PARI - Crop modeling

Hunger is still primarily a poverty-related problem in Africa and the majority of those who do not have enough to eat are small-scale farmers. It is therefore important to increase the availability of foodstuffs on the local markets in Africa. The key to raising incomes and production in an agricultural system characterised by small farms lies in a sustainable rise in productivity, better organisation and improved marketing and processing along the entire agricultural value chain. In short, locally adapted innovations are needed for sustainable development of the whole agricultural and food sector. The Federal Ministry of Economic cooperation (BMZ) has launched an initiative to promote innovations in the agricultural sector by establishing Agricultural Innovation Centers (AIC) in several countries in Africa and in India with the aim to increase the incomes of small-scale farming enterprises, boost employment and improve the regional food supply in the rural target regions. The AICs are supported by independent scientific advice and a program of accompanying research for innovation (PARI) made in response to the demand from end users of research outputs and other actors in the various value chains. The systematic processing and assessment by accompanying research institutions enhances the state-of-the-art character of the program, facilitate lessons learning, and thereby increase the chances for future transmission and multiplication. PARI also promotes the reputation of the program and the possibility for evidence based political dialogues.