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
29 March 2007
                             Media contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
 
Strengthening Partnership with Oman
Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General, visited the Sultanate of Oman, 17-20 March 2007. Accompanied by Dr Ahmed Moustafa, ICARDA-APRP Regional Coordinator, he met with H.E. Khalfan Ben Saleh Al-Naibi, Under Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), Oman, on 18 March. His Excellency the Under Secretary expressed the Sultanate's gratitude to ICARDA for supporting a number of research and development projects in Oman.
H. E. Khalfan Ben Saleh Al-Naibi (right), Under Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General of ICARDA, discussed opportunities to expand ICARDA-Oman collaboration.

Dr Solh acknowledged the contributions of Omani researchers to collaborative ICARDA projects, and expressed his appreciation to the government for hosting the Date Palm Project and ICARDA's office in Muscat. The discussion explored areas for further collaboration, especially for the next phase of the Arabian Peninsula regional program.

Dr Solh also met with Dr Mohamed Reda, Planning Adviser, MAF, to discuss technology transfer to growers through various projects on protected agriculture, hydroponics, and integrated crop/livestock production, to be funded by the Omani Agricultural Development Fund.
Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General of ICARDA, and Dr Ahmed Al Bakri, Director General of Agricultural and Animals Research, MAF, at a meeting with ICARDA and Omani scientists at Rumais Research Station, Oman.

Drs Solh and Moustafa visited the recently established Research Council in Muscat and met with Dr Hilal Ali Al-Hinai, Secretary General. Dr Solh described ICARDA and its work in the region. Dr Al-Hinai highlighted the establishment of the Council and welcomed cooperation with ICARDA in strategic research to support the development of agriculture in Oman.

Dr Ahmed Al Bakri, Director General of Agricultural and Animals Research, MAF, arranged a special visit by Dr Solh to Rumais Agricultural Research Center (ARC) on 17 March. Dr Solh was accompanied by a number of ICARDA scientists and consultants: Dr Ahmed Moustafa, ICARDA-APRP Regional Coordinator, Dr Mohamed Aaouine, Date Palm Specialist, Dr Moustafa Bouhssini, IPM Specialist, and Dr Bruce Parker and Dr Margaret Skinner from Vermont University, USA. After a tour of the research facilities, Dr Al Bakri and the research team presented activities and achievements of joint ICARDA/Oman research in rangeland management, irrigated forages, and protected agriculture. Dr Solh said he was impressed with the outputs and the high level of collaboration - which help not only Oman, but also other countries in the Arabian Peninsula, and are now being extended, through ICARDA's regional programs, to Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Dr Al Bakri appreciated the close strong partnership in Oman, especially the role of ICARDA's regional office in Dubai. Discussions continued between ICARDA and Omani scientists to explore the possibilities of expanding research on Integrated Pest Management for date palm and other horticultural crops.

Dr Solh also visited ICARDA's Muscat office, which is hosted by the MAF at the Rumais Research Center.
 

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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