ooperation between ICARDA and Uzbekistan is bearing fruit, but success in achieving the full potential of that country's agriculture sector requires commitment to a team approach.
    ICARDA Director General Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy visited Uzbekistan, 21-24 November, to review the progress of collaborative research and development activities.
    One of the highlights of the visit was a meeting with Uzbekistan's Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, H.E. Mr Turop Holtayev, in Tashkent, who expressed satisfaction on the country's work with ICARDA and assured that any constraints to strengthening cooperation would be addressed. He emphasized that, for Uzbekistan, wheat improvement for rainfed conditions is a priority, with emphasis on drought resistance.
    Prof. Dr El-Beltagy briefed H.E. Mr Holtayev on the follow-up of work plans developed during previous meetings. Among the planned activites, one tonne of seed of new high-yielding wheat variety 'Dostlik' has been planted for multiplication. This variety was identified in cooperation with the national agricultural research system.

     In a meeting with Dr K. Khbibulayev, Chairman of the State Committee on Science and Technology, and leading scientists in the area of plant genetic resources, Prof. Dr El-Beltagy said that all the CGIAR Centers are working together to ensure conservation and utilization of genetic resources. "Uzbekistan has good institutions with great history and we wish to work with them as partners for the future of the country," he said.

     Another highlight of the trip was centennial celebrations of the Uzbek Research Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture, which were attended by more than 500 people. H.E. Mr Ismail Jurabekov, State Counselor to the President of Uzbekistan, read a congratulatory message on behalf of the President, H.E. Mr Islom Karimov.
     ICARDA's program in CAC and the CGIAR's program are headed by Dr Rajendra Paroda, who, along with other colleagues from ICARDA's Tashkent office, accompanied Prof. Dr El-Beltagy on his tour.
     At  the Central Asian Research Institute of Irrigation, the group met Director General Dr R. Ikramov, who acknowledged the "excellent assistance to the Institute from ICARDA, especially through activities of the Asian Development Bank-supported project on Soil and Water Management for Sustainable Agricultural Systems."

     Later, the Director of the Market Reforms Research Institute, Acad. Rasulmat Khusanov, briefed the group on cooperation with ICARDA in socioeconomic research, and he stressed the importance of studies on small ruminant production systems.
     The group also toured the Boykozon shirkat (cooperative) farm, where shirkat Chairman, Mr Tohir Holtayev, expressed satisfaction on cooperation with ICARDA, which focuses on water management, forage production, livestock management, and socioeconomic assessment.

     Mr F. Gapparov, who was trained at ICARDA in automatic weather station maintenance, showed the farm's new weather station to Prof. Dr El-Beltagy. The DG saw the various technologies being tested, and a field office/ laboratory facility renovated through project assistance.
     Prof. Dr El-Beltagy and the group also visited the Uzbek Research Institute of Plant Industry, where the Institute's Director, Dr P. Khodjaev, and Deputy Director, Dr R. Movlaynova, gave them a tour of facilities.
     The ICARDA group's final stop was at the Institute of Genetics and Experimental Biology of Plants, where Director General Acad. Abdusattar Abdukarimov made a presentation of the Institute's activities and expressed appreciation for the cooperation with ICARDA and other CGIAR Centers.

ICARDA Director General, Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy; Assistant Director General, International Cooperation, Dr Mahmoud Solh; and Senior Irrigation and Water Management Scientist, Dr Theib Oweis, participated in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP5, 1-12 October 2001, in Geneva, Switzerland. They followed up on the Center's involvement in the preparations for and implementation of the UNCCD National Action Plans, Sub-Regional Action Programs (SRAPs), and the Thematic Program Networks. ICARDA is the Facilitator of the SRAP Thematic Network on Water Resources (TN1) and a partner in TN2 on Vegetative Cover in West Asia and TPN4 on Water Resources in Asia.