Crop Diversification in the Asia-Pacific region - United Nations in ...

ALTERNATIVE CROPS AND CULTIVARS FOR NEWOPPORTUNITIESMahmud A. Duwayri *"Alternative Crops and Cultivars for New Opportunities" is one of the ProgrammeEntities/Projects of the Crop and Grassland Service of the Plant Production and ProtectionDivision of FAO. There are about 150 crop species which have already received attentionfrom breeders and commerce and have evolved through human intervention into widelycultivated species. Of these, 10-15 produce half of the world's food and materials. Thisevolution is, understandably, led by the nations with the most resources and is basically fortheir own and more stable high input and often subsidized systems. Novel technologies inemerging crops, cultivars, protected agriculture and cropping systems need to be madeavailable to and tested in developing countries, where farmers have a need for stabilization oftheir specific agro-environments, particularly through establishment of suitable species andhigh-value cultivars with food, feed, fuel, fibre and pharmacological potential. Theidentification of alternative crops and improved technologies would aim at providing acomparative advantage within a given agro-ecological and socio-economic context.Sustainable intensification of agriculture without further degradation of natural resourcesremains a challenge.Risk reduction through diversification (related to climatic and biotic vagaries,particularly in fragile ecosystems and commodity fluctuations) by expanding locally adaptedor introducing novel varieties and related production systems, will contribute to improvedfood security and income generation for resource poor farmers and protect the environment.Small family farms will not be able to increase their total income to acceptable levels withthe production of staple food crops as these are invariably of low value for thefarmer/producer. To increase income the farmer needs a higher value product that can beobtained by adding value to primary or secondary products. Fruits, vegetables, herbs andspices, flavourings, natural colourants, medicinal plants and others all offer an opportunityfor farmers to produce higher value products. Nevertheless, introducing new crops on theirown is unlikely to be successful as the whole technological and commercial package needs tobe introduced at the same time. Hence, this technical project is based on the introduction ofalternative crops with production, processing, marketing technology and nutritionalinformation. The project is closely related to the Special Programme on Food Security as 80percent of the world’s poor live in fragile ecosystems. FAO's multidisciplinary approach andglobal networking capacity can identify and match new crops and novel cultivars and theirproduction systems to targeted isozones and their peoples for both extensive and intensiveapplications. A continuing review of technology advance in existing and “new” crops is apre-requisite and has to be based both on indigenous and international knowledge.The objective of the Project is the broadening of the crop and cultivar knowledgebase for better use of the plant density in support of crop diversification options into targetedeco-zones in relation to food and income security targets and market opportunities.* Director, Plant Production and Protection Division (AGP), Food and Agriculture Organization of the UnitedNations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome, Italy.168