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Moderated conference on impact assessment of agricultural research: May 2014

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Wed, 14 May 2014 11:50:18 +0200
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I am Dr. Stanley Weeraratna, a Sri Lankan. I was Professor of Agronomy at Ruhuna University, and later Professor of Soils and Water Resources at Rajarata University, both  in Sri Lanka. I worked as a FAO Soil Fertility and Microbiology Expert and later as the Chairman, Sri Lanka Sugarcane Research Institute. 

In 2009, the expenditure on agricultural research carried out worldwide was around $ 50 billion. Hence, it is necessary that the financial and human resources used in agricultural research have beneficial impacts and therefore, it is important that ex post impact assessment (EpIA) of the research carried out are determined. The main focus of EpIA studies has been on economic returns indicated by internal rate of return (IRR), but it is essential that the EpIA of research on non-economic returns are also examined. 

The impact of using some agrochemicals in crop production on the environment is a case in point. These impacts may be positive or negative, intended or unintended. Some of these impacts are based on theoretical assumptions. For example in Sri Lanka, some groups of people tend to think that the use of agrochemicals needs to banned based on a hypothesis that these agrochemicals are responsible for Chronic Kidney Disease which has affected thousand of people in some parts of Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, even some of the policy makers have accepted this theory and taken action to ban the use of some agrochemicals. In a situation where such agrochemicals are recommended it would be desirable if EpIA studies are also conducted. Hence, EPIA studies are sine qua non in relation to any recommendation/intervention emanating from research. 

My response to the issues raised in section 4 of the background document 

With regard to the issues raised in section 4, 

I tend to think that both qualitative and qualitative methods are important in EpIA studies, depending on the degree and types of impact to be studied, the costs and time involved.  

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs)  may be conducted depending on the type of impacts to be studied and the time and cost involved. 

I do not think that uneven focus on EpIA on the different sectors is an important issue. 

Greenhouse and laboratory studies, use of secondary data would reduce costs and time involved in EpIA studies. 

Surveys among appropriate groups of people will be useful to examine the social impacts of the recommendations. 

As indicated by Adato and Meinzen-Dick (2007) it is necessary to decide cost- and time-effective methods in assessing the impacts of agricultural research. The different aspects of EpIA studies need to be decided case by case giving consideration to the time, cost and other aspects on impacts to be determined. 

I tend to think that EpIA is of equal importance in the overall evaluation package of a research project. With more emphasis on non-economic aspects such as environment, social factors etc. EpIA  will be of importance in the future too. 

It is important to note that the policies, and plans of the governments on agriculture, the efficiency of the agricultural extension officers involved in implementing the research recommendations influence to a great extent the effectiveness of such recommendations even if EpIA indicate beneficial effects. 

Stanley Weeraratna, 
National Community Water Trust, 
Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage, 
Sri Lanka
E mail: csweera (at) sltnet.lk

Reference: Adato, M. and R. Meinzen-Dick (eds.). 2007. Agricultural research, livelihoods, and poverty: Studies of economic and social impacts in six countries. International Food Policy Research Institute.  http://www.ifpri.org/publication/agricultural-research-livelihoods-and-poverty

[To contribute to this conference, send your message to [log in to unmask] For further information, see http://www.fao.org/nr/research-extension-systems/res-home/news/detail/en/c/217706/ ].

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