|
 Curently online :
53 |
|
 Total visitors :
7669924 |
|
| Connecting the dots: the role of social science research in agricultural R&D systems |
|
India is the world’s second-largest producer and biggest exporter (more than a fourth of the world’s exports) of rice, yet, paradoxically, its people suffer from hunger and malnutrition. To solve real-world problems such as these, we need to build a bridge between social science and agricultural research to form a better understanding—and find more accurate solutions—using interdisciplinary analyses of problems. |
|
Prakashan Chellattan Veettil and Debjani Samantaray | Jul 9, 2018 Rice Today – IRRI Are we doing enough to ensure social science research contributes to advancing agricultural R&D systems?
Figure: India is the world’s second-largest producer and biggest exporter (more than a fourth of the world’s exports) of rice, yet, paradoxically, its people suffer from hunger and malnutrition. To solve real-world problems such as these, we need to build a bridge between social science and agricultural research to form a better understanding—and find more accurate solutions—using interdisciplinary analyses of problems.
The “human face” of science
Are we doing enough to ensure social science research contributes to advancing agricultural R&D systems?
This critical question was the focus of a brainstorming session organized by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) South Asia Regional Center and Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) in Hyderabad in 2017.
As the panel of international experts deliberated on the contribution of social science research to the advancement of agricultural R&D systems, the complex challenges in the sector emerged: ever-increasing population pressure; scarcity of water, land, and labor; rapid urbanization; climate change; lagging women’s empowerment; and the low engagement of youth. All of these, in spite of technological advances and government or private-sector support, could hinder India’s goal to double farmer income by 2022 as well as the global target to feed 9 billion people by 2030.
The overarching purpose of agricultural research is to benefit society. But, without contributions from social science to serve as its “eyes and ears,” researchers’ capacity to prioritize research, catalyze adoption, and bring transformative impact can be diluted. With its ability to influence millions of lives, social science plays a critical role in reinforcing agricultural research systems by providing science with a human face and improving the priority-setting process for investment in agricultural research.
|
Trở lại
In
Số lần xem: 256
|
|
[ Tin tức liên quan ]___________________________________________________
|
(16).png "Connecting the dots: the role of social science research in agricultural R&D systems")
