additional USD 165 million for small Turkish farmers in 2007 alone.

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Chickpea Certified Seed Production in Turkey: 2012-2016

YearTotal Certified Seed Prod. (t)

ICARDA Origin (t)

ICARDA %

2012 1240 1155 93

2013 1603 1535 96

2014 2031 1623 80

2015 2305 1981 86

2016 3916 3544 91

“Gokce” today has been replaced by new ICARDA cultivars that account for about 90% of the total production of certified chickpea seeds. The main cultivars

“Frike” A Family Endeavor for Health and the Market Stable food in WANA: made from early

harvested green grains of durum wheat Important source of income for rural families

in marginal areas Highly nutritious: high protein, fiber, vitamins

(thiamin and riboflavin) and minerals (Ca, Fe, Zn), low carbohydrate, rich in prebiotic properties, low glycemic index

High value addition in established markets High labor requirements: grains are harvested,

parched, roasted and dried---village industry. Involves the entire family

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“Frike” Improving the Welfare of Smallholders

ICARDA Scientists:

Developed and supported uptake of drought-tolerant durum wheat varieties with improved traits for the production of fresh & dried frike.

Strengthened the organizational capacity of farmers to engage in seed multiplication, processing, storage & distribution by establishing farmer cooperatives.

Researched constraints: high production costs, inefficient roasting techniques, labor shortages, poor access to markets, health issues

Quantified the contribution of Frike processing to household incomes: twice the profit of unprocessed grain, contributing 30-40% of total income in poor households.

https://www.slideshare.net/ifad/3-miloudi-m-nachit-durum-ifad-icarda-aleppo-workshop-2629-october

• Diversifies production and diets

• Generates employment and income for men and women

• Improves water use efficiency

Protected Agriculture for Smallholders in Yemen and Jordan

Increases yields per unit of water, space and energy through protected agriculture and soilless culture: • UAE: hydroponics saves about 120m3 of water to

produce one ton of tomato compared to conventional soil systems under protected agriculture

• higher water productivity: 28.2 versus 2.8 Kg/m3 for tomatoes

• 6.7 versus 1.2 Kg/m3 for pepper • higher quality of crop and easier control of pesticides

and diseases.

Protected Agriculture vs Open Fields: High Initial Investment Costs and High Skills Needed But……..

Enhancing Water Productivity

More efficient irrigation systems: enhancing water productivity through modernization of irrigation systems and improving the efficiency of surface irrigation

Modifying cropping patterns towards high value crops

Supplemental irrigation

Water harvesting: macro- and micro-water catchments & contour planting

Deficit irrigation

Watershed management

Promoting the use the safe marginal water

Practice Conventional methods

New developed technologies

Impact

Irrigation Drip Subsurface - 30-40% water saving without reduction in date production

Pollination Manual Liquid- Saves time and effort - Less quantity of pollen- Reduction of the cost to 89%

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Pesticides IPM - Reduces the environmental effect of pesticides,

- Improves the date palm production by: 30-40%

Post harvesting(Drying dates)

Traditionaltechniques

Polycarbonate house

- Improves the quality of the fruits- Avoids the contamination- Saves more than 30% of the losses

of production

Technology packages Developed by GCC Date Palm Project: Saving Water and Reducing Production Costs

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Women and men smallholders from the West Bank and Gaza visit Jordan to exchange practical knowledge on waste/greywater use in irrigation

Knowledge Exchange: Waste/Greywater Reuse for Gaza & West Bank Smallholders

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Field Days & Awareness Sessions for the Safe Use of Treated Grey/Wastewater in Irrigation

15 field days were conducted I West Bank and Gaza

attended by 165 farmers

Brochures on safety and productive use guidelines were distributed

Successful Technologies in Farmers Fields: Development of Integrated Crop/Rangelands/Livestock Production Systems

Feed blocks using crop residues and agro-industrial by-products

Improved rams Early weaning Improved barley cultivars Rotations of barley with forage

legumes Improved flock management Pasture rehabilitation On-Farm feed production Fodder shrubs

Adding Value: Small Holder Livestock Production

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Value addition: Improved milking and processing

Research steps : Assess local knowledge and identify problems with

researchable solution Identify available technologies or develop suitable

technology Integrate the proposed solution with the local

knowledge

Example: Yoghurt processing in SyriaProblem: High acidity and weak texture

Solution: Improved yogurt with high viscosity that does not

collapse during transport Market price was 5 Syrian Lira more per kg than the

yogurt produced by farmers

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Challenges and further work Challenges to reach millions of smallholder farmers;

Challenges associated with an enabling environment: policies, institutions, services and access to resources, credit, insurance, infrastructure and social safety nets and markets and a voice in policy making;

Challenges associated with gender and social equality

Challenges in finding opportunities to making agriculture innovative and interesting to the NENA Youth

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The New ICARDA: A Futuristic Strategy for 2017-2026

ICARDA Strategy 2017-2026: A new strategic approach for delivering innovative science based solutions for thriving and resilient drylands building on 40 years of past achievements, lessons learned and successful partnerships and investments

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Our Vision: thriving and resilient dryland communities

Creating Value for our Stakeholders

Creating value for our stakeholders

• Improved livelihood outcomes in drylands through reduction poverty (SLO1), increased food and nutrition security (SLO2) and sustainable natural resources management (SLO3)

• Delivering demand-driven research that is translated into practice