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
14 February 2008
Media contact: icarda-media@cgiar.org
 
Water Benchmarks Project Meeting in Morocco
Water Benchmarks of CWANA is a pro-active, inclusive and integrated research project of ICARDA's Integrated Water and Land Management Program (IWLMP). Its thrust on community participation in the research for improved water management options at the farm and basin levels have been well demonstrated. These Benchmark sites, linked to several NARS satellite sites in the CWANA region, were established in Morocco for rainfed agriculture with satellite sites in Algeria, Syria and Tunisia; in Jordan for drier environments (Badia) with satellite sites in Libya and Saudi Arabia; and in Egypt for irrigated agriculture with satellite sites in Iraq and Sudan.

To review the progress of research and prepare the work plan for the Community-based Optimization of the Management of Scarce Water Resources in CWANA project, three-day Regional Annual Coordination and Steering Committee Meetings of the Water Benchmarks of Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) project were held at Rabat, Morocco, from 7 to 9 January. This was the fourth annual meeting of the project, and it was jointly organized by ICARDA and the National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA), Morocco.

Mr Idrissi Ammari Abdelmajid, acting DG of INRA, in his opening remarks at the meeting highlighted the problem of water scarcity in Morocco and in CWANA region in general. However, he explained that fortunately since the early 1960s, Morocco has opted for the development of its water resources through supply management by constructing many dams and the modernization of the irrigation networks. This strategy, according to him, is not enough and supplemental irrigation practice that has been optimized and integrated through the rainfed water benchmark site in Tedla will certainly help Morocco and the region to deal with the increasing water scarcity. He thanked ICARDA for its cooperation with Morocco to solve this crucial problem.

Dr Theib Oweis, Director of IWLMP and Manager of the Water Benchmarks of CWANA project, in his welcome address, stressed the importance of research on improved water management options, and highlighted the uniqueness of the participatory and integrated approach to watershed management. He said that it was a well-knit network both at regional and international levels, and that it should be carried forward to develop meaningful policies for improving water productivity especially in water-scarce areas.

Dr Mohammed El Mourid, ICARDA's North Africa Coordinator, said that this project was of great significance in saving water and increasing its productivity and it aimed at improving the livelihood security and ecological sustainability in the region.
Participants of the Water Benchmarks Project Meeting in Rabat, Morocco, 7-9 January.

Dr Mohammed Karrou, Water and Drought Management Specialist, IWLMP and the Coordinator of Water Benchmarks of CWANA Project, presented the major achievements of the regional activities of the project. These include, for example: training workshops on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E); preparation of a series of project reports; organization of regional capacity building workshops; operationalization of a Water Productivity group; and organization of a training workshop at ICARDA (December 2007) on data analysis and reporting to strengthen collaborative research on water productivity and management.

The activities at various Benchmark and satellite sites were presented by the regional and site coordinators, and future plans discussed. The meeting agreed that dissemination activities would be further strengthened. Three travelling workshops would be organized at the various Benchmark and satellite sites, to review trials and discuss ways to scale out the outputs.

The participants visited the Rainfed Benchmark project sites in Bradia and Ouled Zemmam communities and interacted with the farmers. Later, scientists from INRA, ICARDA, ORMVAT and other Benchmark and satellite sites met Mr Mohamed Derdouri, the Wali (Governor) of Beni Mellal region in Morocco where the Rainfed Benchmark site is located. During the meeting, Dr Theib Oweis explained the objectives, the participatory approach and the main results of the project. The Wali appreciated the concept of involving the farmers as active partners since the beginning of the project in the design and implementation of the activities. He explained that this approach fits the new government strategy that encourages farmers to play a major role in the management of their agricultural business through better organization (associations, cooperatives etc).
 

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.

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