Highlights of the Collaboration

Integrated Rural Development Initiatives

The GAP-RDA/ICARDA Project
The Southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey (GAP) extends over 75,000 square kilometers, approximately 10% of the entire country. The region has a population of about seven million people, and is situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It has enormous agricultural production potential, but is one of the less developed regions in the country. It has 3.1 million hectares of crop land, 1.1 million hectares of forests and 2.4 million hectares of pasture and rangeland. To improve the livelihoods of people in the region, the Government of Turkey established the multi-billion dollar GAP project in 1977, one of the largest integrated rural development projects in the world. This is a very ambitious project, expected to make available 1.7 million hectares of land for irrigated farming, enabling farmers to harvest twice or even three times a year. This double crop production output from the region will increase incomes for farmers and improve livelihoods.

ICARDA has had collaborative research and development activities with the GAP project since 1999. The ongoing collaborative activities involve two projects: On-Farm Demonstrations and Seed Multiplication, and Improvement of Natural Pastures and Forage Crops and Small Ruminant Production.

On-farm demonstrations and seed multiplication
A key constraint to agriculture in the GAP region is lack of quality seed of improved varieties. ICARDA has introduced improved and adapted varieties of wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea and vetch, along with improved production practices for these crops, including the use of raised beds in irrigated fields of wheat to increase yield and water-use efficiency. These are being introduced and adapted through on-farm demonstrations in cooperation with progressive farmers.

The introduced material is monitored and evaluated by GAP staff, local extension personnel and ICARDA scientists. Improved cultivars of these crops in demonstration fields produce higher yields than local cultivars. Varieties derived from ICARDA germplasm that are now popular with GAP farmers include 'Gidara 2,' an improved durum wheat variety, chickpea varieties 'Gokce' and 'Diyar 95,' and lentil variety 'Firat 87.'

On-farm technology demonstration/testing and seed production.

ICARDA provided technical backstopping to establish a seed technology center at Decle University, including a processing plant for cleaning and treating seed. In addition, in 2004, ICARDA provided the GAP project with one ton of quality seed of lentil variety 'Idlib 2' which will be released in Turkey soon. ICARDA has also enhanced mechanical harvesting of lentil in the GAP region by providing improved varieties that are upright, thus enabling farmers to harvest using combines or tractor-powered, side-mounted cutter bars.

Improving small ruminant production
In collaboration with GAP researchers, extension personnel, and farmers, ICARDA initiated a program aimed at improving the productivity of small ruminants to enhance the livelihoods of livestock farmers in the region. Focus was on the improvement of feeding systems, enhancement of the fodder base through improved management of the rangelands and cultivated fodder, and capacity building. Livestock production systems were characterized and their constraints analyzed through surveys conducted by the GAP/ICARDA team. The analysis led to the identification of necessary research interventions.

Determining the weight of a lamb during surveys conducted by the GAP/ICARDA team.

An on-the-job training program was then implemented for farmers, extensionists and researchers on improved technologies for small ruminant production. Four courses were conducted, one at ICARDA headquarters and three in the GAP area. The training efforts led to the introduction of new technologies such as use of agricultural and agro-industrial by-products, feed blocks, urea-treated straw, strategic feeding and flock management. The target was to promote better milk and meat yields. Researchers were also trained in strategies for collecting and recording data from farmers. To further enhance the experience and information exchange, ICARDA organized a visit of the GAP research/extension team to Jordan to see the cooperative milk production sector involving small-scale sheep milk producers.

Efforts were also made to improve marginal and rangeland, reverse erosion, improve natural resource productivity and conserve valuable genetic resources.

ICARDA has provided 1100 fodder shrub seedlings of 30 species for planting at Haran University. Seeds of Atriplex species and new forage legumes were also tested. This is likely to lead to a productive, sustainable, environment-improving crop/livestock system that will raise farmers’ income.

Sustainable development of small-scale farmers of the Taurus Mountains of Turkey
The Taurus Mountain region of Turkey is home to more than two million people dependent primarily on agriculture for their livelihoods. A study in 1988 indicated that farmers in the Taurus Mountain villages were poorer than those in other parts of the country, and this was attributable to the harsh environmental conditions. The main crops grown in the area are wheat and barley, while for most farmers, livestock rearing and cheese production is an important source of income.

Measuring milk yields in the Taurus Mountains, Turkey.

ICARDA, in collaboration with Cukurova University, conducted a collaborative research and development project during the period 1990-1998 to examine the existing farming systems, develop new and/or improved technologies through on-farm experimentation to fit the local systems of Taurus Mountains, test new technologies with farmers, and disseminate the research findings among farmers and related organizations for larger areas in the other mountain regions. Activities were conducted using the farming systems approach through various stages including diagnosis, planning of field experiments, application of on-farm trials, and extension, in a continuum with multi-disciplinary field visits. More than 50 such visits were conducted each year.

The project led to the development of improved varieties of wheat, barley and chickpea which have been widely adopted by the farmers. Also, new enterprises were introduced to diversify the incomes of farmers. These included the vetch-oat combination, triticale, sainfoin, and new fruits such as cherry and grapes. Livestock production was also improved. The changes of breeds in animals (cattle, sheep and goat) significantly increased the incomes of farmers. As a result of these technological changes, the incomes of the farmers involved in the project increased by 65%. This project may be considered a model for agricultural development through research, with the participation of farmers, extensionists and researchers.

Farmers and scientists work together to improve techniques of bee-keeping in the Taurus Mountains, Turkey.

Water Management Research

ICARDA and Turkish scientists have had collaborative studies on water management since 1996. The collaboration started with a study by ICARDA and the Ankara Research Institute of Rural Services on the potential of using supplemental irrigation (the addition of limited amounts of water to otherwise rainfed crops especially at critical crop growth stages) on wheat in the Central Anatolian plateau, a region with limited rainwater but a very important area for wheat production in Turkey. This study was followed by four-year trials at the Ankara Research Institute of Rural Services.

Potential role of supplemental irrigation in improving wheat yields
The objective of the study was to gain a better understanding of the potential, constraints, and possible research interventions needed for improving wheat production with supplemental irrigation (SI) in Central Anatolia. Specific objectives were to: assess historical rainfall characteristics in Central Anatolia region and its implications, together with other climatic factors, on soil moisture changes over wheat growing season and on crop yield; characterize existing practices of farmers under rainfed and SI conditions, farmers' perceptions of such practices, and priority constraints to the improvement of water management at the farm level; and, predict potential improvement of yield and its stability over years if SI and associated practices are applied.

Supplemental irrigation trials at Ankara Research Institute of Rural Services.

The study had two interrelated research components: technical and socioeconomic. While the former was mainly concerned with the experimental technical investigations, the latter was focused on practical application. The technical study investigated potential yield improvement of wheat and predicted the response to different SI applications from experimental perspectives. The socioeconomic component investigated the farming systems within which wheat is produced and predicted probable applicability of the findings from the experiments. Synthesis of results of the two components would verify and validate the model, indicating the need for further experimentation.

Supplemental irrigation was found to have a substantial positive effect on crop yields. A research report was published in 2001 on this collaborative activity under ICARDA's On-farm Water Husbandry series entitled "Supplemental Irrigation Potential for Wheat in the Central Anatolian Plateau of Turkey."

Effect of early sowing with supplemental irrigation on wheat yield and water productivity
Four-year field trials at Ankara Research Institute for Rural Services (1998-2002) followed up the earlier modeling work—which indicated high potential for SI in the Central Anatolian cool highlands agroecology. Results showed that limited SI could double rainfed wheat grain yield. By applying only 50 mm of SI to rainfed wheat at sowing, farmers can increase grain yield by more than 60%, adding more than 2 tons/hectare to the average rainfed yield of 3.2 tons/hectare. The water-use efficiency of irrigation water reached 5.25 kg/m3 with an average of 4.4 kg/m3. These were the highest water-use efficiency values ever reported for irrigation water on wheat.

The substantial increase in wheat yield was a result of applying SI at sowing that allowed an early emergence and optimal stand of wheat plants before frosts in the early winter. Later in the spring, plants with good stand grew more vigorously and yielded much higher than those with late germination. SI water applied later in the spring and early summer increased grain yield further but with lower water-use efficiency. The results of this research could contribute to substantial improvement in water-use efficiency in Central Anatolia and, consequently, to improved productivity and income for farmers.

The Optimizing Soil Water-Use Consortium (OSWU)
ICARDA, together with ICRISAT and the national research organization of South Africa, is co-convener of the OSWU Consortium, a constituent of the CGIAR Systemwide Soil, Water, and Nutrient Management Initiative (SWNMI). The overall goal of the Consortium is to ensure sustainable and profitable agricultural production in dry areas, based upon the optimal use of available water. OSWU focuses on two broad agroecological zones and their associated production systems: the WANA systems of dryland annual cropping between 150 and 400 mm isohyets (Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Morocco, Syria, and Turkey); and sub-Saharan Africa systems of dryland annual cropping, between the 250 and 800 mm isohyets (Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali, Niger, South Africa, and Zimbabwe). Turkey is an active partner in the OSWU Consortium, and has hosted a number of scientific workshops under this initiative.

Seed System Development

Development of an effective seed system is an area of strong collaboration between Turkey and ICARDA. During the period 1989 to 2004, a total of 122 Turkish scientists were trained by ICARDA on various aspects of the seed system. A collaborative study with the Mediterranean Exporters Union (MEU), a semi-autonomous body responsible for grain legumes export, provided recommendations on support mechanisms and institutional arrangements that could make the contract growers scheme commercially viable to small-scale farmers. This will facilitate and accelerate the adoption of food legume varieties and associated technologies. Moreover, under the GAP project, ICARDA's Seed Unit has provided technical backstopping in seed system development on alternative ways of introducing new crop varieties such as barley, chickpea and lentil, not covered by the formal sector.

Turkey also actively participates in the WANA Seed Network—coordinated by ICARDA—established to promote regional cooperation and exchange of information, provide a regional forum for consultation, integrate national seed systems, and promote regional seed trade. The Network is also linked to the Turkish Seed Industry Association whose strong collaboration encourages private sector participation.

Prof. Dr Cuma Akinci, Plant Breeder at Decle University, Turkey, testing the seed processing line established at the University by ICARDA.

Raising efficiency and efficacy of seed production and marketing systems in the WANA region
Turkey participated in a collaborative research project on seed production and marketing systems implemented by ICARDA and NARS in WANA with funding from the German Government in 1999-2001. Other participating countries were Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen. The purpose of the project was to analyze the problem of limited access, particularly of small farmers in the WANA region, to seed from formal delivery institutions and examine alternative ways of making quality seed of new varieties readily available to farmers. A key output of this project was a comprehensive report on "The Seed Sector and Changing Policies in West Asia and North Africa," comprising eight country reports. The report is a valuable reference and working document for technical and managerial staff in national seed programs and policy makers in the region.