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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.org
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Media contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
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Progress
in Chickpea and Lentil Cultivation
in Central Asia and the Caucasus |
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| Since 1998,
research administrators, policymakers, and scientists in CAC have
been collaborating with ICARDA to improve the production of food legumes
in the region. Dr Rajendra Malhotra, Chickpea Breeder, and Dr Ashutosh
Sarker, Lentil Breeder, from ICARDA headquarters, and Dr D. Bitore,
from ICARDA Tashkent office, recently visited the CAC region to review
the progress in chickpea and lentil research and development. Excellent progress has been made in the identification and release of chickpea and lentil varieties in the region during the last eight years. The chickpea varieties released include Elexir in Georgia, Narmin in Azerbaijan, ICARDA-1 in Kazakhstan, Rafat in Kyrgyzstan, and Pablo in Georgia. The improved chickpea lines include Palvon (FLIP 97-143C), Djavlon (FLIP 97-99C), FLIP 98-123C, FLIP 98-107C, FLIP 98-116C, FLIP 98-106, FLIP 98-121C, ILC 3279, Janalik, FLIP 97-24C, and FLIP 97-32C. The lentil varieties released and improved lines identified include Altindon (ILL 7513), Darmon (FLIP 97-4L), Kalondona (ILL 1005), ILL 6037, Arzu, FLIP 96-59L, FLIP 95-22L, ILL 1918, and ILL 7964. The yield of winter chickpea in all CAC countries is now higher than the spring crop (1 t/ha). Some of the winter-sown chickpea and lentil cultivars/lines have a yield potential of up to 3.5 t/ha and 2.5 t/ha, respectively. They are also suitable for mechanical harvesting, an important trait in expanding the cultivation of these crops. The performance of the released and pre-release lines was satisfactory in farmers' fields. A training course on the preparation of various chickpea- and lentil-based dishes has generated enthusiasm among women in Kazakhstan. Farmers have requested an increase in the demonstrations to cover larger areas, and expand the cultivation of both chickpea and lentil in the region. Seed increase of all the improved lines is underway in response to the farmers' requests. Dr Raj Paroda, CAC Regional Coordinator, has played a vital role in the re-establishment of chickpea and lentil in the farming systems of the region. For more information contact: Dr Rajinder Malhotra |
About
ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.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.