Demand-driven agricultural research for sustainable natural resource base, food security and incomes: Proceedings of the 8th Biennial Scientific Conference 2004

Abstract

The KARI Biennial Scientific Conference provides an opportunity to agricultural researchers to share findings of their work with scientists from many other institutions. The theme of the eighth biennial scientific conference 'Demand-driven agricultural research for sustainable natural resource base, food security and incomes' was "fitting" to the time with the continued depletion of natural resources by resource poor farmers and pastoralists. This trend poses serious challenges to food security. Coupled with the political will to supply the food is the increasing scientific search for sustainable ways to increase production in an environmentally safe way. This conference provided an excellent opportunity for scientists to demonstrate how their individual research efforts have contributed towards the sustainable utilization of our natural resources while improving the national food security and raising the incomes, especially for the rural households. These proceedings clearly demonstrate the contribution agricultural research can make to the fulfillment of the national development goals. They also emphasize the need for effective partnerships among key stakeholders for an efficient agricultural sector. The eighth Biennial Scientific Conference was unique to the previous ones hosted by the Institute. In cognizance this was the first time the Institute was holding an exhibition event thus the "Agricultural Research Week" simultaneously with a biennial conference. The hosting of the two events provided an opportunity to stakeholders from different institutions to exhibit some of their agricultural technologies and products. The event generated a lot of interest among farmers and consumers of agricultural technologies and products to view for themselves the range of technologies and products that are available from different research institutions and other organizations. Additionally, innovative approaches of developing some of the technologies and products were demonstrated Over 1500 people visited the 16 exhibitions booths. The exhibitions proved to be very popular and the institute has resolved to continue hosting this event in subsequent conferences.