The Highlands Regional Network coordinates collaborative activities in dry, medium to high altitude regions of West Asia and North Africa. The Network contributes in improving rural welfare in highland regions of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. The objectives of the Network are to:
Recent achievements
| Profile - Highlands of West Asia and North Africa The highlands regions of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey are |
Improving wheat yields in the Winter Wheat areas of the region
Turkey, (CIMMYT) - International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico, (CGIAR) - the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and ICARDA, are partners in the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program, which aims to decentralize breeding and increase the speed of disseminating improved varieties. More than 25 improved wheat varieties that yield 10-30% more than the varieties farmers used previously were released in the region. Priorities for the region are to develop high yielding cultivars with tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The program provides genetic material to the breeding programs in the region in order to be used as direct cultivars or breeding materials in their breeding programs which aims to sustainably increase food security in the region. Human Recourse Development for NARS is an integral part of the program that provides training opportunities for NARS scientists.
Diversifying farm enterprises in the Taurus Mountains
Diversified farming in the Taurus Mountains resulting from this research program has raised farm incomes by up to 25%. This has been achieved through new crops introduced in the region, such as triticale and forage legumes, new varieties of wheat, barley and chickpea, and support to local enterprises to produce honey. Agro-ecological zoning is being used to match crops to specific environments and give farmers opportunities to derive more profit from their land than they do at present.
Impact of new wheat cultivars in Turkey
New wheat cultivars’ impact has been determined in five selected provinces in Turkey. It has been found that yield was 20-30 % higher in new cultivars than in older ones and the income of the farmers who use the new cultivars was much higher than the other farmers who use the old cultivars. Both resource-poor and rich farmers benefited from the new cultivars’ extra income generation.
Improving dry-land productivity in the Iranian highlands
In Iran, new varieties of barley, wheat, chickpea and lentil, as well as farming methods to raise production have been introduced to farmers in dry highland areas. ‘Saji’, a durum cultivar developed from ICARDA germplasm, was released in 2010 and 13 high-yielding lines of wheat, barley, chickpea, lentil, and forages from ICARDA-derived materials are candidates for release in 2011-12.
Strengthening research in Pakistan
In Pakistan, the Network collaborates closely with national and provincial institutions. Most work takes the form of partnerships with community organizations for both men and women to narrow the large gap between yields achieved on research stations and those achieved in farmers’ fields. Research focuses on watershed management, crop improvement (particularly wheat, barley, lentil, and chickpea), livestock feed and dairy goat management for women's livelihoods, and multiplying seed of improved varieties more quickly.
Improving food security and strengthening of physical and human resources in Afghanistan
Through the Network, ICARDA evaluates improved varieties of wheat, chickpeas, lentils, barley, mung beans, potatoes and rice in cooperation with researchers, farming communities and other partners in Afghanistan. Besides release of improved crop varieties, simultaneous efforts are made to accelerate the adoption of these high-yielding improved varieties by the farmers. This is achieved through ensuring availability of breeder seed in sufficient quantities to the National Seed Production and Distribution agencies; and by organizing a large number of famers’ participatory demonstrations (more than 500 during 2010) in several provinces. ICARDA developed technologies like supplemental irrigation, on-farm water harvesting, and sub-surface irrigation. These are demonstrated and introduced for optimum crop production with maximum water efficiency. Several drought and disease-resistant crop varieties (wheat-4, barley-2, chickpea-1, lentil-1), extremely suitable for rain-fed (dry land agriculture) are in pipeline for release by the Ministry of Agriculture. Through conduction of more than 2000 demonstrations, it is established that improved crop varieties along with introduced best practices have the potential for high yields ranging from 30-70 %. A project to boost production of dairy products aimed at women gave 1000 women dairy goats and trained 1740 others women in goat keeping, improved feeding, hygienic milk production, processing, and marketing. Goat mortality and abortion rates fell by as much as 80%, the shelf life of the milk doubled, and the women received 20% higher prices for their hygienically produced milk, cheese, and yogurt. In addition, women and their households are also learning to produce and grow annual (barley, mung beans, maize); and perennial forages (Mulberries and Atriplex).
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Strengthening seed sector and seed production
ICARDA played pivotal role in establishing a code of conduct for import, production, and distribution of seed that lead and contributed to development of National Seed Policy and National Seed Law which is approved by the parliament and is fully operational and effective. ICARDA with financial support from USAID introduced the concept of Village Based Seed Enterprise, and established 35 of farmer led seed producing enterprises in 7 provinces. Collectively these produce an average of 10,000 -15,000 mt of certified seed of different crops, annually. Replicating the success of the concept, other partners have added establishment of 70 more seed producing enterprises.
Introducing low cost greenhouses
Developed and tested in Arabian Peninsula by ICARDA-APRP regional program, simple greenhouse technology was introduced in Afghanistan. It includes training of the Ministry of Agriculture staff and entrepreneurs in greenhouses manufacture, plant production and protection techniques and marketing; establishment of a greenhouse manufacturing workshop; and demonstration of this simple technology to grow cash crops on marginal lands while using less water. This approach was applied in five provinces through establishment of 35 such greenhouses. Suitability and success of these practices have led to wider adoption and establishment of more than 2,000 additional greenhouses by other agencies. The adoption and establishment of new greenhouses is still in progress.
Developing value chains
Developed / developing value chain for locally cultivated and wildly grown medicinal plants (mint, cumin, thyme, fennel etc.) provides alternative livelihoods, improves household income (including women), and promotes the concept of off-farm rural small scale agricultural industries. With funding from DFID and the Netherlands, ICARDA has established 10 Herbal Remedies Producers Associations in 5 provinces. These farmers’ associations produce dried herbs, herbal distillates, mixture of distillates, and essential oils from various medicinal plants as herbal remedies for many common ailments, and sell them in domestic and regional (export) markets. Collectively, these associations have produced and sold more than 300,000 and 5000 bottles of distillates and oils in local and regional markets providing an average income of 500-600 $/ month. Some of the farmers who are active in these ventures were previously involved in illegal activities, and now have fully abandoned those. This strongly supports the policy of the Afghan Government to promote licit livelihoods for farmers who otherwise are involved in illicit activities. For further details, please see (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piDDSldMRt0) and (http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/news.asp?articleID=50740).
Building capacities
More than 350 researchers, policy makers and extension workers have received trainings at ICARDA headquarters and at other countries, where more than 4000 Afghans have so far benefitted through specialized in-country trainings. In addition, through organization of field days, more than 12000 farmers have been trained in the best practices to grow food, forage and other crops.
Partnerships
Publications:
Future plans
Dry land agriculture is the key to achieving food security in highland regions of WANA. The Network will continue collaboration to improve food security and make opportunities for rural communities to improve their incomes. This will involve:
For more information, contact:
Dr. Mohammed Roozitalab
Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)
Yemen Avenue, Evin
PO Box 19395-111
Tehran, Iran
| Tel. Office | +98-21-22400094; +98-21-22400094 |
| Mobile | +98-09123018972; +98-09123018972 |
| Fax | +98-21-22401855 |
| E-mail: | ICARDA-Iran@cgiar.org |
| Afghanistan | |
Dr. Javed Rizvi |
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| Tel. | 0093-799216325 / 0093 – 789440396 (Rizvi) 0093 – 799216322 (Manan) 0093- 799216324 (Gilani) |
| Mobile | +98-09123018972; +98-09123018972 |
| E-mail: | J.Rizvi@cgiar.org |
| Pakistan | |
Dr. Abdul Majid |
|
| Tel. Office | +92-51-9255178-9 |
| Tel. Home | +92-51-2241483 (Abdul Majid) |
| Mobile | +92300-8554740 (Abdul Majid) |
| Fax | +92-51-9255178 |
| E-mail: | a.majid@cgiar.org |
| Turkey | |
Dr. Keser Mesut |
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| Tel. Office | +90-312-3448777/3271631/3271657 |
| Tel. Home | +90-312-2794158 (Mesut Keser) |
| Mobile | +90-533-6977674 (Isin) |
| Fax | +90-312-3270798 |
| E-mail: | ICARDA-Turkey@cgiar.org |
| Highlands Regional Network |