NON STAPLE CROPS
The non-staple priority crops include horticultural products, high value crops, and crops emerging as economically significant.
This Programme aims to achieve, for West and Central Africa, sustainable improvements in the broad-based productivity, competitiveness and markets for non-staple crops through:
- Developing appropriate technologies and innovations for non-staple crops
- Identifying and supporting the development of strategic decision-making options for policy, institutions and markets developed relating to non-staple crops
- Strengthening and co-ordinating sub-regional agricultural research system relevant to non-staple crops
- Facilitating and meeting the demand for agricultural knowledge relating to non-staple crops from targeted clients
Technical issues for this Programme identified as High Priority during the IFPRI study [ibid] and in consultation with stakeholders are summarised in Table 6. Research under this Programme will be competitively funded through networking between NARS members although the lack of expertise within the sub-region on high value crops and processing may lead to higher levels of commissioned research being an option involving any specialized national, base centres (such as CERAAS), sub-regional and international centres.
Generic activities are indicated in the draft logframe (see volume II of Operational Plan).
Current initiatives under this programme – The following project is being implemented: