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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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Uzbekistan Deputy Minister lauds CAC Program
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Dr Nurmatov has recently replaced Prof. Abdushukur Khanazarov as the Head of NARS in Uzbekistan. During the meeting, Dr Martius briefed Dr Nurmatov on the activities of the Program in Uzbekistan and the CAC region, as well as the planned celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the CAC Program on 16-20th September, 2008, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Dr Martius also assured Dr Nurmatov of the continued support from ICARDA and other CAC consortium members for sustainable agricultural development in Uzbekistan. Dr Nurmatov thanked ICARDA and the other International Centers active in Uzbekistan for their assistance. Expressing his satisfaction with the way the CAC Program has evolved over the last several years, Dr Nurmatov indicated that he is well aware and appreciates the importance of the collaboration between the CAC Program and Uzbekistan since the time when he was the DG, UzSPCA and later the Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan. In recent years, Uzbekistan has achieved considerable advances in agricultural development. The country has achieved grain self-sufficiency, which was re-enforced by a record harvest of 6.15 million tons of wheat in 2008. Significant financial resources are presently being directed at improving soil fertility and rehabilitating irrigation and drainage infrastructures. In spite of this, there are still several challenges that require a collaborative mode of action together with CAC Program partners, such as: livestock fodder production, germplasm enhancement, conservation agriculture practices, and salinity management. Dr Martius indicated that ICARDA and its partners are fully aware of these concerns and concrete efforts are already underway to help in addressing them under the four projects on Livestock and Fodder Production, Sustainable Land Management Research, Enabling Livelihoods Options, and Seed production. Dr Martius also thanked the Government of Uzbekistan for all the facilitation it is constantly providing to the activities of the CAC Program's Regional office. |
About
ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15
international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA 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.