CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/117897

Part of the CGIAR Action Area on Systems Transformation

Primary CGIAR impact area: Nutrition, health and food security

https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/27-national-policies-and-strategies-for-food-land-and-water-systems-transformation/

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 848

Direct seeded rice in Haryana (India) ABY districts: impact and lessons for scaling
(Report, 2025-05-30) Mutum, Lamnganbi; Mizan, Syed Adil; Bhatpuria, Dhyey; Taneja, Garima; Mitra, Archisman; Gupta, S. K.; Sikka, Alok
Rice is a staple crop in India, traditionally cultivated using the Transplanted Puddled Rice (TPR) method. This traditional method, while effective and very popular amongst farmers, is highly labour, water, and energy-intensive, that leads to significant groundwater depletion and higher energy usage in pumping groundwater. In response to these challenges, the Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) method has been introduced as a more sustainable alternative. DSR involves sowing seeds directly into the field, eliminating the need for growing and transplanting seedlings. This method, tested in various field trials, promises to have several benefits, including water savings, reduced labour and production costs, higher economic returns, and lower methane emissions. However, the success in farmer fields when adopted at scale outside trials remains to be analysed critically. In that context, this study was commissioned through a MoU with National Project Management Unit (NPMU), Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY). ABY, also known as Atal Jal, is a central sector scheme aimed at sustainable groundwater management with community participation. Launched in December 2019, ABY focuses on improving groundwater management in water-stressed areas across seven states, including Haryana. The adoption of DSR in Haryana has been gradual but promising. The area under rice cultivation in the state has increased significantly over the years, with initial efforts to introduce DSR beginning around 2009. The state government has played a crucial role in promoting DSR by offering financial incentives to farmers. In 2022, an incentive of INR 4000 per acre1 was introduced to encourage farmers to adopt DSR. Given its uptake in Haryana, the objective of this study is to assess the socio-economic and environmental benefits of DSR, identify the challenges, and offer recommendations for scaling up this technology in Haryana and other regions. The study employed a multi-faceted approach including qualitative surveys with stakeholders, focus group discussions, field visits, and a large-scale quantitative survey (sample size is 809) of DSR and TPR farmers across selected districts in Haryana to assess the impact of DSR. These farmer-level sources were complemented by water flow meter data analysis and remote sensing analysis.
Social Accounting Matrix for Okara District, Pakistan: A Water Resources Accountability in Pakistan (WRAP) Project Analysis
(Data Paper, 2025-05-09) Davies, Stephen; Ali, Muhammad Tahir; Akram, Iqra; Hafeez, Mohsin
The aim of this paper is to develop a document to guide the methodology and data resources used to develop a local Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for Okara district in Punjab, Pakistan, and to provide an overview of the SAM results. Regional SAMs at lower administrative levels can be used to understand the regional economic impact of geographically targeted policies and shocks. The common data standards, procedures, and classification systems for national SAMs are adapted and modified for these regional SAMs. This approach and paper closely follow the development of SAM construction outlined in IFPRI’s NEXUS Project, which emphasized the need for greater transparency and consistency in SAM construction to strengthen model-based research and policy analysis in developing countries. Utilizing much of that Project’s general structure, our results permit comparisons at regional administrative scales, especially in agriculture and food systems including water resources dimensions. Additionally, this paper develops a companion method to evaluate direct and indirect water use associated with the economic changes produced from SAM analyses. We hope this methodology can be used to develop SAMs for other districts in the future.
Identifying critical incentives for scaling out the adoption of agroecological practices–a systematic review of Peruvian cacao value chains
(Journal Article, 2025-05-02) Mockshell, Jonathan; Omulo, Godfrey; Asante-Addo, Collins; Nielsen Ritter, Thea; Quintero, Marcela; Remans, Roseline
The growing global importance of agroecology highlights the pivotal role public and private sectors play in providing incentives and investments to catalyze behavioural changes and transform food systems. However, limited research exists on incentives for scaling agroecological practices in cacao value chains. This study employed a systematic review approach, focusing on Peruvian cacao sector, to explore incentives promoting agroecological practices and their sustainability outcomes. Findings reveal that within Peru’s cacao value chains, non-market incentives constitute the majority (36%), followed by regulatory measures (25%), market-based incentives (22%), and cross-compliance incentives (17%). Main providers of incentives include certification bodies, community-based organizations, and international funding organizations. Effective incentives include sustainability standards, market support subsidies, in-kind rewards, and agroecological schemes that support the adoption of practices such as intercropping, nature conservation for carbon sequestration, and the use of green and animal manure. These incentives have significantly improved sustainability outcomes: economic (39%), environmental (33%), and social (28%). However, limited use of cross-compliance incentives and modest emphasis on social outcomes highlight the need for policy instruments targeting the adoption of agroecological practices within cacao sector. This study provides insights for policymakers, development agencies, and private-sector to design effective incentives for advancing agroecological transitions in Peru and beyond.
Assessing agrifood system growth outcomes in Tajikistan
(Brief, 2025-04-25) Khakimov, Parviz; Diao, Xinshen; Goibov, Manuchehr; Ashurov, Timur
On March 1, 2023, the Government of Tajikistan adopted a new sectoral program, “Agrifood System and Sustainable Development Program,” for the period up to 2030. The program defined six priorities, namely (1) strengthening institutions, (2) enabling physical infrastructure, (3) creating an agriculture extension system, (4) ensuring food and nutrition security, (5) ensuring food safety and, veterinary and plant protection, and (6) establishing effectively functioning value chains. The Program aims to ensure sustainable development of the sector and enhance its competitiveness through structural and institutional reforms, by boosting sector productivity, creating new jobs, and ensuring food security. To inform the policy by providing empirical evidence, in this brief, first we assess and compare diverse contributions of different agrifood value chains to broad development outcomes, second, we assess the effectiveness of agricultural productivity-led growth across agrifood value chain groups for achieving multiple development outcomes (economic growth, job creation, declining poverty, and improved diets) and inclusive agrifood system transformation in Tajikistan.
Structural changes and drivers of agrifood system growth in Tajikistan
(Brief, 2025-04-25) Khakimov, Parviz; Diao, Xinshen; Goibov, Manuchehr; Ashurov, Timur
The agricultural sector accounted for one-third and one-fourth of total GDP in 2011 in 2022, respectively. In 2022 compared to 2011, both primary and off farm agricultural GDPs dropped, respectively by 13.2 and 3 percentage points, while primary agriculture employment share fell by 10.4 percentage points. The domestic market played a vital role in the recent agrifood system (AFS) growth, and a sizable portion of locally produced agrifood products was able to meet domestic demand. Though agroprocessing an important off-farm component of the AFS, grew more rapidly and thus contributed the most to off farm AFS growth, the aggregate size of off-farm components of the AFS did not increase to match with the structural change in the broader economy.
Tajikistan’s agrifood system structure
(Brief, 2025-04-25) Khakimov, Parviz; Diao, Xinshen; Goibov, Manuchehr; Ashurov, Timur
Tajikistan’s agrifood system (AFS) accounted for 34.7 percent of Tajikistan’s national GDP and 58 percent of employment in 2022. Primary agriculture alone contributed one-quarter of total GDP and 54.9 percent of employment, while the four off-farm components of the AFS contributed about 10 percent of GDP and 3.2 percent of employment. The share of employment in primary agriculture in total employment in AFS (AgEmp+) is huge, 94 percent. The off-farm components of the AFS therefore accounted for close to 30 percent of AgGDP+ and only 5 percent of AgEMP+. Though Tajikistan is an agrarian economy, it imports a lot of foods, and the shares of imports in the country’s total merchandise imports are consistently high, around 22 percent between 2016 and 2022. For the same period, food exports as a percentage of total merchandise exports were just 3 percent (World Bank 2023). Agrifood imports also grew more rapidly, increasing by a multiple of 16 between 2000 and 2023, while exports only doubled over the same period (Khakimov, et al. 2024).
Spices trade needs a push
(Opinion Piece, 2025-04-16) Kamar, Abul; Roy, Devesh; Pradhan, Mamata
Trepidation day: Reciprocal tariffs and the vulnerability of US agriculture
(Report, 2025-04-15) Glauber, Joseph W.
CGIAR Research Initiative on National Policies and Strategies: Annual Technical Report 2024
(Report, 2025-04-15) CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies
Synopsis: Commercialization and dietary diversity of Rwandan smallholder farmers: a focus on women and youth headed households
(Brief, 2025-04) Mukangabo, Emerence; Warner, James
In the last two decades, the government of Rwanda has significantly lowered stunting among children under five years from 48% in 2000 to 33% in 2020 and recognizes dietary diversity as one the approaches to overcome malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. A key priority of the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) is to tackle malnutrition and to reduce stunting rates among children. Therefore, using a household dietary diversity score as a proxy for household access to nutritious foods, this policy note outlines how commercialization impacts dietary diversity, with a focus on women and youth headed households. Key findings include: The rural smallholder farmers diet is predominantly based on cereals, roots and tubers as well as vegetables. Even when controlling for relevant variables, women do not have more diverse consumption patterns, however, they do, relative to male headed households, consume more diverse foods the greater their level of commercialization. Despite an overall lack of resources and income, youth-headed households show a positive relationship with household dietary diversity when compared to mature-headed households. Determinants that positively influence household dietary diversity include the level of commercialization, household non-farm assets, market access, education of the household head, the presence of children under five in the household, irrigation, land size, and livestock holdings.
Unwatering the fields: analyzing incentives for crop diversification amid groundwater crisis in India
(Working Paper, 2025-03-01) Gupta, D.; Mitra, Archisman
Groundwater depletion has become a serious concern in north-western India, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, largely due to the dominance of paddy cultivation and unsustainable irrigation practices driven by agricultural electricity subsidies. This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of current incentive strategies for crop diversification in this region introduced by the government for the reduction of groundwater over-extraction. Using the plot-level cost of cultivation data for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20, obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, we show that the current proposed incentives are inadequate for shifting from water-intensive paddy to less water-intensive crops, mainly due to the higher profitability of paddy cultivation in terms of high yields and lower production costs as compared to other crops. We find that the average proportion of area under paddy that would shift to less water-intensive maize or cotton in Punjab with the current policy would be about 17–20 percent, which is 33 percent lower than the 30 percent target area set by the government. The area that would shift to non-paddy crops in Haryana would be about 11–16 percent, which is even lower. Our results show that the cash incentives required for crop diversification could be as high as 2.5 times the amount offered under the current scheme in order to shift to even the most profitable non-paddy crop. Our study highlights challenges in the implementation of the crop diversification scheme and propose alternatives.
Papua New Guinea Rural Household Survey, 2023
(Dataset, 2025-03-16) International Food Policy Research Institute
The Papua New Guinea Rural Household Survey (2023) collected detailed household-level data on agricultural production, food and non-food consumption and expenditure, and livelihood strategies across 14 provinces, covering communities in the highlands, lowlands, and islands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The survey was designed using a purposive sampling strategy based on defined agro-ecological zones, which allows for the analysis of key factors influencing rural households and communities. It is important to note that the survey is not nationally representative; however, given the careful random selection of survey areas, we expect that generalizable relationships between variables affecting socio-economic and other development outcomes in rural PNG communities will be consistently observed across representative samples and in this survey. These factors include those that contribute to more resilient local food systems, diversified employment opportunities, and improved household wellbeing. The survey encompasses 2,699 households in 270 communities, spanning five agroecological zones. It features detailed modules on a wide range of topics relevant to rural livelihoods, agricultural production, and household wellbeing.
Assessing the projected impacts of alternative PSTA5 spending trajectories on the Rwandan economy
(Brief, 2025-02) Aragie, Emerta A.; Ingabire, Chantal; Knudsen, Mads; Thurlow, James; Warner, James
Data-driven and evidence-based approaches are critical for shaping public policy, investment, and expenditure decisions, ensuring that development plans are effective and well-informed. The RIAPA model, utilized in this study, has played a key role in informing policy discussions, including the identification of national priorities and strategies, the mid-term assessment of the Rwanda’s fourth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 4), and the post-COVID-19 recovery and relief efforts. This policy note employs a Rwanda-specific RIAPA model integrated with an investment module to analyze the expected benefits from agricultural investments outlined in the Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5) for 2025-2029. Results show that, compared to PSTA 4 spending trends, a moderate spending scenario under PSTA 5 could accelerate agricultural transformation and inclusive growth by 2.8 percentage points. A higher budget scenario, re quiring an average annual expenditure of $610 million, is projected to reach an ambitious eight percent agricultural growth target. Faster agricultural growth would further stimulate the off-farm components of the agri-food system, reinforcing agriculture's role as an economic growth engine. By 2029, PSTA 5 could reduce poverty and undernourishment by 1.6 million people, contingent on managing potentially significant climatic and external economic risks.
Synopsis: The dynamic impact of alternative livestock sector interventions and spending options in Rwanda
(Brief, 2025-03-24) Aragie, Emerta A.; Bahta, Sirak T.; Baltenweck, Isabelle; Enahoro, Dolapo K.; Karugia, Joseph T.; Thurlow, James; Warner, James
This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of various livestock interventions—feed, breeding, and health—and budget allocation strategies (balanced, feed-oriented, breeding-oriented, and health oriented) in the context of Rwanda’s economic and livestock systems. Using an economic and livestock systems integrated framework, the research highlights moderate yet sustained impacts on agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and significant improvements in the livestock sector. Breeding interventions have the largest cumulative effect on agricultural GDP, while health measures, particularly dewormers, yield long-term gains in livestock productivity. Under the balanced scenario, breeding contributes significantly to both meat and milk sector GDP, while feed interventions show a smaller impact overall. The model estimates the economic and livestock systems over a period of five years (t1-t5) from a base year at t0, which corresponds to the Fifth Structural Transformation in Agriculture (PSTA5) period.
Tajikistan’s agrifood system: The past performance and future opportunities and challenges
(Working Paper, 2025-03-18) Diao, Xinshen; Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Aliev, Jovidon; Fang, Peixun; Randriamamonjy, Josee; Pauw, Karl; Thurlow, James
This study analyzes the past performance and future opportunities and challenges of Tajikistan’s agrifood system (AFS). The study measures the current size and structure of AFS and its historical contribution to economic growth and transformation through a data-driven exercise. A forward-looking economywide model is used to assess the effectiveness of future AFS growth (led by agricultural productivity gains in different value chains) in promoting multiple development outcomes. The findings of the study indicate that AFS transformation is an important part of Tajikistan’s economic transformation and structural change. Because of lower growth contributions from AFS’s off-farm components as well as fewer farm workers moving from primary agriculture to off-farm activities within AFS, Tajikistan’s AFS did not grow as quickly as the broader economy. Expanding off-farm activities to boost on-farm productivity growth remains a challenge for sustainable transformation of Tajikistan’s AFS. Using an economywide model, we find that there is no single value chain group that would most effectively achieve all desired development outcomes including broad economic growth, job creation, declining poverty, and improved diets. Livestock value chains, however, have the most potential to contribute to multiple development outcomes, particularly to dietary improvement, and these value chains also performed impressively during the study period. Moreover, most cattle and ruminants are owned by household farms, and their growth could contribute to broader agricultural transformation. The maize value chain also ranks high in the model-based comparison, but it seems to only modestly contribute to job creation and diet quality and had performed disappointingly during the study period. While growth in livestock and maize value chains face a series of challenges and constraints, promoting them together seems to offer an effective way to broadly achieve important development outcomes.
AI-Powered PEPA Tool for Policy Insights in Agrifood Systems Transformation
(Website, 2025-05) Mockshell, Jonathan; Garcia Gallego, Jeffrey Steven; Mosquera Escobar, Leslie Estefany; Blanco Garcia, Maria Alejandra; Nielsen Ritter, Thea; Franco Betancourt, Gabriel; Mwanzia, Leroy; Garcia, Carolina
The PEPA Microsimulation Tool is an initiative led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT under Policy innovation CGIAR program developed by Foresight and Applied Economics for Impact (FAE) and Data Management & Open Science (DMOS) teams within the PISA4Impact program. This innovative tool leverages artificial intelligence to empower stakeholders in Political Economy and Policy Analysis (PEPA), providing a structured, user-friendly approach to analyze policy issues and support evidence-based decision-making. As part of the PISA4Impact program, the tool aligns with the program’s mission of fostering research-driven solutions to enable transformative food, land, and water systems. FAE contributes its expertise in socioeconomic research and applied economics, while DMOS ensures robust data management, open science practices, and accessible research tools. Together, we co-create dynamic and practical resources to address complex policy challenges, contributing to sustainable development and progress toward the SDGs.
Papua New Guinea: Systematic analysis of domestic production and world market shocks
(Brief, 2025-03) Mukashov, Askar; Dorosh, Paul A.; Schmidt, Emily; Thurlow, James
Using an economy-wide, multi-sectoral model, this study explores potential vulnerability of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to economic shocks and identifies factors that contribute most to economic uncertainty. Economic scenarios were developed using historical data on volatile domestic sectors (e.g., primary agriculture and hydropower electricity generation) and world prices of goods and services in which PNG trades. The Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model of PNG was used to simulate a range of potential economic outcomes under these scenarios. In addition, data mining and machine learning methods were applied to quantify the contribution of each shock to the uncertainty of economic outcomes. Key findings suggest that Papua New Guinea’s economy is predominantly exposed to external risks, with world prices and foreign capital volatility together accounting for approximately two-thirds of the potential variation in GDP and three-fourths of the potential variation in private consumption, poverty, and undernourishment (domestic production volatility contributes the remaining one-third and one-fourth, respectively). The current structure of the PNG economy underpins these results. While agriculture is the most uncertain sector, it is relatively less important compared to the overall economy; export earnings from energy and metals, as well as volatile foreign exchange capital inflows, play a much more significant role in the country’s current economic risks. Understanding how potential shocks might impact various segments of the PNG economy and population is a critical first step in facilitating discussions on relevant risk mitigation strategies, such as increasing sectoral productivity or diversifying production away from high-risk sectors.
IFPRI Malawi monthly maize market report, February 2025
(Report, 2025-03-11) International Food Policy Research Institute; Banda, Chimwemwe
Highlights  Retail prices of maize increased by 32 percent in February as a result of a similar decrease in the value of Malawi Kwacha on the informal market.  Maize prices were lowest in the Northern region, where informal imports from Tanzania enter the country, and increased southward.  At the market exchange rate, retail prices of maize in Malawi were similar to those in Zambia and Mozambique, but lower than in Zimbabwe.
Report on state-level training programme for FPOs in Odisha
(Conference Proceedings, 2025-03-06) International Food Policy Research Institute; Government of Odisha
This report summarizes the outcomes of two-day State-Level Training Program for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for 3 batches held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from December 12-23, 2024. Organized by the Department of Agriculture & Farmer Empowerment (DAFE), Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the CGIAR, the program aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of FPO functionaries across the state. The training program, conducted across three batches, engaged approximately 131 participants, with a significant representation of women. The participants comprised CEOs and Board of Directors (BoD) members of FPOs from diverse districts of Odisha. The training curriculum was designed to address key areas of concern for FPOs, including FPO management, shareholder engagement, post-harvest management, certification, and market access. Experienced trainers, including Shri K.K. Jha and Shri Sujay Kar, along with researchers from IFPRI, delivered interactive sessions on these topics. The training program was well-received by the participants, with a strong emphasis on practical learning and interactive discussions. Key areas of interest for the participants included FPO management strategies, optimal shareholder numbers, post-harvest management practices, product certification, and exploring diverse marketing channels for their produce. This training program serves as a crucial step towards strengthening FPOs in Odisha by equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for sustainable growth and success. The insights and learnings gained from this program will be valuable in further enhancing the capacity of FPOs to contribute to the development of the agricultural sector in the state. The training program highlighted the critical role of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in improving farmer livelihoods and strengthening the agricultural sector in Odisha. It provided a valuable platform for FPO functionaries to enhance their knowledge and skills in key areas of FPO management, such as financial management, marketing, and governance. The program fostered peer learning and networking among FPO representatives from different parts of the state. Furthermore, it identified key areas of concern and priorities for FPOs in Odisha related to the size, composition and structure, and tried to put forward some workable strategies to further strengthen the FPO ecosystem in the state. This executive summary provides a concise overview of the FPO training program, its objectives, methodology, and key outcomes.
Risk-appropriate, science-based innovation regulations are important
(Journal Article, 2025-03) Ludlow, Karinne; Falck-Zepeda, José B.; Smyth, Stuart J.

Browse

Recent Submissions