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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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Strengthening
Partnership with Egypt
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The
Director General, Dr Mahmoud Solh, visited Egypt, 5-7 April to inaugurate
the 10th International Barley Genetics Symposium (IBGS), held at Bibilotheca
Alexandrina. During his visit Dr Solh met with H.E. Mr Amin Abaza,
Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt, and Dr Fadia
Nosseir, Supervisor, Foreign Agricultural Relations of the Ministry
of Agriculture. Dr Fawzi Karajeh, Regional Coordinator of ICARDA for
Nile Valley and Sub-Saharan Africa Program, was also present at the
meeting.
The Director General briefed the Minister about ICARDA's Strategic Plan and the collaborative programs with ARC in Egypt. Dr Solh also sought support from the Minister for ICARDA's Water and Livelihood Initiative (WLI) and extended an invitation to H.E. Mr Abaza to visit ICARDA research facilities and research sites in Syria. H.E. Mr Abaza offered his government's support to ICARDA's plans and its active research role to assist the Red Sea and Nile Basin Countries to cope with emerging agriculture production issues, such as demand and supply market changes, resource efficiency, plant health protection and the development of new disease resistance varieties, particularly for yellow rust on wheat. He welcomed the invitation and expressed his interest to visit ICARDA facilities. Dr Solh also met Prof Dr Adel El-Beltagy, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Land reclamation, and briefed him about the progress of the ICARDA - ARC research activities, the 10th International Barley Genetics Symposium and the planned visit of Dr Sanjaya Rajaram to conduct a study to assess wheat production and potential in Egypt.
At Alexandria, the Director General met with Dr Ismail Serageldin, Director, Bilbiotheca Alexandrina, to thank him for cosponsoring the Symposium and discussed together arrangements for the upcoming Ninth International Conference on Dryland Development: Sustainable Development in the Drylands - Meeting the Challenge of Global Climate Change planned for 7-10 November 2008. Dr Serageldin welcomed Dr Solh's suggestion to develop a cooperation agreement between ICARDA and Bilbiotheca Alexandrina. During the visit Dr Solh was interviewed by Prof. Dr. Wagdy Sawahel, Editor of the Science Development Network, and by the Egypt Daily News. |
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.