Facilitating pro-poor value chain innovation for root and tuber crops in Asia
D. Campilan
Book of Abstracts.Asia-Pacific Symposium on Postharvest Quality Management of Root and Tuber Crops. 21-24 February, 2012. Golden Tulip Sovereign Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
2012
บทคัดย่อ
Small-scale producers and consumers constitute the majority of Asia’s root and tuber crops (RTCs) sector. While the role of RTCs in food and livelihood security is now increasingly recognized, the introduction of pro-poor value chain innovations remains a key research and development challenge. The paper discusses needs, opportunities and experiences in facilitating innovation for RTC value chains linked to poor producers and consumers in the region, particularly: 1) Targeting - which existing/potential agricultural market chains create/add value to RTCs produced and consumed by the poor? 2) Innovating - how can technological/ institutional/commercial improvements be introduced to these value chains in better benefiting the poor? 3) Capacity strengthening – what participatory action learning approaches can help strengthen capacities of actors and facilitators of pro-poor RTCs value chains? Based on collaborative research by the International Potato Center (CIP) with various partners across Asia, the paper presents: 1) an assessment framework for identifying and targeting RTCs value chains with high-impact potential on poor producers and consumers, 2) empirical cases on innovative value chains for sweetpotato, potato and other RTCs of local importance, and 3) field-tested approaches in capacity strengthening for RTCs value chain development.