Agriculture Technology Development Project

closed

The Agricultural Technology Development Project will bring about change in Colombia's agricultural research culture. Traditionally, this has been public sector dominated, conservative, elite and driven by supply rather than demand. As part of the Government's National Agricultural Technology Transfer Program, the Project will achieve the following: (a) introduce a new approach, in support of the National System for Agricultural Technology Development and Transfer, including with measures to build institutional capacity, which would promote the development and testing of technical packages especially appropriate for small farmers, and to divulge new technology; (b) promoting private sector participation in agricultural research; (c) improving the quality and efficiency of agricultural research by introducing a demand driven, competitive selection system that will cofinance projects with universities and private and public sector entities; (d) supporting decentralization of agricultural research and extension activities by strengthening regional centers, training agricultural extensions, and disseminating information; and (e) revitalizing underused assets, both physical and human, that presently exist within Colombia's research services system. Research funded under the Project will ultimately help to reduce rural poverty, increase rural employment, and improve the competitiveness of Colombia's agricultural producers. The project will finance a four year program with the following two components: (a) technology development and adaptation; and, (b) institutional development.