The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has launched the world’s first web-based tool designed to promote the uptake of successful innovative agricultural and rural practices, technologies and methodologies across diverse contexts to support development in rural communities and rural transformation in developing countries.
The Rural Solutions Portal is a user-friendly repository of knowledge and information about innovative solutions, success stories and case studies in agriculture and rural development. The portal will facilitate peer-to-peer learning and encourage the cross-fertilization of ideas among smallholders, organizations and institutions of developing countries. Users can request access to the different solution providers for more information and support.
IFAD Director of Global Engagement and Multilateral Relations, Ashwani K. Muthoo said, “Common challenges can be addressed by common solutions at the first presentation of the platform to Government officials, development partners and representatives of diplomatic missions in New Delhi, India. The potential for smallholder farmers, development practitioners and institutions from the Global South to learn from each other is immense, and the first step is sharing information about what works.”
The portal presents solutions from IFAD operations implemented in different countries. Each solution focuses on specific problems that smallholder farmers, rural small business or fisher folk face, and have been validated by technical experts for their reliability and replicability.
Developing countries share common challenges related to food security, the management of scarce natural resources, household nutrition, climate change and the marginalization of rural communities. Often, solutions that work in a specific environment can be adapted and successfully replicated in another.
