 |
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
| ||
|
Media
contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG) | |||
|
Turkey
Symposium on Climate Change
| |||
Dr Mustafa
Pala, Senior Agronomist, represented ICARDA at the symposium on 'Climate
Change, Drought and Water Management' in Ankara. The symposium, organized
by the Chamber of Turkish Agricultural Engineers, was held on 21 March,
to coincide with World Water Day.
In his presentation on 'Sustainable Agricultural Production Under Dry Conditions', Dr Pala described how rainwater and irrigation can be better managed with a combination of improved varieties and improved management; and how NGOs and other stakeholders can contribute. The symposium was attended by over 500 scientists, development specialists, policy makers, NGOs, farmer groups and others, including several senior government representatives. The highlight of the symposium was a presentation by H.E. Suleyman Demirel, former President of Turkey, on the implications of climate change. A Turkish TV channel interviewed Dr Pala about ICARDA's work on drought mitigation.
The symposium - and particularly the involvement of farmer groups and NGOs - helped highlight the importance of water management and water harvesting, especially in marginal drylands. It also helped create awareness about ICARDA's work and its relevance to Turkey. |
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.