Programme for enhancing the contribution of neglected and underutilized crops (NUCS) to food security and to incomes of the rural poor

Background

Global food security has become increasingly dependent on only a handful of crops. However, household food security in poor marginal areas of the developing world still continues to depend on a variety of crops, the importance of which is not adequately recognized by the international research and development community. Over half of the global requirement for proteins and calories are met by just three species – maize, wheat and rice – and only 150 crops are commercialized on a significant scale in global terms. Yet humankind has, over time, used more than 7 000 edible species.

The narrowing base of global food security is limiting livelihood options for the rural poor, particularly in marginal areas. Addressing their needs requires that we broaden the focus of research and development to include a much wider range of crop species, particularly those that are of direct relevance to the rural economy of these poor areas. Many of these species occupy important niches, adapted to the risky and fragile conditions of rural communities. They have a comparative advantage in marginal lands where they have been selected to withstand stress conditions and contribute to sustainable production with low-cost inputs. They also contribute to diversity richness and hence to the stability of agro-ecosystems. These species have a strategic role in fragile ecosystems, such those of arid and semi-arid lands, highlands, steppes and tropical forests.

Ethnobotanical surveys indicate that hundreds of such species are still to be found in each country, representing an enormous wealth of agrobiodiversity with potential to contribute to improved incomes, food security and nutrition, combating: “hidden hunger” caused by micro-nutrient (vitamin and mineral) deficiencies. However, these locally important species are often neglected by science. Lack of research and development attention has meant that their potential value is underutilized, both in household consumption and economic terms. This neglect places them in danger of continuing genetic erosion, further restricting development options for the rural poor.

Grant purpose

The grant aims to contribute to raising the incomes and strengthening the food security of small-scale farmers and rural communities around the world through securing and exploiting the full potential of the genetic diversity contained in neglected and underutilized species.

The grant also aims to redress the neglect of valuable plant genetic resources of crops managed by the rural poor through development-oriented research and action in South Asia; West Asia and North Africa; and in Latin America, to tackle the major causes of underuse of such crops and their genetic erosion.

Specific objectives include:

• increasing the demand for and use of neglected and underutilized species through development and application of appropriate processing technologies, commercialization and marketing strategies;
• enhancing the genetic diversity, improving the quality, and increasing the availability of germplasm of the most promising species and varieties; and
• securing the genetic resource base and expanding the distribution of specific crops through the development and application of integrated conservation strategies.

Components

Regional pilot programme components

Two or three countries per region serve as primary partner countries, while other countries with interest in the selected crops participate in dissemination activities. The activities undertaken under the regional components for each selected crop include:

• establishing or supporting operational networking arrangements linking all appropriate partners;
• surveying and securing the resource base through analysis of patterns of germplasm distribution and use, and through collecting, characterizing and evaluating available genetic resources;
• developing adequate seed production systems to meet user needs;
• undertaking participatory studies of constraints and opportunities in existing crop production systems;
• implementing participatory variety selection and participatory plant breeding programmes; and
• supporting the development of improved processing, distribution and marketing actions.

Global programme activities

As a result of regional crop-base work, the global programme includes the synthesis and distribution of information from regional programme components, annual planning and review meetings, and development of general protocols.

Impact and Expected outputs

On the organizational side, outcomes should include:

• networks providing participatory systems and procedures to support the improved production and use of selected crops;
• operational alliances formed among selected network partners to implement actions that overcome production and marketing constraints (e.g. seed supply systems, processing groups, distribution cooperatives);
• linkages to existing rural and economic development projects where the neglected and underutilized crops could make contributions to incomes, nutritional well-being and the resource base of rural communities;
• increased capacity of marketing associations and producer groups to use improved materials from neglected and underutilized crops, with increased and more stable demand;
• more awareness among policy-makers of issues and options for improved policy and legal frameworks affecting neglected and underutilized crops; and
• based on the above, provision of inputs to the conceptualization and design of IFAD-financed investment projects aiming at economically attractive options for the use of neglected and underutilized species on the part of rural poor communities.

On the technical side, benefits should include:

• integrated conservation of selected crop genetic resources;
• information on available crop materials, including information on their distribution, variation and potential for improvement and for contributing to nutritional well-being and income enhancement;
• seed and other planting materials available for use by local communities and strengthened local seed production systems;
• improved crop materials made available to rural communities through participatory variety selection and participatory plant breeding;
• information on major production and use constraints throughout the producer-to-consumer continuum;
• improved processing and marketing opportunities identified, leading to specific investment and income-generation opportunities through greater demand for the selected crops and their products;
• enhanced national capacity to work with neglected and underutilized crops and to support rural community needs for such crops;
• a secure resource base for the selected crops for use in global development initiatives, including deployment in marginal areas of other regions; and
• knowledge of effective procedures to integrate neglected and underutilized crops into development actions.

Link to other IFAD loans

Not applicable.

Links to related research results

NUS – Neglected and Underutilized Crops Species. IPGRI

International Centre for Underutilized Crops (ICUC)

Contact

Dr Toby Hodgkins,
Project Co-ordinator, IPGRI
Via dei Tre Denari 472/a
00057 Maccarese, Italy
Telephone: INT+39+ 066 1181
Fax: INT+39+ 06 611 8405
Email: T.Hodgkins@CGIAR.org

Contact in IFAD

Dr Shantanu Mathur
Technical Adviser, Economic and Financial Analysis
Technical Advisory Division, IFAD, Rome