Seed Info Newsletter No. 26, January 2004

CONTRIBUTIONS from SEED PROGRAMS and PROJECTS

In this section we invite national seed programs, projects, universities, regional or international organizations to provide news about their seed related activities.

Activities of Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan (FHCRAA)

With the USAID grant, a CGIAR-Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan (FHCRAA) was established to implement short- and long-term interventions in the country. ICARDA is a lead center for the Consortium.

Several achievements have been made by FHCRAA over a very short period of time which form a firm basis for future development of agriculture in Afghanistan.

Seed Supply
Emergency seed supply for 2002 spring planting: Approximately 3500 tonnes of high quality wheat seed was procured from Pakistan and distributed to Afghan farmers through a network of NGOs, in close coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Farmers were provided with quality seed for planting and by saving seed for the next planting season a much longer and broader benefit of the spring distribution is anticipated.

Seed supply for fall 2002 planting: More than 5000 tonnes of seed produced in Afghanistan was distributed for 2002 fall planting. Rice, barley, chickpea, lentil, flax, sesame, mung bean, alfalfa, berseem and clover were purchased and distributed.

Pioneer village-based seed enterprises established: Village-based seed enterprises have been initiated in Baghlan, Kunduz, Nangarhar and Takhar and 260 tonnes of seed has been distributed to 821 farmers. Mobile seed cleaners, specifically designed for use at the farmer level, have been provided. Farmers assisted and trained in seed production practices including marketing. These farmers' seed multiplication fields will provide approximately 5000 tonnes seed of adapted varieties. The aim is to produce seed in a cost efficient manner for the village and beyond.

Potato seed program initiated: This sub-project was implemented by the International Potato Center and aimed at supply of quality potato seed to Afghan farmers.

Regulatory functions for the seed Industry
The FHCRAA is assisting the Government of Afghanistan to carry out its regulatory function in ensuring that quality seed reaches the farming communities.

Code of conduct workshop: A code of conduct for seed production and marketing was developed and published. This code is now used for all activities in seed production, seed marketing and seed import.

Draft seed law and national seed policy: A draft national seed policy and seed law have been submitted to the Government, aimed at integrating Afghanistan into the developments that are taking place in the global seed industry.

Rehabilitation of seed testing and quarantine laboratories: Two main seed testing laboratories (Badem Bagh, Kabul and Jalalabad, Nangharhar) and two satellite stations (Baghlan, Kunduz) were established and seed testing work resumed. The consortium also supported equipping seed testing station in Herat.

Rehabilitation of Research Capacity
Research stations: Several research stations (Baghlan, Jalalabad, Kabul, Kunduz and Takhar) and sub-stations were rehabilitated, farm equipment provided and formal research activities resumed. During the 2002/03 season, wheat, barley, chickpea, lentil, faba bean, tomato, onion and pepper research experiments were planted. Several international nurseries were sent to Afghanistan for evaluation.

Human resources development: Training courses were organized in: (a) Seed production, (b) Seed quality assurance, (c) Variety management, (d) Seed production and enterprise management, (e) Potato seed multiplication, (f) Sun pest control, (g) Experimental station operation and management, (h) Training on use of farm machinery, (i) Operating meteorological equipment/stations, and (j) Management of water resources in the dry areas.

Needs assessments
To target interventions and to develop a vision for future rural Afghanistan, four needs assessments were carried out on: (a) Seed systems & crop improvement, (b) Soil & water management, (c) Livestock, feed & rangelands, and (d) Horticulture. As an integral part of these needs assessment (i) household surveys, (ii) key informant interviews, and (iii) wrap-up meetings were organized.

Communication, public awareness, radio broadcast
As part of the efforts to provide agricultural radio broadcasts for Afghan farmers, weekly half-hour programs on agricultural topics are being produced and distributed to radio stations throughout Afghanistan. These programs were made with strong emphasis on providing farming families with useful information. The Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture Communications Office for Radio has been re-equipped, training in digital production resumed and media extension services to farmers via radio provided.

Short-term High-impact Projects
The International Potato Center is rapidly increasing the supply of virus-free potato seed in Afghanistan by stimulating the development of farmer-based seed multiplication system.

Scientists from CIMMYT identified nursery locations and seed was distributed to 20 locations. Afghan scientists participated in training courses in Mexico.

Michigan State University utilized satellite remote sensing and GIS technology for rangeland management project. Web-based maps are provided to agricultural professionals and farmers along with training in interpretation and utilization of the data for improved rangeland management (http://35.8.163.126/research/).

The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture provided apprenticeships for extension agents to improve basic skills in designing and operating improved irrigation systems suitable for saline soils and water.

The Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees is introducing best management practices for on-farm water management and irrigation. Eight Afghan scientists were trained at ICARDA headquarters.

A team from Cornell University held a workshop on 'Best Management Practices for Water and Soil' at the College of Agriculture in Kabul.

A joint project of ICARDA and the University of Vermont addressed the sunn pest control through training and providing information to growers and NGOs. A.J.G. van Gastel, Seed Unit, ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria; E-mail: a.vangastel@cgiar. org

Seeds for Rehabilitation of Agriculture in Iraq

ICARDA has been assisting the rehabilitation of the seed and crop improvement program in Iraq by providing more than 20 tonnes of high quality seed. The seeds will be used by the agricultural component of Agricultural Rehabilitation and Development (ARDI) project in Iraq. ARDI project is funded by USAID and implemented by Texas A&M University to carry out technology demonstrations. ICARDA provided seed of 4 varieties of barley, 2 varieties of bread wheat, 3 varieties of durum wheat, 1 variety of lentil and 2 varieties of chickpea.

Independent Seed Certification Agency in Iran

In October 2002, the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) in collaboration with the Seed Unit of ICARDA and the Iran/ICARDA Agricultural Research Project organized the First Iran/ICARDA National Seed Workshop bringing together national stakeholders and a number of international experts to discuss alternative ways for the improvement of the national seed industry in Iran. The workshop reviewed the status of the national seed industry highlighting key policy, regulatory, institutional and technical issues with particular reference to seed and planting material production and supply of agricultural, horticultural and industrial crops. Several key recommendations were made during the meeting including the need to sanction national seed policy, seed laws and regulations to encourage private sector participation. Among the key recommendations was for the government to establish an independent seed certification institute and to consider the enactment of plant variety protection law.

In 2003, a remarkable progress was made in the national seed policy and regulatory environment. The Government of Iran passed an Act of Plant Variety Registration and Certification of Seeds and Planting Materials (Seed Law 33709) and established a fully independent institute responsible for plant variety registration and seed and planting material certification. The Plant Variety Registration and Seed Certification Institute (PVRSCI) has an overall mandate for the implementation of plant variety registration, variety protection, seed and planting materials certification and adaptive research in seed technology. The organization is located in Karaj and took over the facilities and the responsibilities from the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute.

PVRSCI will have four departments: plant variety registration, seed certification, vegetative planting material certification and seed testing laboratory. The institute would establish referee testing laboratory to coordinate the activities of regional laboratories and would like the central laboratory to be an accredited member of ISTA. A number of draft policies and regulations was prepared by PVRSCI (draft national seed policy, national vegetative planting materials policy, seed legislation) and these will be further discussed with stakeholders before submission to the Cabinet. The institute will seek membership in international organizations (ISTA, OECD, UPOV) and regional associations (APSA and WANA Seed Network) currently operated by the Seed Unit of ICARDA. Samad Mobasser, PVRSCI, P.O. Box 31535-3383, Karaj, Iran; E-mail: Sa_mobasser@yahoo.com

Morocco Released Hessian Fly Resistant Varieties

The INRA (Morocco) and ICARDA announced the official release of five durum wheat varieties (INRA 1804, 1805, 1807, 1808, and 1809) combining resistance to Hessian fly and tolerance to drought. Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) is an insect pest of durum and bread wheat responsible for severe reductions in production. In Morocco, the crop losses from Hessian fly infestations in the 2002/03 cropping season could reach US$200 million. The release and subsequent adoption of resistant varieties is key to breaking the drought-Hessian fly cycle prevailing in many rainfed areas, and preventing crop failure.

Durum wheat is known for its susceptibility to Hessian fly, especially in the Mediterranean region. The release of these varieties by the Moroccan national program will significantly boost the production in the region. Source: The Week at ICARDA; 10 July 2003 No. 776.

Tunisia Released Food Legume Varieties

The INRAT (Tunisia) and ICARDA released a total of three chickpea, two lentil and three faba bean varieties in Tunisia. The three released chickpea varieties, Beja 1 (INRAT93-1), Neyer (FLIP84-92C) and Bouchra (FLIP84-79C) are all partially resistant to Ascochyta blight. However, Beja 1 is resistant against Fusarium wilt race 0. In 2003/4 crop season about 15-20% of chickpea area is expected to be sown with winter chickpea varieties in Tunisia. Likewise two lentil varieties Siliana (FLIP90-13L) and Kef (78S26002) were released. Moreover, small seeded fababean, Bachaar (FLIP84-59FB) and Badï (selection from landrace) and large seeded Chahbi (S83182) were also released. Source: The Week at ICARDA, No 801, 15 January 2004.

Ethiopia Released 14 New Crop Varieties

In 2003, 52 varieties of 14 crop species were evaluated under the auspices of the National Variety Release Committee in Ethiopia. The Committee released one variety each of barley, tef, sorghum, field pea, lentil, sorghum and potato. Moreover, five haricot bean and three soya bean varieties were released. The barley variety Shedho is adapted to moisture stress areas in Wello in northern Ethiopia. The lentil (Assano) and field pea (Weyyitu) varieties are adapted to the highlands of Bale in southeastern Ethiopia. Source: AgriTopia 18(3), July-September 2003/9.