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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
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icarda-media@cgiar.org
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Arab
Development Funds Meeting
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| Arab
Development Funds are becoming increasingly aware of the extreme importance
of agricultural research and development and water resources in the
Arab countries in addressing the challenges of the serious food shortage,
the food crisis and, scarce water resources. They are also aware of
the need to provide more funds to support research in agriculture
and water management. To address this new interest and discuss options
for future action, a meeting was convened at the Kuwait Fund for Arab
Economic Development in Kuwait 19 October for prominent Arab and Islamic
funds and organizations to meet regional agricultural research and
development centers working in the Arab countries. Representatives from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED),) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) participated in the meeting. ICARDA, the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD), the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), and the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID) were the key invited agricultural research and development organizations. The meeting was opened by Mr Hisham Al-Waqayan, Deputy Director General of KFAED. The Director General of ICARDA, Dr Mahmoud Solh presented ICARDA's research work to meet the challenges of agriculture and water in the dry areas of the world, and explained how ICARDA can further do to address climate change consequences, alleviate the food gap and improve food security. The meeting attendees carried out brainstorming on the challenges faced and the areas of investment needed in agriculture and water, and specifically: • How can Arab Funds contribute to food security and sustainable agricultural development; • How can the Arab Funds strengthen agricultural and water research; and • What each organization can do to contribute to this effort and proposals to be submitted by each organization to that end. ICARDA prepared six specific concept notes on these subjects. It is expected that follow up action will be taken on this subject to enhance sustainable agricultural development and sustainable use of various water resources. |
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.