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

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

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• Database and <strong>in</strong>formation material accessed/consulted.Introduction to and Expansion of Palms <strong>in</strong> AfricaSemi-arid (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g long dry season) <strong>region</strong>s are often subject to total loss of annualcrops through drought or concentrated ra<strong>in</strong>s. These crops demand constant soil disturbance<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir cultivation, lead<strong>in</strong>g to environmental degradation. The establishment of palm speciesadapted to specific agro-ecological conditions would help to alleviate such fluctuations andhelp to protect annual crops and to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> ecological stability. This, <strong>in</strong> turn, would help <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> establishment of a more balanced generic floric and faunic system; vital <strong>in</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>ableIntegrated <strong>Crop</strong> Management. Palms are prime candidates for <strong>in</strong>come generation, foodsecurity and biodiversity enhancement through environmental stabilization, particularly <strong>in</strong>semi-arid and sub-humid areas. The major and long-term results will fix rural populations <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong>ir environment. Medium-term benefits will establish pilot projects upon which<strong>in</strong>stitutions can extrapolate to similar ecologies and procure additional fund<strong>in</strong>g forexpansion.Through globally <strong>in</strong>tegrated networks, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g CG centers, FAO can readilyidentify opportunities for transfer of technology on palm species potentially adapted to <strong>the</strong>target environments. AGPC has a proven record of success <strong>in</strong> technology transfer related tothis major output (dates and oil palm) which can be expanded to similar edaphoclimaticconditions and with new <strong>in</strong>troductions to <strong>the</strong>se and o<strong>the</strong>r environments. Regular Programmepilot establishment projects will lead to fund<strong>in</strong>g from TCP and/or donor and commercialparticipation. Specifically <strong>the</strong> major output will consist of:• Descriptions of <strong>the</strong> species, products and agro-ecological requirements.• Exchange of <strong>in</strong>formation on cultivation techniques.• An umbrella of related palm networks.• Pilot <strong>in</strong>troduction or expansion tests.The Effects of <strong>the</strong> Major Output will be <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g:Results of pilot projects and provision of technical <strong>in</strong>formation will demonstrate <strong>the</strong>potential for perennial crop base broaden<strong>in</strong>g for food security and <strong>in</strong>come generation <strong>in</strong>fragile ecologies. It will catalyze <strong>the</strong> use of palms <strong>in</strong> perennial/annual crop systems and, <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> long-term, enhance environmental protection.The Indicators of Achiev<strong>in</strong>g Major Output Effects are:• Community uptake of transferred technology, requests for expansion.• Degree of government, donor or private <strong>in</strong>dustry <strong>in</strong>volvement.Technology Transfer for Integrated Greenhouse <strong>Crop</strong> Production and ProtectionManagementIn <strong>the</strong> context of liberalized market exchanges, greenhouse crop productiontechnology offers <strong>the</strong> possibility to engage and compete with high-value horticultural cropsand to susta<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> production throughout <strong>the</strong> year for cont<strong>in</strong>ued market supply with fresh171

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