Field Trials- their importance to agriculture in

emerging economies

Lars Byrdal KjærHead of Department for Field Trials and Statistics

AgroTech

1 field trial is better than 1000 assumptions

Expenditure

(million 2000 international dollars) 1981 1991 2000

Developing countries 6,904 9,459 12,819

Sub-Saharan Africa 1,196 1,365 1,461

China 1,049 1,733 3,150

Asia and Pacific 3,047 4,847 7,523

Latin America and the Caribbean 1,897 2,107 2,454

Middle East and North Africa 764 1,139 1,382

Developed countries 8,293 10,534 10,191

Total 15,197 19,992 23,010

Indicators on agricultural input  Average

ArablePermanentCropland in 1000

hectares

(2000)

Agricultural labor

% Of totalLabor Force

(2001)

Tractors per 1000 hectares

of cropland

(2000)

Average fertilizer use ( kg per ha of cropland

)

(2000)

WORLD 1,497,365 44.3 17.6 91.1

EUROPE 305,891 8.4 35.9 72.5

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

176,712 62.0 1.3 11.5

- Denmark 2,289 3.6 53.8 159.9

- Mozambique 4,135 80.3 1.4 3.5

- South Africa 15,712 9.3 4.6 48.2

Land preparation in Africa:• 89 % worked manually• 1 % worked mechanically• 10 % worked by animal traction

Investment in research and development in developing countries, particular Sub-Saharan Africa, is decreasing.

The richest countries are shifting their focus away from developing productivity enhancing technologies towards biomass production, animal welfare issues and environment. As a result, the technological spillover will decrease leaving the poorest countries in a vacuum.

Serious problems / huge challenges

Research and development as well as farmers and advisory organizations are not structured adequately.

The infrastructure impedes the development and spread of new technologies.

Trade barriers hinder the export of agricultural goods from poor countries to rich countries.

The single most important factor that will increase food productivity is to increase investments in research and field trials.

New farming systems Growth assurance; sustain soil fertility; fairly high

yield; input of fertilizer and pesticides; GMO

Development of new equipment and machinery

Screening of varieties and development of new varieties with better traits

Low input of equipment and money

High input of manpower

Early involvement of role-model farmers

Feedback to research