With suitable agroclimatic conditions, low labor costs, and good infrastructure, the Northwestern uplands of Vietnam have the potential to move from the production of low value staple crops into the production of high value fruit and vegetables. Vegetable production in the area is increasing, albeit slowly. The change in production systems requires coordinated action on the part of farmers, input suppliers, government agencies, and vegetable traders. In 2014, Humidtropics set up an Innovation Platform on vegetables to promote this process, enhance collaboration, and build trust among the … [Read more...]
Marketing Analysis Confirms the Intertwined Nature of Agricultural Production, Marketing and Natural Resources Management Systems in Uganda
Last week the Humidtropics, Dryland Systems and Aquatic Agricultural Systems CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs) met in Ibadan, Nigeria for the International Conference on Integrated Systems Research. The purpose of these three ‘systems’ CRPs is to identify and make the most of the complex intertwined nature of the agricultural production, marketing, and natural resources management systems to contribute to reducing poverty, improving incomes, nutrition and the status of women and other marginalized groups in humid tropical, drylands and aquatic ecosystems. The preliminary results from my … [Read more...]
Assessing Value Chains to Improve Incomes and Food Security
Humidtropics researchers Aziz A. Karimov and Thinh Nguyen from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), in collaboration with partners from Tay Nguyen University (TNU) and Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI) organized a Value Chain Stakeholders workshop in the the Central Highlands of Vietnam in November 2014, at Dacruco Hotel, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak Province. Around 45 participants attended the workshop which included researchers from TNU and WASI, representatives from Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Kon … [Read more...]