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: www.icarda.cgiar.org
2 December 2004
For more information contact:
Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
ICARDA at AGM04: Highlights
Luncheon meeting for the CGIAR Program for CAC on Centers' and Members' Day on 25 October. Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy (third from right), ICARDA DG, welcomed the guests. Seated with him, from left to right, are: Dr Ali Ahoonmanesh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Head of AERO, Iran; Dr Franklyn Moore from USAID; Dr Philippe Vialatte from the European Union; Dr Kevin Cleaver from the World Bank; and Dr Tumurdavaa Bayarsaihan from ADB.
More than 1000 scientists, policymakers, and representatives from the private sector and civil society organizations, donor countries and agencies, and others attended the Annual General Meeting of the CGIAR for 2004 (AGM04), hosted by the Government of Mexico in Mexico City, 27-28 October. This was the largest number of participants at any AGM in the history of the CGIAR.

Pre-AGM04 Events
Key events before the start of the AGM04 business meeting included a Centers' and Members' Day on 25 October, a Mexico and CGIAR Day on 26 October, meetings of Center Directors Committee (CDC) and Center Board Chairs Committee (CBC), and the Marketing Group. ICARDA participated in all these events.

The ICARDA group, led by Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson, Board Chair, and Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, Director General, included Dr Mohan Saxena, ADG (At-Large); Dr William Erskine, ADG (Research); Dr Raj Paroda, Regional Coordinator, CAC; Dr Suren Varma, Head of CODIS; Dr Flavio Capettini, ICARDA/CIMMYT Barley Breeder for Latin America; and Ms Houda Nourallah, Administrative Officer to the DG and Board of Trustees.

Meeting on CGIAR Program for CAC
A special luncheon meeting for the CGIAR Program for Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC) was held on Centers' and Members' Day on 25 October. The meeting was co-sponsored by the World Bank, USAID, EU and AREO, Iran. In all, 45 representatives of various CG Centers involved in the Consortium, donor organizations, Science Council, and the CGIAR Secretariat participated.
Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson, ICARDA Board Chair, greets Mr Yulbek Kushmanov, a farmer from Uzbekistan, who had been invited by the CGIAR to present his experience with the work of the CAC Consortium.
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, Chairman, CDC Task Force for CAC, in the company of Dr Kevin Cleaver from the World Bank; Dr Franklyn Moore from USAID; Dr Philippe Vialatte from the European Union; and Dr Ali Ahoonmanesh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Head, AREO, Iran, as co-sponsors, and Dr Tumurdavaa Bayarsaihan from ADB. Dr Per-Pinstrup Andersen, Chairman, Science Council, CGIAR; Dr Bob Havener, ex-Chairman, ICARDA BOT; Dr Thomas Lumpkin, Director General, AVRDC; Dr Mohammad Roozitalab, Chairman, GFAR; Dr Asanbek Ajibekov, Head, the Kyrgyz NARS, were among the distinguished participants.

Prof. Dr El-Beltagy, in his opening remarks, gave the background to the initiation of the Program in 1998, when the CGIAR agreed to expand its geographic mandate to cover the region and asked ICARDA, as the lead Center, to organize a Consortium. He expressed satisfaction with various significant achievements made by the Program involving 10 CG Centers and 8 CAC NARS. A brief presentation on the Program achievements was made by Dr Raj Paroda, Head, PFU-CGIAR and ICARDA Regional Coordinator for CAC.
The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) joined the CAC Consortium as a new partner. Dr Thomas Lumpkin, Director General of AVRDC, and Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, Chair, CDC Taskforce for CAC, exchange the Memorandum of Understanding after signing.
Dr K. Cleaver in his remarks praised the achievements of the Program. "This is not an issue of investment but rather of re-investment for revitalization of the agricultural research system in the region, which has great potential," he said. Dr Franklyn Moore and Philippe Vialatte also expressed their support to the Program. Dr T. Bayarsaihan considered this regional program to be very crucial for future agricultural development in CAC and appreciated the mature leadership provided to the Program. Dr Havener said that the impact of the Program was already visible and it could serve as a model for the System-wide eco-regional initiatives, which could be replicated elsewhere. Dr Per-Pinstrup Andersen stated that the Science Council had recently reviewed the MTP of this Program, which gave an overall impression of active and productive research-for-development in the CAC region.
Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy with Dr Asanbeck Ajibekov (left), Director General, Center of Agrarian Science and Consultative Services of Kyrgyzstan and Chair of CACARI, and Mr Yulbek Kushmanov, farmer from Uzbelistan.

A number of posters and publications displayed during the meeting highlighted the achievements of the various CG Centers in CAC in a short span of five years.

Another highlight of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ICARDA/PFU and the World Vegetable Center as a new partner of the Consortium. Dr Faisal Taha, Director, Technical Programs, International Center for Bio-saline Agriculture (ICBA), stated that ICBA was also considering becoming a member of this important Consortium soon.

The meeting ended with assurances from donors and partners of their continued support to the Program.

Participants at the CGIAR Program for CAC meeting.

Meeting of the Marketing Group
The Marketing Group (MG), which is a group of CGIAR communication and resource mobilization professionals, met on 20-22 October. Among other items, the agenda included presentations on the progress of the MG projects approved by the Center Directors Committee (CDC) in 2003/04. Dr Suren Varma, who has been leading an MG project on producing a report on rebuilding agriculture by the CGIAR Centers in countries affected by conflict and natural disasters, made a presentation. His presentation was very well received and generated much enthusiasm. It was decided to extend this project to 2005 and use his study report to develop material for targeted media campaigns. A feature story drawn from Dr Varma's report is slated to appear in New Scientist in the near future. The full report is also expected to be published soon.

CDC Chair Dr Kanayo Nwanze, CGIAR Director Dr Francisco Reifschneider, and Science Council Executive Director, Dr Ruben Echeverria addressed the Marketing Group.

Meeting on Desertification, Drought, Poverty and Agriculture
Luncheon meeting on Desertification, Drought, Poverty and Agriculture. Left to right: Dr Ali Ahoonmanesh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Head of AREO, Iran; Dr William Erskine, ADG (Research), ICARDA; Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, DG, ICARDA, Dr Douglas Wholley from IFAD; and Dr Barry Shapiro from ICRISAT.
ICARDA and ICRISAT jointly organized a meeting on Centers' and Members' Day on 25 October to present an update on the activities of the Desertification, Drought, Poverty and Agriculture (DDPA) Consortium, co-convened by the two Centers. The meeting was sponsored by IFAD and Iran. Dr Douglas Wholley represented IFAD and Dr Ali Ahoonmanesh, Iran. They both co-chaired the meeting with Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, ICARDA Director General, and Dr A. Uzo Mokwunye, ICRISAT Governing Board Chair. The meeting attracted about 30 participants from different constituencies.

 Prof. Dr El-Beltagy, in his welcoming remarks said that the joint ICARDA/ICRISAT DDPA initiative was making good progress in providing scientific strength to the world's commitment to combat desertification, drought and poverty. He thanked IFAD for supporting the project. Dr Ahoonmanesh presented a historical background of the development of the DDPA Consortium and reiterated Iran's support to it.

Dr William Erskine, ADG (Research), ICARDA and Dr Barry Shapiro of ICRISAT, made a joint presentation on the state-of-the-art review on desertification, drought, poverty and agriculture, which focused on societies in different dry environments, and outlined future plans.

The ICARDA Display Booths
Dr Therese St. Peter (right), Head, Programme and Policy Development, Syngenta Foundation, discusses ICARDA's work with Dr Suren Varma.
While visiting the ICARDA booth, CGIAR Director Dr Francisco Reifschneider (standing) makes a point to ICARDA Board Chair Dr Margaret Catley Carlson, and Director General Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy.
ICARDA booth on CIMMYT campus. The displays focused on ICARDA’s work and achievements in Latin America.
ICARDA had set up two display booths: one at the venue of the meeting at Sheraton hotel in Mexico City, and the other at the CIMMYT campus. The booth at Sheraton had a comprehensive display of publications, posters and CD-Roms, and a non-stop multimedia video presentation. The booth at CIMMYT focused on ICARDA's work in Latin America, and was part of the Mexico and the CGIAR Day on 26 October. Dr Varma and Dr Capettini set up the two booths and received visitors. The main booth at Sheraton was a center of attraction for the visitors who came in the hundreds to obtain information and have their questions answered. The booths helped in making new friends of ICARDA and in promoting the Center's work. News shows about ICARDA’s work, published in the media, are available on ICARDA’s website.

CGIAR Presentations
On the Centers' and Members' Day, the forenoon was devoted to presentations of the recent achievements of the CGIAR and its agenda for the future. ICARDA contributed material to both presentations.

Mexico and CGIAR Day
On 26 October, the AGM participants visited CIMMYT and the Mexico national program (INIFAP). The trips provided the participants with some key highlights of the partnerships between international and national institutes, and how they are working together to alleviate poverty and protect the natural resource base. Participants held discussions on diverse topics with scientists, national partners and farmers, and observed the impact of research.

Meeting with Donors
The Board Chair and Director General, along with Drs Saxena and Erskine held meetings with a large number of donor representatives during AGM04. Dr Majid Jmal from Syria, and Dr David Sammons from Purdue University, both ICARDA Board members, who were also participating in AGM04, joined several of the ICARDA management meetings with donors. Most of these meetings took place next to the ICARDA booth, where a round table had been provided for meetings. The arrangement proved ideal as the information material was readily available at the booth to drive the discussions with donors. The donor representatives showed keen interest in ICARDA's work.

The AGM04 Stakeholders Meeting
Mr Yulbek Kushmanov, a farmer from Uzbekistan, addressed the CGIAR Stakeholders Meeting.
Opening the meeting on 27 October on behalf of the President of Mexico, Hon. Javier Usabiaga, Secretary of Agriculture, Mexico, said, "The Government of Mexico is honored to host the CGIAR's Annual General Meeting. The outcomes will be of great importance in assisting member countries to make decisions that accelerate the fight against poverty and hunger and foster policies that benefit poor farmers and poor people."

Dr Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman and World Bank Vice-President for Sustainable Development, said, "It is a privilege for the CGIAR to hold its first Annual General Meeting in Latin America. We are grateful to the Government of Mexico for hosting the meeting and helping us bring the benefits of science to poor farming communities in Mexico, Latin America, and the rest of the world."
Dr William Erskine, ADG (Research), with visitors at the ICARDA booth.
The Stakeholder meetings, which took place on 27 and 28 October, were full of interesting events. Other than the discussions of the critical issues facing agricultural research and the CGIAR today, there was a farmers' dialog which featured six farmers from three continents who spoke about the impact of agricultural research on their livelihood.

Mr Yulbek Kushmanov, a farmer from Uzbekistan, represented CAC and ICARDA in the dialog. Speaking on the occasion (thanks to Dr Zakir Khulibulov who provided simultaneous interpretation in English), Mr Khusmanov said, "I have 25 hectares of land. I grow cotton, wheat, corn, sunflower and sesame crops. The main problems in the region are salinity, poor soil fertility, and the absence of small-farm mechanization and new technologies for effective use of water and crop diversification. The Collaborative Program of the CGIAR on sustainable agricultural development has been working in the region since 1998. Since 2000, on-farm research cooperation started with ICARDA and I am a direct beneficiary of this partnership. With the assistance of ICARDA and SANIIRI (our Water Management Institute) I have installed lysimeter, sprinkler system, and portable chutes on my farm. Scientists of ICARDA and SANIIRI frequently visit our fields and give us advice on soil and water management systems, in order to get more income from our fields. Scientists are also conducting research on my farm. As a result of implementation of new technology, the yield of cotton in my farm has increased from 1.2 ton/ha to 2.0 ton/ha. I am very glad that ICARDA and other international Centers are working in the region to help farmers like me."

A Ministerial Roundtable Conference was convened by Dr Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chair. The conference entitled "Public-Private Partnership for Innovation: What Does the Future Hold for the Rural Poor?" was addressed by Ministers from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Ivory Coast.

Sir Crawford Memorial Lecture
Mr Hernando de Soto, Founder and President of the Institute of Liberty and Democracy, Lima, Peru, delivered this year's Sir Crawford Memorial Lecture.

Celebration of the Founding of the CGIAR
Robert McNamara, Norman Borlaug, and Evangelina Villegas spoke about the beginnings of the CGIAR.

CGIAR Awards
Eight CGIAR Science and Communication Awards were given to CGIAR scientists and partners, celebrating the excellence and impact of CGIAR science.

For more information on AGM04, Please visit www.cgiar.org.
Australia
Canada
Colombia
Germany
IFAD
Japan
Mexicio
The Netherlands

About ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.cgiar.org) serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.

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.
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