What can research do to alleviate poverty and why is aquatic resources research relevant to poverty eradication?

　

Poor people rely heavily on natural resources for a living - thus, it is critical that ecosystems are well conserved for the responsible use of all stakeholders. Ecosystem degradation can lead to serious effects on the well-being of the poor (Palmer-Jones and Jackson 1997), leading to consequences, such as the following:

The World Fish Center, by targeting research on specific aquatic ecosystems that are the mainstays of the food, livelihood and environmental needs of the poor, (mainly coastal and coral reef ecosystems, but perhaps mangroves and other wetlands in the future, floodplains and farm ponds) conservation, and advocacy for their wise use, plays an imprtant role in poverty alleviation. The Center conducts research, data collection and participates actively in a technical advisory role in some resource management activities, acting as a source of scientific advice on the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic resources at the ecosystem, species and subspecies level, as well as providing advice in the assessment of ecosystem health, and strategies for coastal resource and coastal zone management. At the heart of this work is the welfare of people.

　

If aquaculture is to benefit the poor, choice of species must be carefully considered. Species used as a food resource for a large number of poor people could be used a criterion. Hence the carp and the tilapia - the two most widely cultured species in the world, especially by those in the lower-income group, have been selected for research by ICLARM. Species that are environmentally benign, comprising mainly herbivores and omnivores, will be given greater priority, since the culture of carnivores will generally result in a nett loss of fish production. ICLARM also places high priority to species that require low input, but have a high market value (such as giant clams, oysters and sea cucumbers), and may promote income generation for coastal communities.

　

The particular technology adopted is also important. The poor more easily adopt traditional farming systems, which require lower inputs or locally available inputs within their means Many of these technologies are also environmentally benign. For example, in Bangladesh, integration of aquaculture with agriculture (IAA) farming has benefited the poor tremendously and has involved many women, who had been left out of most development projects prior to the mid 1980s. IAA also has positive impacts on farm productivity and human nutrition. In addition, the provision of increased quantities of low-cost aquatic produce will also help the urban poor. For this reason, ICLARM has accorded IAA farming as high priority for research.

　

ICLARM recognises that food security is best obtained through promoting equitable use of resources and raising incomes, and not simply through productivity (ICLARM Medium Term Plan 2002-2004). Amartya Sen (2002), Nobel Laureate for economics in 1998, holds that widespread hunger is primarily related to poverty, and not principally connected with food production, although issues of governance are also important. He believes that poverty could be substantially reduced if the richer countries were more willing to import food from poorer countries, and trade liberalisation in the richer countries could make a difference to employment and income prospects of poorer countries. On the other hand, poor countries must meet the food safety standards of the importing countries, and this may present a challenge to poor countries. Technology transfer related to good aquaculture practices and proper post-harvest handling procedures are critical research areas required to bring the produces of the poor on par with international food safety standards.

　

Science, through developing genetically superior strains of fish, can also aid the poor, by producing fish with higher growth rates or with disease resistance. ICLARM's genetic enhancement and breeding Program will contribute positively to feed the poor by the increased productivity from farms that rea r these improved strains. Our impact studies show that better performing fish can simultaneously bring the price of sih down for the consumer and still leave the fish farmer making a profit.

　

The war against poverty is complex and multifaceted, requiring solutions from many fields, including good governance, strong political will and science. Solutions from science span a wide range of expertise, and no one institution could provide all the answers. ICLARM joins with many partners in delivering its work program.

FAO. 1992. Review of the state of world fishery resources. Part 1. The marine resources. FAO Fisheries Circular 710, Rev. 8.

　

Naylor, R.L., Goldburg, R.L., Mooney, H., Beveridge, M., Clay, J., Folke, C., Kautsky, N., Lubschenco, J., Primavera, J. and Williams, M. 1998. Nature's subsidies to shrimp and salmon farming. Nature, 282:883-884.

　

Palmer-Jones, R. and Jackson, C. 1997. Work intensity, gender and sustainable development. Food Policy: 22:39-62.

　

Silvestre, G.T., Garces, L.R., Valmonte-Santos, R.A. and Ahmed, M. 2000. Exploitation of tropical demersal fish stocks in Asia: evident impacts on biodiversity. The Third World Fisheries Congress, Beijing, P.R.China, 31 October - 3 November 2000.

　

Sen, A. 2002. Why half the planet is hungry. p.14. THE SUN Wednesday, June 19, 2002.

　

Williams, M.J. and Choo, P.S. 200. Fish Wars: Science is shaping a new peace agenda. Crawford Fund 2000. p. 83-98. Food, water and war: security in a world of conflict. Record of a conference conducted by the Crawford Fund for International Agricultural Research, Parliament House, Canberra, 15 August 2000. ACIAR Monograph No. 73, 114 p.