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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),
Ravi R. Prasad (r.prasad@cgiar.org)
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Iran-ICARDA
Collaboration: Strengthening National Capacity
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| Over the
years, ICARDA has played a crucial role in strengthening the seed
production and certification system in Iran. It has helped the Seed
and Plant Certification and Registration Institute (SPCRI) in drafting
national policies and strategies for seed technology and in establishing
operational seed health laboratories. As part of these continuing efforts, an in-country training course was organized jointly by ICARDA and SPCRI on 'Integrated Quality Management in Seed Certification and Health' on 1-11 July 2007. The course, held at SPCRI's Karaj campus, aimed at strengthening the skills of SPCRI field inspection and seed testing officers, and familiarizing them with international and national procedures and regulatory frameworks. The course was attended by 31 staff (including eight women) from different national research institutions as well as private seed firms.
Dr Majid Deghanshoar, Director General of SPCRI, thanked ICARDA for its continuous support and the fruitful collaboration over the years to strengthen SPCRI and seed production activities in Iran. Dr Ahmed Amri, Iran-ICARDA Coordinator, reiterated the Center's commitment to further strengthening its partnership with Iranian research institutions. The training on seed health issues was delivered by Dr Siham Asaad, Head of ICARDA's Seed Health Laboratory. She discussed the objectives and importance of seed health testing for seed certification and production, control measures and practical laboratory seed health tests to identify major seed-borne pests. Mr Abdul-Aziz Niane, ICARDA Seed Production Manager, covered seed certification, field inspection and roguing through a combination of lectures and practical field and laboratory sessions. Four researchers from SPCRI also contributed to the discussions and practical sessions. The course was enhanced by simultaneous translation into Persian. Assessments conducted at the beginning and the end of the course showed a significant gain in knowledge. |
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.