ICARDA News

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN THE DRY AREAS
P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105; E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG
Website: http://www.icarda.cgiar.org

Ptroviding Afghan farmers with quality seed is a key to improving crop yields, which will contribute directly to household food security and income. This means, however, that seed destined for farmers must be produced and tested following appropriate technical guidelines and procedures. In this regard, the Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan (FHCRAA) has focused on establishing three main quality control and quarantine seed testing stations and six satellite seed stations at strategic locations in the country.

     The Badam Bagh station near Kabul has been rehabilitated and re-equipped. It will serve as Afghanistan's national seed testing and seed health laboratory. To set the facility in motion, ICARDA organized two training courses at Badam Bagh in June 2003 for newly recruited quality assurance personnel.
     H.E. Mohammed Sharif, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MOAL), addressed the opening and closing ceremonies of both courses, which were attended by 24 participants from various provinces in Afghanistan. Also in attendance were Mr Mir Dad Panj Sheri, Advisor, MOAL; Mr Tunwar, FAO Chief Technical Adviser; and Dr Nasrat Wassimi, Executive Manager of ICARDA’s Afghanistan Office.
     Dr Siham Asa'ad from ICARDA's Genetic Resources Unit and Mr Abdul Aziz Niane from the Seed Unit, in close collaboration with Mr Moeen Uddin, ICARDA-Jalalabad Office, were the main resource people.
     The courses included the start-up and calibration of seed quality testing and seed health testing facilities. The participants received practical training in seed testing for quality control and seed health, working in small groups according to their background and future assignments at various laboratories in the country.

ICARDA's (www.icarda.org) mission is to improve the welfare of people and alleviate poverty through research and training in dry areas of the developing world by increasing production, productivity, and nutritional quality of food, while preserving and enhancing the natural resource base. ICARDA is a Future Harvest Center.

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of 62 members and 16 Future Harvest Centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment

The Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan is a multi-partner effort led by the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). More information on the Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan can be found at: www.futureharvest.org

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the government agency providing U.S. economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years (www.USAID.gov).