ICARDA Caravan, Issue No. 20/21

News from the Drylands

Iraq Develops Plans with ICARDA to Rebuild Agriculture

Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy (left), Director General of ICARDA, received the delegation from northern Iraq and discussed the ICARDA strategy and plan of work for rebuilding agriculture in the country. Seated next to the DG from left to right: Mr Anwar Ahmed, Program Officer, Office of Project Coordination (OPC); Mr Bahjat Mohamed, Director, Dohuk Region Research Station; Mr Ali Mohamed Ameen, Director General, Agricultural Research, Extension and Training in Erbil; and Dr Nariman Haweiz, Director General, Veterinary and Animal Production in Sulaimanyah.

delegation of officials from northern Iraq visited ICARDA on 6-8 April 2004 to further the collaboration between Iraq and the Center that started in 1979. During a series of meetings, the delegation, led by Mr Anwar Ahmed, Program Officer, Office of Project Coordination (OPC), and ICARDA senior management and scientists developed a proposal for the implementation of collaborative research and training activities in northern Iraq.

ICARDA and Iraq will be working together on (i) human resource development and capacity building, (ii) conducting study tours, (iii) participating in regional and international scientific conferences and workshops, (iv) exchanging adapted germplasm and improved varieties for testing in Iraq, (v) establishing demonstration trials and organizing farmer field days and schools, (vi) exchanging publications and other information.

This visit followed the ninth Iraq/ICARDA Biennial Coordination Meeting which was held in Amman, Jordan, 16-17 November 2003, to discuss ICARDA's role in rebuilding Iraq's agricultural system that has been severely impacted by the recent conflict. Seven scientists from ICARDA, led by Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, ICARDA Director General; 12 Iraqi scientists, led by Dr Basil Dalali, First Under Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture; and representatives from USAID, JICA, FAO, and the national program of Jordan attended the opening session of the coordination meeting.

The agenda of the meeting included the review of past successes of the Iraq/ICARDA collaboration such as the release of more than 18 varieties of cereals and legumes, safe custody of Iraqi germplasm at the ICARDA genebank, studies on supplemental irrigation, and technical backstopping and training on which future programs could be built. The delegation also discussed the short-, medium- and long-term actions for agricultural development based on market-driven approaches, the involvement of the private sector and strengthening the seed sector and research and extension infrastructure. Following the meeting, on request from Iraqi participants, ICARDA supplied 20 tons of high quality seed of barley, bread and durum wheat, lentil, and chickpea for on-farm demonstrations to farmers in Iraq.

A few projects in Iraq are already underway. ICARDA is working on an IFAD-funded project to provide policy and institutional options that empower local communities, promote sustainable livelihoods and production systems, and conserve agropastoral resources in 8 countries including Iraq. ICARDA is also collaborating with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to increase cereal and legume productivity by introducing improved germplasm, promoting better crop management techniques, and developing the capacity of Iraqi scientists.

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