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
28 September 2006
                             Media contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
 
Armenia Awards Gold Medal to Dr Paroda
Dr Raj Paroda, ICARDA-CAC Regional Coordinator and Head of PFU, receiving a gold medal from H.E. Mr Davit Lokyan, Minister of Agriculture, Armenia, at the opening session of the International Agroforum, held in Armenia, 22-23 September.
H.E. Mr Davit Lokyan, Minister of Agriculture, Armenia, presented a gold medal and a certificate to Dr Raj Paroda, ICARDA-CAC Regional Coordinator and Head of PFU on 22 September, in recognition of "the outstanding contribution of the CGIAR Consortium in CAC towards the development of sustainable agriculture in Armenia." The medal was presented to Dr Paroda at the opening session of the Second International Agroforum, held in Armenia, 22-23 September.

Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General of ICARDA, in his message to Dr Paroda, said: "I would like to extend to you on behalf of ICARDA family our warm congratulations for a well-deserved recognition."

Dr Paroda was in Armenia to participate in the Agroforum on behalf of the CGIAR centers. "The award came to me as a pleasant surpise," he said. Over 1000 participants from Armenia and elsewhere in the CAC region attended the meeting. Dr Paroda gave a keynote presentation entitled "A Decade of Partnership between International Centers and Armenia" at the Agroforum.

The Minister commended the support of ICARDA and other CG Centers to Armenia in genetic resources conservation, germplasm enhancement, soil and water management, and capacity building. He was particularly impressed with the achievements of the collaborative programs on breeding new varieties of cereals, which has resulted in the release of one winter wheat variety, 'ARMCIM', and one spring barley variety, 'Mamaluk'. It was agreed to further strengthen the collaboration between Armenia and ICARDA.
   

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.
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