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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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ICARDA
Celebrates 30th Anniversary
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ICARDA
celebrated its 30th Anniversary on Saturday 5 May 2007, in conjunction
with the annual Presentation Day. Sharing this landmark occasion with
the ICARDA family were guests from 20 countries - ministers, officials
from National Agricultural Research Systems, scientists, and other
decision makers; representatives of partner organizations and donor
agencies; members of the diplomatic corps; former Directors General
and Board Members of ICARDA; and others.
The opening session was marked by a message from H.E. Eng. Mohamed Naji Otri, Prime Minister of Syria, delivered on his behalf by H.E. Prof. Dr Adel Safar, Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform. The guests were welcomed by Dr Guido Gryseels, Chairperson of ICARDA's Board of Trustees, and Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General. This was followed by presentation of Staff of the Year Awards; a special scientific symposium addressed by Dr Per Pinstrup Andersen and Prof. Assia Alaoui; a tour of ICARDA's research and field facilities; and finally, a traditional barbecue lunch on the picturesque Tel Hadya hilltop. The Prime Minister in his message underscored the importance of sustainable use of natural resources, and the contributions of the ICARDA-Syria partnership in this regard. "Syria is a model of a partnership between national and international agencies," he said. He noted the wide range of ICARDA-Syria collaborative research: water and soil management, vegetation cover, forage legumes, small ruminants, range management, and supplemental irrigation, among others.
"ICARDA is well known not only for resource management research but also for improved varieties," he added. "Adoption of these varieties in Syria has been broad, because of their low water requirement and good adaptation to dry conditions. This has, of course, made a substantial impact on productivity." The Prime Minister's message highlighted examples of these impacts; the work on fertilizer technologies, which led to significant improvements in on-farm fertilizer use efficiency. He also expressed appreciation for ICARDA's training efforts, through which over 4000 Syrian researchers have benefited, from training for technicians to support for PhDs for scientists.
"We appreciate ICARDA's support all these years. In particular, we recognize this is honest support, implemented through genuine partnerships and provided in response to national and regional needs." The Prime Minister saluted the key role played by Dr Mahmoud Solh and by past Directors General in building and nurturing these partnerships. Dr Guido Gryseels, Chairperson, ICARDA Board of Trustees, welcomed the guests on behalf of the Board. "As we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Center, this is an opportune moment to pause, and to reflect on what we have achieved," he said. "Together, we have made enormous impacts on the lives of the poor, and built strong and lasting partnerships for research and development. The large attendance today is a reflection of the strength of these partnerships, and your continued commitment to our work."
"I would like to record my deepest appreciation for the government of Syria, which has been a warm host and a strong supporter of ICARDA. Through the Honorable Minister, I would like to convey our gratitude to H.E. President Bashar Al-Assad, whose support has been a guiding light." Dr Gryseels recounted the Board's visit to the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR); and noted the impressive quality of research, under the leadership of its Director General, Dr Majd Jamal. Dr Gryseels congratulated Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General of ICARDA, for building on the Center's past successes, and on the platform created by previous Directors General. "Let us renew our commitment, driven by past successes and the challenges before us, which we will face together," he concluded. Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General of ICARDA, delivered a comprehensive presentation titled ICARDA: 30 years of service to agriculture in dry areas. "The 30th Anniversary is a great day in ICARDA's history," Dr Solh noted. "It provides a vantage point from which to assess how well we have met the expectations of ICARDA's founding fathers, donors, and partners." "The Center will remain indebted forever to the late President Hafez Al-Assad for his patronage and support," said Dr Solh. "That patronage and support continues to be as strong from President Bashar Al-Assad as it had been from his father." Dr Solh's presentation covered various areas: the history of the Center, ICARDA's mission and the evolution of its geographic and research mandates, current and emerging challenges facing agriculture in the dry areas, the Center's research strategy, key achievements, partnerships, funding prospects, and future outlook and directions. He also shared a broad outline of ICARDA's new Strategic Plan for the next 10 years (2007-2016). "Implementation will be based on several key elements: among these are partnerships and networking, research priority setting, harnessing new science, and human and institutional capacity building," he said. Dr Solh described some of the Center's key achievements in various areas:
"None of this would have been possible without the active participation and support of our partners," Dr Solh said. "From the beginning, ICARDA recognized that its strength lay in partnerships, and sharing resources, expertise and information with NARS." He concluded by thanking "international and regional donors for their strong and sustained support; national partners in over 44 countries worldwide, who jointly implemented collaborative research activities; the government of the Syrian Arab Republic for its generous and continuous support; and the people of Aleppo for their warm hospitality and support." |
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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.