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I C A R D A N e w s 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 |
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For
more information contact:
Dr Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
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1 May 2005
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ICARDA
Honors Outstanding Staff Members
“My sincere congratulations
to all. Well done. In an organization where so many work so hard,
these employees have made even more exceptional contributions.”
Seven research, administrative, and technical staff members won awards for their outstanding service in 2004. The awardees, announced on 21 April 2005 by ICARDA Director General Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, were chosen by the Center's Executive Committee based on criteria that assessed nominees' productivity, skills, commitment, and contributions in support of the Center's mission, with emphasis on strengthening and expanding the Center's links with its national agricultural research system partners and contributing to food security and poverty alleviation.
Dr Ashutosh Sarker, Lentil Breeder, has been developing improved lentil varieties suitable for the dry areas. He has contributed to the construction of 87 new lentil genotypes through crossbreeding for higher yield and resistance to various stresses, which have been distributed to NARS in CWANA. Several national programs have released lentil varieties from the germplasm developed by Dr Sarker. His close linkages with national programs and farmers show his commitment to improve the livelihoods of the people in developing nations. He has also established strong linkages with advanced research institutions to complement applied and adaptive research for the benefit of developing NARS. His work in 2004, which demonstrated the impact of improved technologies/varieties in Bangladesh, has been appreciated by all the stakeholders involved. Dr Sarker also identified new sources of resistance to wilt, rust and Stemphylium blight diseases in collaboration with pathologist colleagues. One of his contributions “Lentil Improvement in Bangladesh” was published by the Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI). In 2004, he authored/co-authored 4 journal articles, 6 book chapters/symposia proceedings/ booklets and 12 symposia abstracts. Most of his publications are co-authored with national scientists. Ms Monika Zaklouta has been working at ICARDA since 1980. As Manager of the Animal Research Laboratory, she has introduced new evaluation techniques such as the Gas Production Test that modernize and improve the analytical capacity of the laboratory. After recently obtaining training from the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, she has been conducting an analysis of how different diets can affect meat quality in sheep. Ms Zaklouta’s responsibilities were expanded in 2004 to include the administrative management of several projects in the small ruminant unit which she has performed with precision and dedication. She is involved in the coordination and logistics of the community-based participatory project in El-Bab in northern Syria that aims to improve the productivity of dairy sheep production systems. Ms Zaklouta is also coordinating research work with the Extension Directorate in Syria on the characterization of goats in the country. Ms Imelda Silang is a Certified Public Accountant from the Philippines who joined ICARDA in January 2004. Since her arrival she has made many significant contributions to the Finance Department, which include the installation of a Receivable Monitoring Mechanism for restricted projects. Ms Silang reached an agreement with Chemonics on the reporting processes for RAMP in Afghanistan, which she has carried out consistently each month. Last year Ms Silang also liaised with donors and banks for fund remittances and developed reports for donors. Her hard work and pleasing personality has helped the Center’s outreach offices in getting the needed information promptly and also significantly contributed to enhancing the work atmosphere in Finance. Mr Monzer Kabakebji works as Research Assistant in the Legume Pathology Unit and has a combination of skills of an agronomist, a pathologist and a breeder. He also supervises ICARDA’s disease nurseries at Djableh station where most of the sources of resistance in faba bean have been found. Mr Kabakebji has contributed to the identification of several faba bean lines that combine agronomic traits, such as earliness, autofertility and seed size, with disease resistance. He has also made single-plant selections with resistance to major diseases from originally susceptible populations. Mr Kabakebji’s dedication to his work can be seen in his notes on disease ratings that are very precise and reproducible over years. He is known at ICARDA for his sincerity and hard work. Ms Laurice Abdul Majid joined the Human Resources Development Unit (HRDU) of ICARDA as the Administrative Officer for Training/Conferences/ Workshops and Meetings – Materials and Audiovisual Services in 1987. She has done an outstanding job in providing quality service to all ICARDA training participants, visitors and distinguished guests. She has been an outstanding support to all the participants of different conferences with respect to the audiovisual aids. Ms Abdul Majid is well known for being very efficient at keeping records of HRDU's facilities and supplies. She always tries her best and improves relationships with staff members and visitors to the Center. |
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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 countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment.