LESSONS LEARNED - Science for Agriculture and Rural Development in Low-income Countries - page 99

was paid to the information requirements of different end users. Stakeholders were
involved in the research process.
Even though the MDGs and possible measures to reach these goals were
formulated only recently, we will also use the MDGs to evaluate the DLO-IC
programme. Of particular relevance to our theme are MDG 1: Eradicate extreme
poverty and hunger, and MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability; and, more
indirectly, MDG 4: Reduce child mortality, MDG 5: Improve maternal health, and
MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development (see Box 1). In that Box, also
the specific targets that were dealt with are specified.
In most developing countries, agriculture is the main livelihood for more than
75% of the population. Therefore, the emphasis of DLO-IC on improving land
productivity, (agricultural) land use and related policies and its approaches towards
implementation of sustainable land use and rural development options, is a core
activity and a meaningful entry point in reaching the MDGs.

The theme 'Rural Development and Sustainable Agriculture'

During its first phase, the theme covered 18 multi-annual collaborative projects and
several supportive projects. In these projects, innovative scientific-technical methodo-
logies were developed - as reflected in a large number of high-quality scientific
publications and new research tools (such as NUTMON and LUPAS) upon which
projects of the second phase could build (see below, and De Jager et al. 2007); the
dialogue with beneficiaries of the research was initiated, which paved the way for

Box 1. MDGs. Specific targets are given for MDGs relevant for RSDA (source: www.
unmilleniumproject.org)

MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Target 1: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less

than 1 US$ a day

Target 2: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger

MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education

MDG 3 Promote gender equality and empower women

MDG 4: Reduce child mortality

Target 5: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate

MDG 5: Improve maternal health

Target 6: Reduce by three-quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality rate

MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Target 9: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and

programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources

MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development
Target 18: In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new
technologies, especially information and communication