Mashreq/Maghreb
Project
This Program supports collaborative activities
in Cyprus, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and the lowlands of southern
Turkey. The region includes some of the largest wheat-producing countries
in WANA (Syria, Iraq and Turkey), but in the lower rainfall areas, small
ruminants are important. Rangelands suffer overgrazing, removal of vegetation
through plowing or for fuel wood, and soil erosion. Barley planting has
increased, but yields are low and monocropping rapidly depletes soil fertility.
Major
Activities and Key Achievements A "Mashreq/Maghreb
Project" was set up to develop integrated crop-livestock production
in the Mashreq countries of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and the Maghreb
region (see NARP). The first phase of the project (1995-1998) had two
major components:
- Technology
development and transfer, including (a) livestock management, relating
feed production to needs and utilization, and improved productivity
and fertility, (b) research and technology development to improve
on-farm feed production, and (c) socioeconomic analysis of production
systems and monitoring of technology transfer and adoption.
- Policy
and institutional research, including (a) analysis of the impact and
role of government policies in crop and livestock production in the
low-rainfall areas, and (b) analysis of property rights and the role
and effectiveness of local institutions in regulating rangeland use.
- In
Iraq the new barley cultivar Rihane 03 produced, on average, 41% higher
yield than the local variety. About 250,000 ha were planted in 1999
to Rihane 03.
- On-farm
testing of forage legumes in rotation with barley, and their alternative
utilization (hay making, grazing, or harvesting at maturity for stored
feed) to increase milk yield and weight gain. Trials in the Mashreq
countries focused on introducing Vicia sativa (bekia) for direct
grazing by sheep.
- Iraq
and Jordan led the way with feed-blocks as protein supplements to
improve ewes' daily weight gain, fertility and lambing. The technology
is being rapidly extended to other Mashreq/Maghreb Project countries.
- Early
weaning increased returns to sheep owners in Jordan and Syria by saving
milk. PMSG hormone treatment in flocks in Iraq, Jordan and Syria substantially
improved both fertility and twinning rates.
- Detailed
policy and property rights research carried out.
Current Emphasis
- Implementation
of the Mashreq/Maghreb
project Phase II focusing on technology transfer to farmers, and
between countries.
- Implementation
of a new regional program for the Conservation and Sustainable Use
of Dryland Agro-Biodiversity in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestine
Authority, financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Future
Directions Priorities include: on-farm water management, use
of non-conventional sources of water, rangeland rehabilitation, small-ruminant
production, conservation of biodiversity, socioeconomics and capacity
building.
Agrobiodiversity
Project Coordinator:
Dr Nasri Haddad
P.O. Box 950764
Amman 11195, Jordan
Tel Office: +962-6-5525750 / 5517561
Tel Home: +962-6-5545232 (N.Haddad)
+962-6-4206910
(H.Hamati)
Mobile: +962-777-480895 (N.Haddad)
+962-79-5554033 (Amman Office)
+962-777-424381 (H.Hamati)
Fax: +962-6-5525930
E-mail: ICARDA-Jordan@cgiar.org
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