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UPWARD. 2003. From Cultivators to Consumers: Participatory Research With Various User Groups.  Users’ Perspectives With Agricultural Research and Development – International Potato Center , Los Baños, Laguna , Philippines .

In working toward more relevant agricultural research, it is crucial to meet the technology needs of diverse user groups. This is especially important in multi-stakeholder agricultural livelihood systems such as those associated with sweetpotato, potato and other root/tuber crops.

For many years now, UPWARD has targeted and worked with a wide range of technology users – from cultivators and seed producers to processors and consumers. In addition, UPWARD has also collaborated with intermediate/institutional users, including NGOs, local government units and extension agencies that play crucial roles in strengthening local R&D initiatives.

An UPWARD Meeting held on 6-9 November 2002 in Manila, Philippines served as a forum for sharing and examining experiences in participatory research with different user groups, as well as their implications for research priority-setting, methodological innovation, and livelihood impact assessment. The volume includes 22 papers that capture experiences in working with:

   cultivators and seed producers

   traders, processors, markets and consumers

   institutional users

Cross-learning was also made possible with participants from other CGIAR Centers/programs engaged in participatory agricultural research. Included in this volume are papers dealing with peri-urban agro-enterprise development, rice technology diffusion, evaluation of forages for soil conservation, crop-livestock system improvement, and sustaining coconut-based agriculture. Finally, key issues discussed during the workshop are summarized in a paper on added value/benefits and cost of PR&D, and on emerging best practices in the PR&D process.

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