CGIAR Central Asia and the Caucasus

CAC REGIONAL FORUM OF AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTES CHARTS ITS FUTURE DIRECTIONS

General Assembly Meeting of the Association of Central Asia and the Caucasus Agricultural Research Institutes (CACAARI) was held on 17th of September, 2008, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, under facilitation of the ICARDA Regional Program for CAC and Program Facilitation Unit of the CGIAR-CAC Program. It should be also highlighted that two days earlier, on 15th of September, Prof. Dr. Adel El-Beltagy, Chairman, GFAR, met with the NARS leaders from the CAC countries and discussed with them the future opportunities for strengthening CACAARI. Several action points were agreed upon during that meeting on 15th September on this regard.

After welcoming the participants of the General Assembly Meeting from all the CAC countries on 17th of September, Prof. Abdushukur Khanazarov, Executive Secretary, CACAARI, highlighted that this meeting of CACAARI General Assembly presents with an important opportunity to chart the future directions for development and strengthening of the Association, and urgent actions are required from all the CACAARI stakeholders for achieving this. Prof. Khanazarov also thanked ICARDA and PFU, CGIAR, for their continued support and facilitation of the CACAARI activities. Dr. Mahmoud Solh, Director General, ICARDA, welcomed all the NARS partners on behalf of ICARDA and assured them of ICARDA’s support to this important regional forum. Dr. Solh also welcomed more active involvement of all national research, educational, extensions and other organizations in CACAARI.

In a video statement shown during the meeting, Dr. Mark Holderness, Executive Secretary, GFAR, Rome, expressed GFAR’s full support to the further development of CACAARI. Dr. Raj Paroda, Executive Secretary, APAARI, shared the experiences of APAARI with the CACAARI stakeholders.

Prof. Abdushukur Khanazarov, Executive Secretary, CACAARI, presented the report on the activities of the CACAARI and suggestions for the CACAARI Workplan for the next year, which was approved by the General Assembly. Mr. Sherzod Qosimov, Web Manager, ICARDA-CAC, PFU-CGIAR, presented the CACAARI website to the participants of the meeting. Several valuable suggestions were received.

Acad. Hukmatullo Akhmadov, President of Tajik Academy of Agricultural Sciences, was elected as the new Chairman of CACAARI, and Prof. Abdushukur Khanazarov was elected as the Executive Secretary of CACAARI.

The participants of the meeting thanked Dr. Samvel Avetisyan, former Chairman, and Prof. Prof. Abdushukur Khanazarov, Executive Secretary of CACAARI, for their efforts during their tenures, and wished Acad. Hukmatullo Akhmadov, Chairman, and Prof. Abdushukur Khanazarov, Executive Secretary, CACAARI, all the successes in developing and further strengthening this highly important forum.