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
25 January 2007
                             Media contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
 
Strengthening Cooperation with Qatar
 
H.E. Abdul Rahman Bin Khalifa Al Thani (right), Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, Qatar, received Dr Mahmoud Solh, ICARDA Director General, in his office to discuss strengthening of collaboration between Qatar and ICARDA.
Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General, visited Qatar, 10-11 January 2007. He met with H.E. Abdul Rahman Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, staff from the Ministry, and Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani, Director General for Agricultural Research and Development. Dr Solh was accompanied by Dr Ahmed Moustafa, Coordinator of ICARDA’s Arabian Peninsula Regional Program (APRP). The main purpose of Dr Solh’s visit was to discuss the establishment of an International Center for Protected Agriculture in Dry Areas in Qatar, under the ubmrella of the CGIAR – a proposal initiated by the Government of Qatar.

Dr Solh briefed H.E. the Minister on various issues: the current status of the date palm project, progress on the new APRP project (likely to be funded by IFAD), and possible bilateral agreements by which ICARDA would provide technical support and backstopping in the areas of protected agriculture, biotechnology, desertification and land degradation, water productivity, and capacity building. H.E. the Minister expressed his support for ICARDA’s activities in Qatar. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Faleh Al Thani; Mr Waleed Fahad M. Al Mana, Director of the Minister’s office; Dr Hamad Al-Saad, Director, Agriculture & Water Research; and Dr Ahmed Moustafa, APRP Coordinator.
Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani (center), DG of Agricultural Research and Development, Qatar, with Dr Mahmoud Solh (left), DG, ICARDA, and Dr Ahmed Moustafa, APRP Coordinator. The discussion focused on the establishment of a new CGIAR center on protected agriculture in Qatar.

In a separate meeting, with Sheikh Faleh Al Thani, Dr Solh discussed, among other issues, ICARDA’s support for the proposed International Center for Protected Agriculture in Dry Areas. The meeting was attended by Dr Hamad Al-Saad, Director, Agriculture & Water Research; Dr Tariq Al-Zidjali, Agricultural Expert; Mr Abdullah Jassim Al-Boainain, Head of Agricultural Research Department; Mrs Maryam Mubarak Al-Dosari, Head of Agricultural Affairs Office; and Dr Ahmed Moustafa, APRP Coordinator. Sheikh Dr Faleh Al Thani said that Qatar has offered to host the center and provide the land, infrastructure, buildings, equipment and facilities; and also pay 30-40% of the running costs for the first 10 years. Dr Solh noted that the Center should focus on the requirements of dry areas and contribute to improving livelihoods of resource-poor farmers in dry-area countries. It was agreed that once the CGIAR approves the idea, ICARDA will form a team of international experts in protected agriculture to develop a workplan for the proposed center. It was also agreed that an international workshop on protected agriculture in the dry areas would be organized in Doha in November 2007.

Sheikh Dr Faleh Al Thani accompanied Dr Solh to the Central Laboratories and to the Qatari Arab Agriculture Production Co., one of the leading farms in the country. Dr Solh praised the organization and facilities of the Central Laboratories, especially the chemical residue laboratory.
 

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.

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