About APRP
ABOUT APRP 
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Improvement
of Major Production Systems of the Arabian Peninsula
Goal:
The development of more productive and sustainable rangeland and irrigated production systems, including protected agriculture, through the more efficient use of the natural resources of the Arabian Peninsula, in particular water, energy and indigenous plant species.

Objectives:
1. Improved targeting of research and technology transfer, land use planning, and environmental management based on the characterization of the specific potentials and constraints of the diverse agroecologies and associated land use systems of the Arabian Peninsula.
2. Improved water use efficiency and optimal utilization of available water resources in open field irrigated production systems.
3. Development of integrated range, forage and livestock production systems and management practices for rangeland rehabilitation.
4. Development of a protected agriculture industry for the region that meets the national demand for more efficient and sustainable production systems and techniques.
5. Strengthened national institutional, human resource capacity and enhanced technology transfer.
Introduction
The Arabian Peninsula countries face the challenges of developing more sustainable land and efficient water use, preserving its environment and biological heritage, and sustaining its population. Addressing these challenges will require innovative research in a number of areas, including:
- Coping with the stresses of environment particular water shortage, heat and salinity.
- Improvement of on-farm water management and water use efficiency.
- Development and use of alternative water sources.
- Restoring the productivity and arresting the degradation of rangelands.
- Developing protected agriculture.
- Re-evaluating traditional practices and indigenous technical knowledge.

The issues of water, productivity, sustainability and environment are closely interconnected. Unless current practices change, the result will be rapid depletion of water resources, loss of indigenous species and technical knowledge, and destruction of the natural resource base. This program seeks to address these research needs. An innovative research program, conducted by the NARS with assistance from ICARDA, will develop economically viable technologies and management practices as well as the associated legislation and policies to support their adoption by end-users. Such a program will enhance agricultural knowledge systems in the region for the benefit of the people of the Arabian Peninsula as well as other arid regions of the world.

Phase I of the Arabian Peninsula Regional Program. A Regional Program for Strengthening Agricultural Research and Human Resource Development in the Arabian Peninsula was initiated in 1996, with financial support for three years (1997-1999) from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Program is coordinated by ICARDA and implemented in partnership with the national programs of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Yemen.

The Program was established with the overall objective of increasing food security in the Arabian Peninsula, through the increased productivity of crops and livestock based on the optimization of water use efficiency, conservation of natural vegetation, prevention of soil degradation and desertification, and strengthened cooperation among the participating countries and with regional and international organizations.
During Phase I, the following priority research areas were established: (1) On farm water use and irrigation management; (2) Rangeland, shrubs, irrigated forages and livestock; (3) Abiotic stresses; and (4) Protected agriculture, supported by activities in agroecological characterization and human resources development.

ICARDA coordinates and manages the Regional Program through a full-time Regional Coordinator located in ICARDA's regional office in Dubai. Two full-time international senior scientists, one in water management and the other in protected agriculture, have been recruited to the Program to support the research program. A management system has been established at both the national and regional levels. In each country, one national scientist has been appointed as a National Coordinator, responsible for implementation and coordination of the approved national workplan. Results of the past season's work and workplans for the next season are presented and discussed during Annual Regional Technical Coordination Meetings. A Regional Steering Committee has been formed which approves the program's annual research and training workplans, evaluates program activities and decides on future directions.
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Phase I
     Phase I Achievements
     Agroecological Characterization
     On Farm Water Use and Irrigation Management
     Rangelands, Shrubs, Irrigated Forages and Livestock
     Abiotic Stresses
     Protected Agriculture
     Human Resource Development: Training and Workshops

PHASE II
    Goal and Objectives
    Components and Specific Objectives
    Agroecological Characterization
    Management and Utilization of Different Sources of Irrigation Water
    Rangeland / Forage / Livestock Systems
    Protected Agriculture
    Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening
    Program Management and Coordination
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