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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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North
Africa Regional Coordination Meeting Reviews
ICARDA’s Draft Strategic Plan |
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Opening the meeting, H.E. Prof. Abderrazak Daaloul, State Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Hydraulic Resources of Tunisia, welcomed the participants on behalf of H.E. the Minister of Agriculture. He said that, over the years, ICARDA’s relationship with NARS in North Africa has evolved into a holistic approach that provides more diversified and multidisciplinary research solutions to the problems throughout the region. He cited the Integrated Research and Durum Economics Network (IRDEN) Project and the Mashreq and Maghreb (M&M) Project as examples of this evolution. Prof. Dr Magdy Madkour, ADG (IC) of ICARDA, welcomed the participants on behalf of Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, ICARDA Director General. He highlighted the various challenges facing the region. He referred to North Africa as a privileged partner of ICARDA. The partnership has resulted in the release of new varieties of cereals, legumes, and forages; development of agronomic packages, rangeland/livestock management, water management, as well as in strengthening human capacity. Over the past five years, 65 projects have been implemented in partnership with research and education institutions, extension and development agencies, NGOs, farmers, and pastoralists, he said. Prof. Dr Madkour thanked the Government of Tunisia for its continuous support to ICARDA’s regional office in Tunis and for hosting the 10th NARP Regional Coordination Meeting. He also thanked the governments of Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Morocco, as well as donors for their support to ICARDA projects in the region. NARS representatives from Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia also addressed the participants and expressed their thanks to the Government of Tunisia for hosting the meeting. During the meeting, two keynote presentations were made: “Integrated Gene Management: Conservation, Enhancement, and Sustainable Use of Agrobiodiversity in Dry Areas” by Dr S. Rajaram, MP2 Director (presented on his behalf by Dr A. Yahyaoui); and “Unleashing International Public Goods (IPGs) for Impact on Pro-poor Growth: ICARDA’s Knowledge Management Model” by Dr Ahmed Sidahmed, MP6 Director (presented on his behalf by Dr Mohammed El Mourid). Dr Kamel Shideed, MP5 Director, presented the main features of ICARDA’s new Strategic Plan. The strategy is based on NARS priority setting, poverty targeting, clear impact pathways, production of International Public Goods, the Center’s contribution to the Millennium Development Goals, and the effective implementation of community and participatory approaches and methods for scaling up and out. Several important suggestions emerged from the discussion that followed, and will be incorporated in the revised version of the new Strategic Plan. Representatives from NARS presented the achievements of seven regional collaborative projects: Integrated Research and Durum Economics Network (IRDEN) Project; Sustainable Management of the Agro-Pastoral Resource Base in the Maghreb (SDC Rangeland Project; Improving the Livelihoods of Rural Communities and Natural Resource Management in the Mountains of the Maghreb Countries of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia (SDC Mountains Project); Community-based Optimization of the Management of Scarce Water Resources in Agriculture in WANA Region: Rainfed Benchmark Site; Assessment of Water Harvesting and Supplemental Irrigation Potential; Biological Diversity, Cultural and Economic Value of Medicinal, Herbal and Aromatic Plants in Southern Tunisia; and Developing Sustainable Livelihoods of the Agro-pastoral Communities of West Asia and North Africa: M&M III. Several ideas emerged from the meeting for further action in 2006. The participants thanked the government of Tunisia for hosting the meeting and ICARDA for its continuous support to North Africa NARS and farming communities. For more information contact: Prof. Dr Magdy Madkour |
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.