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ICARDA News International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012 Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105; E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG Website: www.icarda.org
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Media contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
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National
Seed Forum in Uzbekistan
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| A Seed Forum
involving experts in breeding, testing and release of crop varieties
was organized in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on 31 January – 1 February
2006, within the framework of the seed development project funded
by FAO. ICARDA is a partner in the project for providing technical
backstopping. More than 40 representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture,
various research institutes, agricultural universities, Plant Quarantine
Agency, State Variety Testing Committee, Ministry of Finance, Ministry
of Economy, FAO, AVRDC, and CIP participated. Dr Tony van Gastel,
Head, Seed Unit; Dr Raj Paroda, Regional Coordinator, CAC; Dr Zakir
Khalikulov, Dr Bitore Djumakhanaov and Dr Aziz Nurbekov (all from
CAC, Tashkent), represented ICARDA at the Forum and made presentations. At the opening session of the Forum, Dr Amir Amanov, Chief Consultant for the Project and Advisor in the President’s Office, emphasized the importance of seed for increasing agricultural productivity, and appreciated the role played by ICARDA in supporting Uzbekistan, especially in the review of the seed development system, supply of new varieties, identification of seed equipment, and in providing training to national colleagues. Referring to the release of wheat variety 'Dostlik' through ICARDA-CIMMYT partnership three years ago, he said the variety currently occupies 10,000 ha in three arid provinces of Uzbekistan. Dr A. Khanazarov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, also appreciated the excellent cooperation between Uzbekistan and ICARDA, and desired to strengthen it further to make the seed program of Uzbekistan comparable to the best elsewhere.
The Seed Forum reviewed the existing laws, procedures and standards and made important suggestions for improvements in the Seed Sector of Uzbekistan, including the development of a private seed sector especially to take care of legumes, oil seeds and vegetables. Dr Raj Paroda welcomed the delegates on behalf of ICARDA, and Dr van Gastel made a presentation on the role of ICARDA in the development of a seed sector in CAC. For more information contact: Dr Raj Paroda |
About
ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org)
serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil,
and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management
of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants
(sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In
the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible
for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage
legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of
the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment.