Available on request: Project documents related to phase II and Evaluation report of Phase I

A brochure on the new phase of this project is available here

The project focuses its activities over three regions, South Asia, West Asia and Latin America.
Four are the main participating countries, viz. Bolivia, Peru, India and Yemen.

Goal
The grant aims to contribute to empowering the rural poor, raising incomes and strengthening the identity and food security of small farmers and rural communities worldwide by securing and exploiting the full potential of the genetic and cultural diversity contained in NUS.

Purpose
To redress the neglect of valuable plant genetic resources of crops managed by the rural poor through development-oriented research and action in Latin America, Sub-Sahara Africa, West and South Asia, and to tackle the major causes of the crops’ under-use and genetic erosion.

Objectives
The specific objectives of this grant are:

1. To increase the contributions of NUS to improved livelihoods through enhanced capacities of stakeholders in value-adding technologies and best practices for the promotion of local biodiversity, together with more effective marketing of target species and products.
2. To identify the contribution that key species can make to dietary diversity and to improved nutrition, particularly in children and expectant women.
3. To strengthen the contribution of NUS to sustainable agricultural production through their integration into an increased range of production systems, ensuring their improved use and diversity maintenance in these systems.
4. To develop methodologies and approaches for the management of tourism activities by local communities with a focus on safeguarding their own cultural identity and their genetic resource assets through NUS.
5. To support the development of multi-sectorial enabling policies at national and international levels, including the provision of relevant data to policy makers, and to strengthen collaboration among institutions working on NUS.
    

Target Beneficiaries
The project is expected to benefit directly or indirectly a wide range of stakeholders:

The overall Agenda of this project has been articulated around a strategic framework developed to address use enhancement of a typical underutilized crop. Such a framework, adapted to meet specific regional and national needs, consists of eight main areas of intervention:

Area 1: Assessment and enhancement of income generation based on NUS

Area 2: Assessment of nutritional values of NUS and development of strategies for their enhanced use in nutrition programmes

Area 3: Enhancement of human and social capital of stakeholders to manage NUS and derive benefits from their use, combined with strengthening of local identity

Area 4: Exploring the role of rural tourism in promoting NUS

Area 5: Improvement of availability, knowledge and maintenance of genetic resource base

Area 6: Promoting better policies and legal frameworks for the sustainable and equitable use of NUS

Area 7: Promoting cooperation in NUS management and raising awareness of the importance of NUS to livelihoods

Area 8: Mobilization of support and raising funds for NUS activities.

See brochure

1. Yemen - M. Al Nassiri
   Agricultural Research & Extension Authority (AREA).
   Ministry Of Agricultural and Irrigation. P.O.Box 87148,. Dhamar, YEMEN.
   Tel. 00967-6- 509413. Fax. 00967-6- 509414.
   Email area@y.net.ye
   
   
2. India - Bala Ravi
   MS Swaminathan Research Foundation.
   3rd Cross Street, Taramani Institution Area, Chennai 600113, INDIA.
   Tel. 0091-44- 22542229/ 22542698. Fax. 0091-44- 22541319
   Email sbala@mssrf.res.in
    
3. Italy - Stefano Padulosi, Senior Scientist, Integrated Conservation Methodologies and Uses - Bioversity International
   Bioversity's programme on Neglected and Underutilized Species
   Tel. 0039-06-61181 - Fax 0039-06-61979661
   Email s.padulosi@cgiar.org
   
   
4. Bolivia - Wilfredo Rojas - Fundación PROINPA
   Calle Hermanos Manchego N° 2526, La Paz, BOLIVIA
   Tel. 00591 (2) 243 2017 - 214 1209
   Email: w.rojas@proinpalp.org
    
5. Peru - Roberto Valdivia Fernandes - CIRNMA
   Parque Industrial Salcedo. Manzana N Lotes 11-12, Puño, PERU
   Tel. 0051-54- 366029. Fax: 0051-54- 353182
   Email: cirnmaa@terra.com.pe

• IFAD
• IFAD - Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) 533 Information