ICARDA Annual Report 2006
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ICARDA Annual Report 2006 International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas Copyright © 2007 ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas) All rights reserved. ICARDA encourages fair use of this material for non-com- mercial purposes with proper citation. Citation: ICARDA. 2007. ICARDA Annual Report 2006. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Aleppo, Syria. vi+153 pp. ISSN: 0254-8313 AGROVOC descriptors: Cicer arietinum; Lens culinaris; Vicia faba; Hordeum vulgare; Triticum aestivum; Triticum durum; Lathyrus sativus; Aegilops; Medicago sativa; Pisum sativum; Trifolium; Trigonella; Vicia narbonensis; saf- flower; feed legumes; clover; shrubs; fruit trees; goats; ruminants; sheep; live- stock; agricultural development; dryland farming; farming systems; animal production; crop production; agronomic characters; biodiversity; biological control; disease control; pest control; pest resistance; drought resistance; genetic maps; genetic markers; genetic resistance; genetic resources; genet- ic variation; land races; germplasm conservation; plant collections; microsatellites; land use; pastures; grassland management; steppes; range- lands; reclamation; environmental degradation; irrigation; water harvesting; water management; harvesting; rural communities; rural development; social consciousness; training; human resources; development; malnutrition; nutritive quality; poverty; mechanical methods; remote sensing; research networks; research; resource conservation; resource management; seed production; stubble cleaning; Sunn pest; sustainability; temperature resistance; cold; veg- etation; geographical information system; diffusion of information; agrocli- matic zones; arid zones; semi-arid zones; international cooperation; Middle East; North Africa; West Asia; Central Asia and the Caucasus. AGRIS category codes: A50, A01, E10, F01, F30, H10, H20, H60, L01, U30 All responsibility for the information in this publication remains with ICARDA. The use of trade names does not imply endorsement of, or discrimination against, any product by the Center. Maps have been used to support research data, and are not intended to show political boundaries. Contents Foreword v Highlights of the Year 1 ICARDA’s Research Portfolio 9 Key Features of ICARDA’s Research Stations 10 Mega-Project 1: Management of Scarce Water Resources and Mitigation of Drought in Dry Areas 11 Mega-Project 2: Integrated Gene Management: Conservation, Enhancement and Sustainable Use of Agrobiodiversity in Dry Areas 29 Mega-Project 3: Improved Land Management to Combat Desertification 62 Mega-Project 4: Diversification and Sustainable Improvement of Crop and Livestock Production Systems in Dry Areas 67 Mega-Project 5: Poverty and Livelihood Analysis and Impact Assessment in Dry Areas 76 Mega-Project 6: Knowledge Management and Dissemination for Sustainable Development in Dry Areas 89 International Cooperation North Africa Regional Program 97 Nile Valley and Red Sea Regional Program 99 West Asia Regional Program 101 Arabian Peninsula Regional Program 103 Highland Regional Network 105 Central Asia and the Caucasus Regional Program 111 Latin America Regional Program 113 Support Services Geographic Information Systems Unit 115 Computer and Biometrics Support Unit 115 Communication, Documentation and Information Services 117 Human Resources Development Unit 118 Annual Report 2006 iii Appendices Journal Articles 123 Graduate Theses Produced with ICARDA’s Joint Supervision 127 Agreements Signed in 2006 128 Restricted-Fund Projects 129 Collaboration with Advanced Research Institutes and Regional and International Organizations 135 Research Networks Coordinated by ICARDA 142 Financial Information 143 Board of Trustees 145 Senior Staff 147 Acronyms 150 ICARDA Addresses 152 iv Annual Report 2006 Foreword ICARDA witnessed several important developments in researchers together: the number of farmers using micro- 2006. Of these, the Fifth External Program and catchment water harvesting systems to capture rainfall Management Review (EPMR) was the most significant, as in the steppe areas of Jordan has tripled; the terraced- it provided a comprehensive assessment of the Center's furrows system, which uses 30% less water, gained popu- global activities, as well as new insights and dimensions larity in the irrigated benchmark area in Egypt; and early that helped refine ICARDA's new Strategic Plan for 2007- sowing and supplemental irrigation attracted increased 2016. The EPMR coincided with a transition in the gover- farmer attention in the rainfed benchmark area in nance and leadership of ICARDA. Against the backdrop Morocco. of the EPMR recommendations, the staff, management and Board of Trustees took a fresh look at the Center's In order to leverage its international presence and achievements and lessons learned since it was estab- encourage wider dissemination of the International lished. Areas in need of strategic realignment were iden- Public Goods produced through its research, ICARDA tified to reposition ICARDA to meet the emerging chal- scaled up its participation in various international con- lenges driven by climate variability and change, popula- ventions, particularly the United Nations Convention to tion growth, globalization, and other factors in dry areas. Combat Desertification (UNCCD). ICARDA, together with ICRISAT, continued to lead the Oasis Consortium to com- The EPMR report highlighted the very positive feedback bat desertification, working with nine other CGIAR from ICARDA's stakeholders, commended the quality Centers and a number of national governments, and relevance of the Center's research, the sound finan- research centers and other partners. Among several ini- cial management, the strength of regional programs, the tiatives of the Center to contribute to the "International Center's strong relationships with NARS partners; and Year of Deserts," the most significant was an international acknowledged that ICARDA activities have had signifi- conference, which ICARDA co-sponsored with the cant impact on improving agricultural productivity and International Drylands Development Commission, livelihoods in the dry areas. Implementation of the EPMR Chinese Academy of Sciences, United Nations University, recommendations started in 2006. Tokyo, and other partners. The conference was held in Beijing, China, in February 2006. During the year, ICARDA continued to make rapid strides in its research and training activities. The Center ranked The Center continued to contribute to the rebuilding of "Superior" in the CGIAR Annual Performance agricultural research and human resources expertise in Measurement for 2006, based on a set of performance countries affected by war and conflict in the region, par- indicators, and was highest among the 15 sister centers ticularly Afghanistan, Iraq and the Palestinian Authority. for its commitment to documenting impacts and build- Donor support for these efforts continued to be strong, ing an impact assessment culture of its research. enabling the Center and its partners to scale up their Eighteen improved varieties of wheat, barley, chickpea, efforts, with great success in strengthening agricultural lentil, grass pea and faba bean, developed jointly by research capacity to support national economic devel- NARS-ICARDA teams from ICARDA-generated opment. germplasm material, were released in 11 countries. Adoption of the varieties released earlier, and of ICARDA is indebted to Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson and improved technologies for water, land and livestock Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, who held the office of the Board management, continued to increase and was docu- Chair and Director General, respectively, until 7 May mented through socioeconomic and impact studies. 2006, for their vision and able governance and leader- New, strategic partnerships were forged to increase ship of the Center. Their contributions to the growth and ICARDA's efforts on crop diversification, particularly high- development of ICARDA are gratefully acknowledged. value crops and value-added crop and livestock prod- ucts. In this context, studies on characterization of The achievements reported in this Annual Report would indigenous small-ruminant breeds were published to help not have been possible without the generous support of national researchers exploit the genetic potential of dif- a large number of donors to the Center (listed in ferent breeds available in the region. Appendix 7). ICARDA is grateful to all of them. The Center looks forward to continue working with a sharper Work at the water benchmark sites, aimed at improving focus on alleviating poverty and protecting the natural water-use efficiency, made substantial progress in bring- resource base, using modern tools of science, in collabo- ing local communities, policy makers and national ration with its partners in dry areas globally. Guido Gryseels Mahmoud Solh Chair, Board of Trustees Director General Highlights of the Year Change of Guard The year 2006 marked a transition in the governance and lead- ership of ICARDA. The transition took place on the Center’s Presentation Day, held on 7 May and attended by several min- isters, ambassadors and other senior diplomats, donor represen- tatives, leaders of national agricultural research systems, former ICARDA Board Chairs and Members, former ICARDA Directors General, and media representatives. Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson formally handed over the office of Board Chair to Dr Guido Gryseels. “Guido