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
15 March 2009
Media contact: icarda-media@cgiar.org
 
World Congress on Conservation Agriculture
Opening session of the World Congress on Conservation Agriculture.
The Fourth World Congress on Conservation Agriculture was held in New Delhi, India, 4-7 February, organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The Congress was inaugurated by H.E. Sharad Powar, India's Union Minister for Agriculture; and attended by over 1000 delegates from 35 countries, including the Directors General of four CGIAR Centers (CIMMYT, ICARDA, ICRAF, IWMI). Presentations and discussions covered a range of issues, including technologies, policy aspects, R&D approaches, and social issues such as equity and use of common property resources.

The ICARDA delegation included Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General (who was Co-Chairman of the Congress), Dr Kamel Shideed, ADG-ICC, Dr Sanjaya Rajaram, Dr Colin Piggin, Dr Ashutosh Sarker and Mr Atef Haddad. ICARDA also sponsored the participation of two Iraqi scientists: Dr Saleh Bader, Director General of the State Board for Agricultural Research, and Dr Abdulsattar Rajibo, National Coordinator of the ACIAR Project in Iraq.

Dr Solh's presentation highlighted the role of conservation agriculture in improving sustainability as well as income in smallholder agriculture; and described ICARDA's efforts to promote conservation agriculture in the dry areas worldwide. He took a broad view of conservation agriculture, to include not only minimum tillage but also aspects of land and water management, environmentally friendly pest control, and conservation of agrobiodiversity. Dr Shideed focused on the Center's work on conservation agriculture in North Africa, where substantial impacts have been generated.

About ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15 international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA 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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