The Rural Voice, 1986-04, Page 11RESEARCH IN THE THIRD -WORLD
by Michelle Timko
"Agriculture is evolutionary,
not revolutionary," stated Dr.
Hulse, Vice -President of Research
Programs for the International
Development Research Centre
(IDRC) when he addressed the
Western Branch of the Ontario In-
stitute of Agrologists in London as
part of a 14 -city lecture tour.
Change must occur slowly with
research based on the environ-
ment, social structures, and pre-
sent products grown. "For these
reasons," comments Dr. Hulse,
"the family farm is central to all
activity and attention should be
given to getting the products of
research into the farmer's hands."
The IDRC provides funding for
agricultural research in a variety of
countries worldwide. "Enormous
amounts of money are not spent
on agricultural research
throughout the world," Dr. Hulse
informs. Only 3 per cent of the
world's total research funds are
spent on agriculture; 25 per cent is
spent on armaments.
World population is expected to
reach 6.2 billion by the year 2000,
increasing the population per
arable hectare to 5 to 6 people in
the developing world. This in-
crease will be partly due to the
destruction of arable land, "a
point not widely considered."
Every year 5 -million hectares of
soil are destroyed, over half by in-
dustrial spread, construction, and
mining. "The Chinese are wonder-
ful because they do not waste
land," compliments Dr. Hulse.
"Every inch is either terraced for
rice, planted in other crops or
pastured."
Overall, there has been a slight
increase in per capita food produc-
tion in all continents except Africa,
which is "attributed to the recent
drought and present structural dif-
ficulties."
Research has helped contribute
to this increase by providing help
to small land owners. "We (IDRC)
do not only work for the large
farm." Small plots are grown by
individual farmers who benefit by
increased production for family
consumption and for market sale.
World production of rice, the
staff of life in countries such as
Bangladesh or China, has reached
450 -million tonnes annually. Dur-
ing the 1960s the IR8 variety was
introduced because of its short
straw and higher yields. However,
it was susceptible to many diseases
and pests. More recently IR36,
though slightly taller, has
demonstrated tolerance to these
diseases.
Varieties of rice have been
developed that mature in only 105
days, allowing farmers to harvest
as many as three crops per year.
This alone is probably the main
reason for increased production.
Besides improving varieties,
planting techniques are researched.
Direct seeding of rice with pre -
germinated seed enables harvest 30
days earlier than planting with
ungerminated seed.
Over the last five years these ad-
vances and others have increased
rice production in China by 30 per
cent.
One experiment used to en-
courage the small farmer to use
production planning is the "rice
garden." Part of the crop is
planted every two weeks so that
harvesting does not occur all at
once. Not only does this distribute
labour, it also decreases the degree
of shortages and surpluses at
specific times of the year.
Dr. Hulse points out that one
major problem in many areas is the
dry season. "They need stocks for
the dry season like we need stocks
for the winter. The monsoon rains
produce one crop. Excess water at
this time captured behind dams,
can provide irrigation for another
crop during the dry season. IDRC
bases research on the interaction
between crops."
Unaware of nutrition and
balanced diets, multiple cropping
of cereals and legumes has been a
tradition for third -world farmers
in many parts of the world for
thousands of years. In Columbia,
maize, beans, and squash are a
common combination. Beans are
supported by the stalks; the squash
leaves shade the weeds.
Intercropping has been in-
troduced in Nepal with rice grown
in wide furrows between ridges of
corn. Advancements have been
made with fababeans, chickpeas,
and lentils, the diet staple of most
people in Alleppo, Syria. The
potato, a crop long forgotten, has
increased by 70 per cent in the past
ten years in the tropics. Old and
new forage species are being com-
bined and introduced to improve
pasture in Peru for alpacas and
cattle. "The essential of cropping
systems research is that it begins,
continues and ends with the family
farm."
Biotechnology is also beginning
to play a role in international
research. Many native African cat-
tle are susceptible to insect -carried
diseases, a major constraint to in-
creasing production. By trans-
planting embryos into cattle which
have developed immunity to the in-
fections, the calves born acquire
the immunities of both the sur-
rogate and the natural parent.
Deforestation is a common pro-
blem in the third -world since the
majority of people depend on
wood for cooking and heating.
Tree species are introduced into
rural communities to provide
food, fuel, feed and fertilizer (leaf
mulch). Plantings also protect
against wind and water erosion. In
China, the yield and quality of
bamboo is being studied. Bamboo
is capable of growing 25
meters/year, and can be used for
everything from construction to
basket weaving because of its
strong, but flexible fibre.
Dr. Hulse stressed the impor-
tance of women to the family farm
in Africa. "Seventy per cent of the
farmers in Africa are women. The
men work in the mines." Many
women spend 10 hours of every
day fetching water or wood, and
grinding grain.
"It is the poor rural people we
want to help," comments Dr.
Hulse. Much of the increase in
cereal production in third world
countries comes from small to
medium scale farms. IDRC has no
political restrictions.
Dr. Hulse believes many
developing countries can solve
their own problems if they can on-
ly get together to talk. IDRC brings
plant breeders and scientists
together to exchange knowledge
and experience. Through an evolu-
tionary process this information
has to be incorporated into family
farms to benefit the rural com-
munities economically and social-
ly. ❑ MT
APRIL 1986 9
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