1. BIG IDEAS
Traveling “Village Knowledge Fairs”
for upscaling proven technologies
W
e have over 40 years of scientific solutions developed and tested with farmers,
national systems and agribusinesses.
We want to make a quantum leap in impact on moving people out of poverty by
significantly upscaling these solutions.
To do this we can create traveling knowledge fairs
aimed at producers and consumers
traveling to villages annually
based on farmer to farmer and business to business knowledge sharing.
Science with a human face
www.icrisat.org
November 2013

2. Village Knowledge Fairs
These fairs are part of campaigns that are based on:
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Developing a marketing plan for each state/
region. This can include a traveling roadshow
for farmers (targeting women as well as men),
via:
- farmer to farmer video messages
- conducting training courses based on
farmer-to-farmer and business-to-business
- using mass media for further
communicating the messages.
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Information and demonstrations on nutrition
and products
Advice to help villages set up their own mini
incubator platforms that facilitate sharing of
knowledge.
Targeted marketing campaigns aimed at both
producers and consumers.
Linking with state government, farmer
associations, community groups, finance
agencies and private industry.
Identifying the technologies most relevant for
each state/region that are proven, available and
ready to be upscaled.
Identifying and involving the necessary support
for technologies. This may include seed
supplies, smaller packaging, microfinancing etc.
What will be offered
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Solutions to increase farm productivity, such as:
- High-performing crop varieties
- Soil and water management practices
- On-farm management practices
Agribusiness developments, such as:
- Processing options
- Linkages to market information
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Management of the campaign
A brand will be built for the fairs.
The village knowledge fairs will become regular
events building interest and awareness.
Monitoring and evaluation will be undertaken
to track the effectiveness of the campaigns and
feedback for continual development.
Involvement
Contact
Take joint ownership of this initiative with ICRISAT
and be an integral part of the branding of the fairs.
Joanna Kane-Potaka, Director, Strategic Marketing
and Communication, E-mail: j.kane-potaka@cgiar.org
Support can also be garnered through:
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Village-level farmer fairs
Capacity building of farmer facilitators
Village level nutrition awareness
Setting up of local farming and agribusiness
incubators
A concept note for
Ensuring nutritional security in rural India