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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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Village-based
seed enterprises in Afghanistan
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ICARDA
has helped pioneer the concept of village-based seed enterprises (VBSEs)
in Afghanistan. Farmers form cooperatives to produce and sell seed
of improved varieties, with ICARDA and other partners providing logistical,
funding and technical support. To date, VBSEs have produced almost
5000 tons of seed of four crops: wheat, rice, potato and ,mungbean.
Awareness of the VBSE success is spreading - not only among communities, researchers and extension staff but also among policy makers. As part of this awareness-building effort, ICARDA's Afghanistan team, led by Dr Javed Rizvi, worked with the ICARDA Seed Unit (Dr Zewdie Bishaw, Dr Koffi Amegbeto and Mr Abdoul-Aziz Niane) to develop a 25-minute radio program in two languages, Dari and Pashto. In addition to explaining the VBSE concept, the programs provide specific information, including contact details of VBSEs and seed quantities available. The programs are being broadcast by multiple radio stations across the country, helping to link potential seed buyers to producers, and to ensure that the VBSEs remain viable and sustainable. |
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.