Agricultural research in an era of adjustment

No AccessWorld Bank Institute Resources1 Feb 2013Agricultural research in an era of adjustmentPolicies, institutions, and progressAuthors/Editors: Steven R. TaborSteven R. Taborhttps://doi.org/10.1596/0-8213-3197-3SectionsAboutPDF (0.6 MB) ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareFacebookTwitterLinked In Abstract:In most developing countries, agriculture is a major source of incomes, employment, and export earnings. National governments, often supported by donors, have made considerable efforts to develop this sector. The economic environment for agricultural development has changed considerably in the past two decades. Economy-wide policy reforms, known more commonly as structural adjustment programs, have been launched by many developing economies struggling to overcome the economic instability arising from commodity price shocks, domestic economic mismanagement, and diminishing access to international capital flows. Such programs have had profound effects on the operation and performance of public sector institutions, including agricultural research systems. Most adjustment programs alter production incentives, investment levels, public sector outlays, management of public sector institutions, and private demand for new technologies. Implemented together with agricultural adjustment programs to improve the sectoral policy framework and with investment projects to strengthen rural infrastructure and institutions, structural adjustment programs have emerged as a principal tool in resetting the course of agriculture. Research institutions themselves must adjust to the changing policy environment. But this may take time, and such adjustments are not without cost. The results show that, in the case of agricultural research, structural adjustment and institutional development are by no means mutually exclusive objectives. By capitalizing on the lessons of past experience, developing countries should be able to ensure that future structural adjustment will strengthen rather than constrain the national agricultural research effort. To bring about such developments, policymakers will need to be more sensitive to the possible effects of adjustment on technological capacity. Conversely, research leaders will need to take a more active role in contributing to decisionmaking on economic policy reform. It is hoped that this book will contribute to the necessary dialogue on this topic. Previous bookNext book FiguresReferencesRecommendedDetailsCited ByConfiguring the digital farmer: A nudge world in the making?Economy and Society, Vol.50, No.330 March 2021New Asian ChallengesScience, Technology and Society, Vol.16, No.122 March 2011Patronage and Evaluation in the Indian Council of Agricultural ResearchEvaluation, Vol.5, No.324 July 2016 View Published: April 1995ISBN: 978-0-8213-3197-2 Copyright & Permissions Related CountriesChileBurkina FasoSri LankaGhanaRelated TopicsAgricultureMacroeconomics and Economic Growth KeywordsAGRICULTURAL RESEARCHSTRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENTCASE STUDIESECONOMIC ANALYSISPRICE POLICYTECHNOLOGICAL CHANGEECONOMIC MANAGEMENTCAPITALCAPITAL MOVEMENTSCOMMODITY PRICESECONOMIC REFORMEXPORT EARNINGSPOLICY REFORMAFRICA, SOUTH OF SAHARAEAST ASIA AND PACIFICLATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEANSOUTH ASIAMEXICOSRI LANKAINDONESIAGHANACHILEBURKINA FASOAGRICULTURAL RESEARCHAGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTIONAGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROJECTSAGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SYSTEMAGRICULTURECIPDEVELOPMENT RESEARCHINTERNATIONAL SERVICE FOR NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCHISNARSTRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT Loading ...