By Duncan Mboyah
Researchers in Africa have been urged to share their findings in indigenous languages with the beneficiary farmers, including using indigenous languages to inform action.
Speaking at the CGIAR Science Week, the lead scientists noted that since Africa faces increasing agricultural and food security challenges that are driven by climate change, population growth, and evolving market demands, it is important that farmers are fully involved in their first language of communication to build resilient and productive food producers.
According to Dr. Johan Swinnen, the Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), once research is undertaken, it is important that the findings be shared with the beneficiary communities.
“It is time that researchers begin to share their research findings with the beneficiary communities to create changes in the way that they practice agriculture,” he said.
Dr. Swinnen observed that lots of research has been conducted globally since the year 2000 – 2015 to find solutions to the global food insecurity unfortunately, the information has been shared amongst peer researchers in disregard to farmers.
He said that it is time that the findings are first shared with communities before turning to their peers in the research world, because the findings are capable of making beneficiary communities tailor-make local solutions.
According to Dr. Abdulkarim Seid, Regional Representative for International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in the Eastern Africa region, said that community engagement on early warnings is capable of saving lives.
Dr. Seid observed that the global food and nutrition insecurity cannot be achieved without engaging local communities.
The official noted that farmers benefit immensely by making a radical change of attitude and actions once researchers share findings with them.
Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, director general of Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) observed that policymakers and researchers need to combine forces in ensuring that farmers acquire timely research findings to enable them to adopt new varieties of crops that could help them in improving their livelihoods.
Dr. Manneh added that African agricultural produce can only compete favorably in the international market once new technologies are embraced and rolled out to farmers.
Dr. Susan Kaaria, director of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) observed that since women are the majority of farmers, there is need to involve them in research so that they can improve their living standards.
Dr. Kaaria noted that gender inequality influences food availability, access, utilization, sustainability and stability, hence the need to share research findings with farmers.
Women farmers in countries within the Sahel, delta regions and arid and semi-arid areas suffer from climate hazards.
“Sharing of research findings can also help inform farmers with knowledge on land management since most of the land that is used by women are degraded,” she added.
She noted that governments on the continent need to improve research dissemination by involving women farmers.
