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
30 October 2008
Media contact: icarda-media@cgiar.org
 
Host Country Syria-ICARDA Ties: Stronger Collaboration
For over three decades, ICARDA has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with its host country, Syria. The Syrian government, through its Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, has provided not only an ideal location for research, but also skills, financial and other resources, and excellent support on both logistics and research issues.
Participants of the 21st Syria-ICARDA Coordination Meeting, held at ICARDA headquarters.

The 21st biennial Syria-ICARDA Coordination Meeting was held at ICARDA headquarters, 16-17 October. The objectives were to review recent results from the collaborative research program, and plan for the coming season. The meeting was attended by ICARDA scientists and management, and over 100 researchers and administrators from various Syrian government organizations including the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), General Organization for Seed Multiplication, Atomic Energy Commission, Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Ministry of Higher Education, and Directorate of Badia.
Dr Mahmoud Solh, ICARDA Director General, addressing the audience at Syria-ICARDA 21 Coordination Meeting.
Dr M. Walid Taweel, GCSAR Director General: ICARDA and the Syrian national program share a common vision for agriculture.
Welcoming the participants, Dr Mahmoud Solh, ICARDA Director General, described the Center's vision of the future, the history of Syria-ICARDA partnerships, and the impacts generated by this collaboration. "Our research agenda continues to evolve in response to new challenges – particularly climate change adaptation." he said. He cited several examples of the strength and durability of the partnership. To date, over 3000 Syrian researchers have been trained through ICARDA's capacity building programs. National research and extension staff have played major roles in collaborative programs to test and introduce new technologies – improved varieties, water management methods, crop rotations, conservation agriculture techniques, agroecological mapping methods and others. The previous season was among the most extreme in four decades, with temperatures falling to –12°C in January and rising to 37°C in March. Despite this, Syria harvested over 3 million tons of wheat – testimony to the high levels of skills and commitment of the national research program.

Dr Mohammed Walid Taweel, Director General of GCSAR, spoke on behalf of H.E. Adel Safar, Minister of Agriculture. The strong government participation at the meeting, he said, was evidence of the importance the Syrian government placed on agricultural research. "Research is the pillar of development; and ICARDA contributes to research and training not only in Syria but across the entire Arab world. … Thanks to ICARDA, scientists from many different countries are working hand in hand in Syria; and their work has greatly strengthened national economic development."

Dr Taweel noted that a lentil variety and two bread wheat varieties, developed from ICARDA material, had recently been released in Syria. Several improved lines of durum wheat are giving excellent results in field trials, particularly in unfavorable environments, e.g. Stability Zone II, in the dry north-west of the country.

ICARDA's biggest long-term important contribution, he said, have been the training programs, in place since the 1970s. Many Syrians trained at ICARDA are now serving at high levels in national research agencies; many are academics are helping to build the next generation of researchers. Dr Tawil stressed the need to continue, and even expand, the training program; such an expansion was discussed at recent high-level meetings.

Dr Taweel agreed with Dr Solh's perspectives on the immediate problems facing the world's dry areas, including Syria. The key research priorities would include:
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 Increasing productivity in rainfed areas: drought tolerant varieties, more efficient irrigation systems, higher crop water-use efficiency, improved nutritional value of crop varieties.
•
 Reducing food production costs: increasing yield while reducing use of fertilizer and pesticide and promoting conservation agriculture methods.

You have been of great help to our farmers," he concluded. "Thank you for your help."

Ahmed El Ahmed, ICARDA's ADG - Government Liaison, provided an overview of research results for the past three seasons. He covered various aspects: crop and cropping systems improvement, integrated water and land management (e.g. water harvesting, shrub plantations, fertility management), seed supply, socioeconomic surveys, and agroecological mapping.

Despite suffering major droughts in recent years, Syria is now self-sufficient in wheat production. This is clear evidence of the impacts of Syria-ICARDA partnerships in research, technology transfer and capacity building.

The meeting highlighted the fact that ICARDA and the Syrian national research system share the same goals and the same specific objectives; and use very similar approaches to develop and disseminate relevant, appropriate technologies for small-scale farmers. Future areas of emphasis will include:
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 Continued (and increasing) focus on drought and frost tolerance, particularly in view of climate change
•
 Building up national strategic seed reserves: efforts will be led by GOSM, with ICARDA providing technical support
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 More training programs: ICARDA will contribute to GCSAR’s ongoing efforts to increase staff strength and skills
•
 Integrating plant breeding with management: promoting the use of improved varieties in together with supplemental irrigation, conservation agriculture and other crop/soil/water management methods.
 

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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