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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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Syrian
Farmers Happy with New Lentil Technologies
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For the
past 7 years, ICARDA and the Syrian national program have jointly
been disseminating seed of improved lentil varieties to farmers. In
the 2006/07 season, for example, each of the 190 farmers throughout
Syria received 50 kg seeds of varieties Idlib-2 and Idlib-3. As part
of these efforts, a Field Day was organized on 15 May in Barquum village,
Aleppo province, jointly by ICARDA, the General Commission for Scientific
Agricultural Research (GCSAR), the Directorate of Agricultural Extension
(DAE), and the General Organization for Seed Multiplication (GOSM).
The logistics were arranged by the Biodiversity & Integrated Gene
Management Program and ICARDA's Government Liaison Office.
The Field Day focused on the improved variety Idlib-2 and novel lentil production technologies, including mechanized zero-till planting and mechanical harvesting. The objectives were to demonstrate (i) the superior performance of Idlib-2 compared to local varieties, (ii) use of zero tillage to improve soil moisture and reduce land preparation costs, (iii) use of the double-knife cutter bar to replace hand-harvesting. Participants included 140 farmers (including 15 women), the Heads of Extension Departments from Aleppo and Idlib provinces, representatives from the UNDP Jabal Hoss project, as well as ICARDA trainees and visiting scientists from seven countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan and Yemen. A number of ICARDA staff were present. Dr Ahmed El-Ahmed, ADG (Government Liaison) and Dr Scott Christiansen, Executive Assistant to the Director General, emphasized the need for even greater efforts to promote adoption of improved lentil technologies. The farmers participated actively, quizzing and interacting with researchers and demonstrators. They were happy with Idlib-2 for several reasons: high seed and straw yield (one farmer proudly announced that he had harvested 2.1 t/ha of grain); erect growth habit; good standing ability; large seed size; and high podding intensity compared to local cultivars. Adoption of improved varieties looks set to grow, especially because a farmer-to-farmer seed supply system is already operating for lentil. Farmers are also keen to adopt zero-till planting and mechanized harvest systems, provided the machines are available. They called for government intervention either to import the machines or fabricate them locally. The level of interest and interaction between farmers, extension staff and researchers augurs well for the rapid spread of new lentil technologies in Syria. |
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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.