New at IFPRI

Reshaping agriculture for nutrition and health

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:12:20 -0500

Edited by Shenggen Fan and Rajul Pandya-Lorch

Leveraging agriculture for improving nutrition and health

Highlights from the 2020 conference, "Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Nutrition and Health"

Leveraging Agriculture to Improve Human Nutrition - At a Glance

PDF file:

oc69.pdf(4.7MB)

Arab Food Security Conference Issues Range of Recommendations

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:54:53 -0500

Beirut, 7 February 2012 (UN Information Service) – Participants in an international conference on Arab food security today concluded two days of meetings with a call to highlight the need to focus on supporting job-creating growth for the poor in countries with household-level food insecurity, and on encouraging exports to finance food imports and agriculture in countries with macro-level food insecurity.

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* Conference Website

Trade integration in Sub-Saharan Africa

Indira Yerramareddy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:27:35 -0500

Trade integration is a potentially powerful driver of economic growth in developing countries, particularly if it creates export opportunities and promotes value addition in manufacturing sectors. Given the prominence of agriculture in Sub-Saharan African countries—both as a source of employment and as an earner of foreign exchange—increased market access for agricultural exports is a common interest in these countries’ trade negotiations. Trade negotiations, however, typically involve a complex set of interactions, bilaterally, regionally, or multilaterally.

PDF file:

massppn10.pdf(631.6KB)

ESCWA and the International Food Policy Research Institute Urge Enhanced Regional Food Security

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:32:18 -0500

Beirut, 6 February 2012 – The Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Nadim Khouri called for the need to take advantage of available opportunities to improve food security in the region through trade and foreign investments to ensure benefits for all.

Contact Information:

Journalists interested in conducting interviews with participants can coordinate with Ms Maryam Sleiman via e-mail sleiman2@un.org, by phone on 03/910930 or 01/978815, or with Ms Sarah Immenschuh via e-mail s.immenschuh@cgiar.org or by phone on 76/073256

The Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:25:33 -0500

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) have come together to develop a Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index to measure women’s roles and engagement in the agriculture sector.

Beyond the Arab awakening

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:02:06 -0500

This report aims to inform and stimulate the debate on key policy priorities for poverty reduction and food security in light of the Arab Awakening. Its findings are based on an innovative combination of datasets and rigorous economic analysis. Results suggest that poverty and income inequality in the Arab world are likely higher than official numbers have long suggested.

Economics of the Arab awakening

PDF file:

pr25.pdf(4.4MB)

ما بعد الصحوة العربية

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:02:28 -0500

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اقتصادات الصحوة العربية

PDF file:

pr25ar.pdf(7.1MB)

Urgent policy actions needed to tackle food and nutrition security in the Arab world

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:01:56 -0500

February 6—Poverty and income inequality rates in the Arab world are higher than official numbers have suggested. Food security and poverty are particularly closely linked in Arab countries due to high vulnerability to food-related external shocks, including food price volatility, natural disasters, increasing water scarcity, and conflicts.

More information

Full Report
Conference Website

Contact Information:

Sarah Immenschuh, s.immenschuh@cgiar.org
00 961 76 073 256

Integrated, sustainable, and shared growth at Davos

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:12:42 -0500

This year’s World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos took place as the world faces slowed and uncertain economic growth and continuing shifts in economic power toward emerging and developing economies. Discussions focused on unemployment, increasing inequality, and the alarming speed at which we are approaching the limits of natural resource use. All of these issues will have significant impacts on the prospects for reducing global poverty and food and nutrition insecurity, and all of them call for new models of development.

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P. K. Joshi Named New Director for South Asia

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:52:21 -0500

IFPRI welcomes a familiar face to the role of South Asia director with the appointment of Pramod Kumar Joshi on February 1, 2012. After serving as the Institute’s South Asia coordinator from 2003 to 2006, P. K. became the director of the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management in Hyderabad before rejoining IFPRI as senior program manager in New Delhi. He holds a master’s degree and PhD in agricultural economics from the G. B.

Reshaping Agriculture for Nutrition and Health: Overview

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:02:37 -0500

This is a preview chapter from Reshaping Agriculture for Nutrition and Health. The full book will be available in February 2012.

Highlights from the 2020 conference, "Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Nutrition and Health"

Leveraging agriculture for improving nutrition and health

Reshaping agriculture for nutrition and health

PDF file:

oc69a.pdf(461KB)

Collective action and property rights for poverty reduction

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:53:50 -0500

Edited by Esther Mwangi, Helen Markelova, and Ruth Meinzen-Dick

To improve their well-being, the poor in developing countries have used both collective action through formal and informal groups and property rights to natural resources. Collective Action and Property Rights for Poverty Reduction: Insights from Africa and Asia examines how these two types of institutions, separately and together, influence quality of life and how they can be strengthened to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor.

Collective action and property rights for poverty reduction

Poverty in Malawi

Indira Yerramareddy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:29:35 -0500

As in many developing countries, poverty reduction is a primary development goal in Malawi. The country is committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek, among other things, to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. Over the years, the Malawian government has pursued poverty reduction efforts through various strategies emphasizing economic growth, infrastructural development, and the provision of basic social services.

PDF file:

massppn9.pdf(609.1KB)

Food demand elasticities in Ethiopia

Indira Yerramareddy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:12:09 -0500

This study aims to investigate how households have adjusted their demand for various food and non-food items to changes in price and income. The Quadratic Linear Almost Ideal Demand Model (AIDM) was used on the Household Income Consumption Expenditure Survey (HICES) 2004/05 data. The results suggest that Ethiopian households display significant responses to changes in prices and income. In both rural and urban areas the consumption increase of teff, animal products, and non-food items exceeds the proportional income increase, which illustrates the growing importance of these sectors.

Food demand elasticities in Ethiopia

PDF file:

essprn09.pdf(254.6KB)

Agriculture and Ethiopia’s economic transformation

Indira Yerramareddy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:06:35 -0500

This paper examines the importance of achieving high agricultural growth as a means of accelerating Ethiopia’s economic transformation. The conclusions are that a high rate of agricultural growth has farreaching positive implications for increasing employment and accelerating poverty reduction. An agricultural GDP of six percent is feasible through a high growth rate in agricultural productivity; however, reforms are needed to accelerate growth in seed production and distribution, and in fertilizer distribution and application.

Agriculture and the economic transformation of Ethiopia

PDF file:

essprn08.pdf(401.4KB)

Making rural services work for the poor and women in Ethiopia

Indira Yerramareddy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:59:44 -0500

Over the last several years, the Ethiopian government has committed substantial resources for the expansion of public services and infrastructure in rural areas. To what extent do these investments and services reach different social and economic groups in rural areas? This paper applies a public expenditure benefit incidence analysis of different public services in rural Ethiopia across gender and wealth groups. Among the results are findings that the gender gap in our study areas is substantial and that public works transfers are more progressive than direct support transfers.

PDF file:

essprn07.pdf(272.2KB)

Forest conflict in Asia and the role of collective action in its management

Indira Yerramareddy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:02:04 -0500

Forest conflict in Asia is on the rise as various stakeholders have different views about and interests in the management of increasingly scarce resources. Unfortunately, in many instances, local communities and indigenous peoples suffer the most when such conflicts play out. The biggest challenge is finding acceptable, fair, and lasting solutions. Focusing on how rights (or a lack thereof) instigate conflict and how collective action plays a role in conflict management, this paper examines eight cases from six countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam.

PDF file:

capriwp102.pdf(391.5KB)

Power, inequality, and water governance

Indira Yerramareddy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:33:04 -0500

Water governance reforms are underway in many parts of the developing world. They address the principles, institutions, and legal and administrative practices through which decisions are made on the development, allocation, and conditions of use of water resources at all levels of society. As such, water governance—and efforts to reform it—is shaped by and helps to shape the way in which decisions are taken and authority is exercised in fields that extent well beyond water.

PDF file:

capriwp101.pdf(393.2KB)

Ethiopia’s growth and transformation plan

Indira Yerramareddy — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:16:40 -0500

Under the Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty (PASDEP), implemented from 2005/06 to 2009/10, Ethiopia achieved rapid economic growth and laid a foundation for future growth by making substantial investments in infrastructure and human capital. The Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) for 2010/11–2014/15, Ethiopia’s new five year plan, sets even higher growth and investment targets.

PDF file:

esspwp30.pdf(458.4KB)

Access to improved water source and satisfaction with services

Indira Yerramareddy — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:57:40 -0500

In recent years access to safe and reliable water supplies has received increased government attention in Ethiopia. As a result, the national coverage rate for this service has gradually improved. Yet millions of people in rural areas still do not get drinking water from an improved water source. While expanding improved water source schemes is generally essential, it is equally important to ensure that the schemes have increased users’ satisfaction with water quality and availability for everyday use.

Access to improved water source and satisfaction with services

PDF file:

esspwp32.pdf(191.4KB)

Resource-rich yet malnourished

Indira Yerramareddy — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:19:11 -0500

Endowed with 80 million hectares of arable land (of which only 10 percent are used), diverse climatic conditions, and abundant water resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has the potential to become the breadbasket of the entire African continent. Instead, the country is one of the most affected by malnutrition. The DRC has the highest number of undernourished persons in Africa and the highest prevalence of malnutrition in the world. As a result, child stunting and infant mortality rates in the DRC are also among the highest in the world.

Agricultural growth, poverty, and nutrition linkages in Malawi

Understanding the linkage between agricultural productivity and nutrient consumption

2011 Global Hunger Index

Analyzing nutritional impacts of policies

PDF file:

ifpridp01154.pdf(630.5KB)

Cereal production and technology adoption in Ethiopia

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:56:50 -0500

The Ethiopian government has been promoting a package-driven extension that combines credit, fertilizers, improved seeds, and better management practices. This approach has reached almost all farming communities, representing about 2 percent of agricultural gross domestic product in recent years. This paper is the first to look at the extent and determinants of the adoption of the fertilizer-seed technology package promoted in Ethiopia using nationally representative data from the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia.

Cereal production and technology adoption in Ethiopia

PDF file:

esspwp31.pdf(567.6KB)

Putting gender on the map

Indira Yerramareddy — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:47:02 -0500

Although the different roles of men and women in agriculture in different parts of Sub-Saharan Africa have been widely acknowledged, there have not been consistent efforts to collect data on these patterns. This paper presents a way of classifying gendered farm management systems and then describes pilots of four different approaches to collecting and georeferencing information on the dominant pattern in each area.

What is the irrigation potential for Africa?

Gender, assets, and agricultural development programs

PDF file:

ifpridp01153.pdf(3.2MB)

IFPRI to Lead Two New CGIAR Research Programs

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:28:12 -0500

In January 2012 IFPRI is launching two major research programs. These CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs), led by IFPRI, will bring together researchers from across the CGIAR centers to address some of the most pressing problems facing the global food system.

Tendances de long terme pour la croissance et la réduction de la pauvreté en RDC

Indira Yerramareddy — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:02:30 -0500

Alors que certains pays de l’Afrique Subsaharienne sont en mesure d’atteindre les objectifs du millénaire pour le développement (OMD) en 2015, les défis de développement auxquels fait face la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) ne lui permettront pas d’atteindre ces cibles à l’horizon 2015. En effet, après plusieurs années de guerres, qui ont entrainées d’énormes pertes en vie humaine et la quasi-destruction des infrastructures sociales et économiques, la reprise de la croissance du PIB et la réduction de la pauvreté sont modestes.

PDF file:

drcssppn1.pdf(302.1KB)

Household preferences and governance of water services

Indira Yerramareddy — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:20:15 -0500

This paper estimates hedonic models of rental prices to investigate household preferences regarding water services in rural Guatemala. Estimated values for water services are compared across municipal, private, and community-managed water utilities. Findings indicate that rural households value municipal water services but are indifferent between not having piped water and being connected to a private system. Moreover, the estimated value of community-managed services is negative, which suggests that rural households have an aversion to services managed at the community level.

A regional computable general equilibrium model for Guatemala

PDF file:

ifpridp01152.pdf(449.2KB)

Peer effects, risk pooling, and status seeking

Indira Yerramareddy — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:33:47 -0500

It has been widely documented that the poor spend a significant proportion of their income on gifts even at the expense of basic consumption. We test three competing explanations of this phenomenon—peer effect, status concern, and risk pooling—based on a census-type primary household survey in three natural villages in rural China and on detailed household records of gifts received on major occasions. We show that gift-giving behavior is largely influenced by peers in reference groups. Status concern is another key motive for keeping up with the Joneses in extending gifts.

Overcoming successive bottlenecks

Gender difference in the long-term impact of famine

Cluster-based industrialization in China

Positional spending and status seeking in rural China

China has reached the Lewis turning point

PDF file:

ifpridp01151.pdf(1.3MB)

Combate à Fome com Mudança Climática

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:39:12 -0500

Recomendações para os Delegados do UNFCCC in Durban de cientistas líderes dos BRICS, Indonésia e Estados Unidos da América

Mudança climática é a maior ameaça para segurança alimentar sustentável. Temperaturas estão aumentando, os padrões de chuva estão mudando e eventos climáticos extremos estão ocorrendo com mais frequência. Como resultado, a produção de alimentos para uma população crescente está se tornando mais desafiadora. A agricultura tem que se adaptar e rapidamente. Não fazer nada agora elevará os custos no futuro.

Climate change: Impact on agriculture and costs of adaptation

Food security, farming, and climate change to 2050

PDF file:

climate_icccfs_rec_pt.pdf(113.9KB)

农业如何因应气候变化并战胜饥饿？

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:22:13 -0500

金砖四国、印度尼西亚和美国的知名学者给参加《联合国气候变化框架公约》德班大会代表的建议

气候变化对可持续粮食安全构成重大威胁。随着气温上升、降水格局的变化、极端天气事件更加频繁的发生，养活日益增长的人口就变得更具挑战性。农业中的每个人都必须快速适应这个变化。毫无疑问，现在的延误将增加未来行动的成本。

虽然总的趋势是明确的，比如北半球水稻和玉米的种植区域向北推移，但气候变化的分布和幅度仍然有很大的不确定性。气候变化在某一特定位置的后果是什么？在干旱少雨或湿润多雨、雨季来期不定甚至发生水旱灾害的条件下，对农民来说什么是最好的技术？农业在减少温室气体排放量方面的潜在作用是什么？科学家们2011年11月在北京展示的最新研究成果将有助于回答这些问题。

Climate change: Impact on agriculture and costs of adaptation

Food security, farming, and climate change to 2050

PDF file:

climate_icccfs_rec_zh.pdf(355.6KB)

Foreign direct investment in land in West Africa

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:28:05 -0500

The long-term imbalances between supply and demand and international trade changes that triggered the recent crises in global food markets are also fueling a spike in overseas investments in agricultural land. Africa is a major destination of investment flows because it has the largest reserves of arable land.

"Land grabbing” by foreign investors in developing countries

PDF file:

wcaotn01.pdf(572.1KB)