 |
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
|
||
|
Media
contact:
icarda-media@cgiar.org
|
|||
|
Syrian
National Workshop on the Implementation of the International Treaty
on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
|
|||
A
National Workshop on the Implementation of the International Treaty
on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (IT-PGRFA) was
held at ICARDA on 17 March. The workshop was jointly organized by
the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture, the Secretariat of the Governing
Body of the International Treaty, Bioversity and ICARDA.
Inaugurating the workshop, Dr Mohamed Walid Tawil, Director General of GCSAR Syria, said that Syria has keen interest in implementing the treaties. "Syria was one of the first countries to be involved in the formulation of the treaty," he said. Dr Tawil said that climate change, drought, urbanization, encroachment, and movement of farmers to high yielding varieties are posing a serious risk to agriculture in general and plant genetic resources in particular. "GCSAR has scientific staff doing research with available resources," Dr Tawil said urging upon international organizations to help GCSAR, especially through scholarships, grants and training to conserve plant genetic resources. He stressed on the need for more projects on human resource development so that GCSAR could follow up on the treaty. Dr Shakeel Bhatti, Secretary of the Governing Body of the International Treaty at FAO, thanked the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture, Bioversity and ICARDA for organizing the workshop. He said that this was the first such national workshop with a leading contracting party and the Centers of the CGIAR. "Syria has been one of the leading contracting parties in implementing the Treaty and had progressed much further than others in developing draft implementing measures, including national legislation for the Treaty. We recognize and commend the high value of the work you have done in Syria," Dr Bhatti said. Speaking at the inaugural session, Dr Mahmoud Sold, Director General of ICARDA, said that plant genetic resources were extremely important for sustainable agriculture and food security therefore all parties to the treaty have to work together for its success. "ICARDA in collaboration with FAO, Bioversity and regional organizations has been very active in promoting the signing and the implementation of different international conventions and agreements in CWANA countries and is participating in the development processes of the national strategies and policies related to biodiversity conservation, particularly agobiodiversity," Dr Solh said.
Dr Solh said today, most countries in CWANA region are signatories of the Treaty and some countries like Jordan and Syria were among the first countries in the World which ratified the Treaty and are within the 40 countries which allowed it to enter into force. "ICARDA has also been very active in promoting regional integration and worked with ACSAD and AOAD to develop a program for an Arab Genebank, and with CAC countries to develop a regional PGR database. Through the use of SMTA for its dispatched material, ICARDA is contributing to the better understanding of the Treaty and the Multi-lateral System," Dr Solh added. Dr Emile Frison, Director General of Bioversity International, said that plant genetic resources were indeed very important as they formed the basis of sustainable agriculture. In the face of challenges posed by climate change these resources would be more important in the future. "Genetic resources are useful only if they are used. We have to keep in mind that these resources will be beneficial if the farmers use it directly," Dr Frison said, underscoring the need for building the basis to enhance international cooperation in agriculture. |
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.