Practice:Project

FIRCOP PROJECT

The SADC region faces a range of challenges with respect to food security and agricultural productivity. The importance of agriculture to food security and the economies of the SADC Member States are well appreciated by authorities in all the Member States. This recognition of the key role of agriculture can easily be identified in both the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) of SADC as well as the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security. With regard to agricultural research, it is important to vigorously pursue demand driven (and participatory) research in order to increase production, generate food surpluses and improve rural livelihoods. Currently, national research facilities have limited capacities and therefore require assistance of various forms, including regional research programs that can supplement national efforts. SADC Member States, through the SADC Secretariat, secured the support of the French Government and established the Fund for Innovation and Regional collaborative Project (FIRCOP) in support of small-scale farmers’ development. The overall objective of the FIRCOP project is to contribute to regional economic growth and poverty alleviation in the SADC region by implementing innovative research activities that will lead to sustainable use of natural resources, increased agricultural production and improved livelihoods. The project has a holistic approach and uses principles of viewing the production chain as one system composed of several equally important components. Because of the holistic approach of the project it is envisaged that the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and other stakeholders in agricultural research in the SADC region will enhance the national capacities in order to increase agricultural production, quality of products and incomes of small-scale farmers. In the process, the project seeks to increase incomes of agro-processors, traders and other beneficiaries in the production chain, while maintaining the natural resource base. The research topics to be addressed through funds from this project are those that are of regional relevance and have been identified to be of priority to the region and whose results have a high likelihood of contributing to the long term sustainability of regional research. Such research topics will therefore be crucial to the improvement of the agricultural sector of SADC Member States as outlined in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and in the plan of action of the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security.