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.

Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan (FHCRAA)
A CGIAR Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan (FHCRAA) was established with a USAID grant in 2002. ICARDA is the lead center for the Consortium where several achievements have been made in forming a strong basis for the development of agriculture in Afghanistan.

The FHCRAA was able to attract funding for four projects under RAMP for a period of three years starting in 2004. The four projects focus on: (a) Demonstration and technology transfer; (b) Village-based seed enterprise development; (c) Potato seed production; and (d) Protected agriculture. The RAMP projects operate in five main crop production provinces of Afghanistan, namely; Ghazni, Helmand, Kunduz, Nangrahar and Parwan.

Demonstration of new agricultural technologies
The overall objective of the project is to increase agricultural productivity and rural incomes by demonstrating available improved technologies in farmers' fields, focusing on improved varieties of field and vegetable crops that are adapted to local conditions, improved irrigation and appropriate crop management practices. The demonstration fields are designed to show farmers the advantages of improved varieties and crop management practices, compared with their traditional practices. The demonstrations will include a limited number of very specific technologies so that the farmers can easily understand the packages.

A total of 1000 on-farm demonstrations will be conducted in 27 districts within the five target provinces. The demonstrations will focus on six principal crops such as wheat, rice, mung bean, potato, onion and tomato, and key inputs and management practices, including improved varieties, fertilizers, seed rates, weed control, irrigation practices, transplanting (rice, onion), etc.

Establishment of village-based seed enterprises
The village seed enterprise program will help farmers to gain rapid access to quality seed of the most profitable adapted varieties. It is planned to develop a total of 20 village-based seed enterprises in five target provinces. Each enterprise is expected to produce at least 100 tonnes of quality seed per year. When all enterprises are operational this amounts to more than 2000 tonnes of quality seed each year benefiting at least 40,000 farm families annually.

To implement the project, potential seed production and marketing units were identified and a training course on seed production technology and enterprise management was organized for technical staff of FHCRAA, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, NGOs, etc. in February 2004. Moreover, two follow-up courses were conducted in Jalalabad and Kunduz for farmer seed producers in May 2004 to train farmers on seed production technology and enterprise management issues for operating small seed enterprises at the local level.

Farmers visiting a seed multiplication field in Afghanistan

Seed potato production and marketing
The project aimed at quality seed multiplication and marketing to increase potato production in Afghanistan. The main activities include:
• Enhance the capacity of the tissue culture laboratory in Kabul; provide equipment and train personnel in screen house management
• Establish and operate a variety selection system
• Establish basic seed production both in the laboratory and in the field
• Train farmer seed producers in selected provinces, supply them with disease-free seed and provide technical supervision, field demonstrations, etc.
• Produce seed through the informal system and seed producers' groups
• Construct and adapt seed storage facilities for participating farmers in higher elevations and cold storage for seed producers in the plains
• Design a seed marketing and promotion plan among seed producers' groups and develop seed marketing infrastructure in potato growing areas
• Establish contact between farmers in the different provinces and districts though cross visits and field days
• Continuously move seed between districts to reduce storage costs

On-farm seed potato production in Afghanistan

Introducing protected agriculture for cash crops
The project will promote the adoption of low-cost and sustainable protected agricultural systems to produce high value crops, using marginal or otherwise non-productive lands and water more efficiently, by establishing a central demonstration and training site in Kabul and simple greenhouse structures at selected pilot sites with participating farmers. The activities include:
• Establishment of a protected agriculture center at the Badam Bagh Research Station in Kabul for demonstration, technical backstopping and training
• Introduction of plastic house facilities and production practices to farmers in 28 selected pilot sites
• Training programs in plastic house installation, preparation and management (including plug trays), and in integrated production and protection management (IPPM)
• On-the-job training of farmers, national agricultural research staff, extension agents and technicians in Afghanistan and in leading farms abroad
• Production of training manuals and technical booklets in the local language
• Provision of specifications, technical advice and, where necessary, equipment to a local plastic house fabrication workshop

A.J.G. van Gastel, Seed Unit, ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria; E-mail: a.vangastel@cgiar.org

National Seed Association Established in Algeria
In line with its policy to promote national seed associations in Africa, the African Seed Trade Association, with the financial support of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), is implementing a project to establish new seed associations or strengthening the existing ones to efficiently achieve their objectives.

Under this project, the Algerian Seed Association (ASA) was established on 14 April 2004 during a one-day founding meeting in Algiers where the board members were elected, the constitution and bylaws adopted and short-term action plans were defined. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture attended the meeting and agreed to work with the association to create an enabling environment for the private sector participation in the national seed industry. AFSTA was represented by its president who at the meeting stressed the importance of harmonization of the seed regulations in the countries of North Africa sub-region.

Under the same project, a two-day training program on management of a seed association will be organized for members of AFSTA in Nairobi, Kenya. The AFSTA Secretariat will inform members about the dates and details of the course. Source: E-Review, African Seed Trade Association, April 2004

Plant Variety Protection Enacted in Turkey
In 2004, a new law on the protection of new varieties and plant breeders' rights has been enacted in Turkey. Moreover, related directives have been prepared for implementation. The law provides a good opportunity for domestic or foreign plant breeders and seed companies to increase their efforts to register new and better varieties. These developments will positively affect the national seed sector including the cut flower business. At present, most of the cut flower varieties are not available in Turkey due to lack of variety protection.

Since the mid 1980s, there is remarkable progress in the Turkish seed industry. To date, there are over 120 private seed companies dealing mainly with seed of hybrids, vegetables and forage crops. A new seed law has been prepared and submitted to the Turkish Parliament to replace the existing ones. The law covers new developments and issues in the seed sector such as genetic resources conservation, organic seeds, GMOs, etc. The present reforms in the seed sector will enable the breeders, producers and farmers, the main players of the seed sector, to be organized and represented under one umbrella.

At present several activities are undertaken to increase the production and use of certified seed. The main objective is to increase production of hybrid seeds of vegetables and increase use of certified seed of wheat and barley. K. Yalvac, Seed Division, General Directorate of Agricultural Production and Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Milli Mudafaa Caddesi No 20 Kat, 8/814 Kizilay, Ankara, Turkey; E-mail: kyalvac@tarim.gov.tr

Modern Tissue Culture Laboratory and Greenhouse Facility Established in Syria
The General Organization for Seed Multiplication (GOSM) through a grant from the Japanese Government has established a modern tissue culture laboratory, greenhouse and quality control facility in Aleppo. Sumitomo Company and System Science Consultants Inc. made the design and supplied the equipments for all facilities under the supervision of Japan International Cooperation Agency, while GOSM was responsible for civil and construction works on the site. The project is aimed at enhancing local capacity to produce disease-free high quality potato seed reducing seed imports to the country.

The facility is located on a 10 ha site, 4.75 ha of which is used for the tissue culture laboratory, greenhouse and quality control facilities. The tissue culture laboratory is equipped with modern sterilization, water purification, media preparation, culture and growth rooms for proper incubation and growth of tissues and in vitro plants to produce nucleus materials for transfer to the greenhouse.

Greenhouse facility for potato seed production in Syria

The greenhouse facility has 3240m2 area of three equal separate rooms fitted with state-of-the-art equipment. The quality control facility has an area of 300m2 of 8 equal rooms fitted with necessary equipment. The total project cost was estimated at about US$ 4 million.

Moustapha Dawalibi, General Organization for Seed Multiplication, P.O. Box 5857, Aleppo, Syria; E-mail: dawalibi@scs-net.org

Crop Varietal Releases Across CWANA Region
ICARDA distributes improved germplasm through international or specialized nurseries for evaluation or use by NARS. The germplasm supplied by ICARDA is either used directly for selection, crossing or both to develop crop varieties adapted to local farming conditions. Such close partnership between ICARDA and NARS led to the development and release of several crop varieties currently used by farmers across the CWANA region. The year 2003/2004 appeared to be successful in terms of variety releases across the region as some excerpts from The Week at ICARDA are reported below.

Nile Valley Region
The Ethiopian National Variety Release Committee released two lentil varieties, ‘Teshale’ (ILL 7978) and ‘Alem Tena’ (ILL 7980). These varieties are erect, resistant to rust and wilt root-rot complex, high yielding, and have red cotyledons which are preferred by the consumers. ‘Teshale’ produces an average of 2.2 tonnes ha^-1 compared to 1.6 and 1.7 tonnes ha-1 from the improved variety ‘Adaa’, and the best local check, respectively. ‘Alem Tena’ produces an average of 2.5 t ha^-1 compared to 2.2 tonnes ha-1 from the improved variety ‘Alemaya’ and 2.3 tonnes ha^-1 from the best local check.

‘Teshale’ and ‘Alem Tena’ were introduced from ICARDA international nurseries in 1996. Ethiopia has released seven varieties of lentil to date, all of which originated from ICARDA-supplied germplasm.

North Africa Region
New lentil varieties were also released in Morocco. ‘Chaouia’ and ‘Abda’ both have high levels of rust resistance, produce around 2 tonnes ha^-1 and have large cream-colored seeds with yellow cotyledons, which are preferred by consumers. The new varieties mature early which allows them to escape Orobanche attacks. ‘Chaouia’ was developed from a cross between ‘Laird’ and ‘Precoz’ (ILL4605) and ‘Abda’ was a derivative of L-24 and ‘Precoz’.

West Asia Region
Jordan
Five new cereal varieties were released in Jordan by the National Variety Release Committee at its meeting on 29 March 2004, at the National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (NCARTT) in Baqa'a, Jordan. The characteristics of the wheat and barley varieties and their performance over the last three years at experimental stations and farmers' fields were presented to the committee.

Bread Wheat:
1. ‘Amman’ (Tsi/Vee'S') originated from ICARDA (RWYT-MRA trial in 1989/90)

Durum Wheat
2. ‘Um AIs’ (‘Omrabi 6’) originated from ICARDA (RWYT-trial in 1988/89)

Barley
3. ‘Uta'a’ (Roho/A.Abiad//6250/1161) two row introduced from ICARDA (BYTLR-MW trial
     in 1995/96)
4. ‘Yarmulke’ (Esp/1808-4L//Harmal-02) two row introduced from ICARDA (BYTLR-MW
     trial in 1995/96)
5. ‘Throe’ (‘Kathraia’) six-row introduced from Cyprus in 1996/97

The varieties are currently under large-scale seed multiplication and will be distributed to farmers in the 2005/06 crop season.

Yaser Momany, NCARTT, Baq'a, Jordan; E-mail: momany55@yahoo.com

Iran
In February 2004, a kabuli chickpea variety was released in Iran under the name ‘Arman’ (FLIP90-96), after years of testing under different growing conditions both on the station and in farmers' fields. ‘Arman’ has a 56% yield advantage over presently grown varieties such as ‘Bivanij’, ‘Jam’, and ‘Hashem’, a 100-seed weight of 36g, an erect growth habit, and a high protein content of 26.5%. ‘Arman’ is also resistant to Ascochyta blight and is recommended for growing in the mild- and moderately cold-winter areas of Gachsaran, Golestan, Ilam, and Kermanshah provinces.

Assessing performance of chickpea variety Arman in Iran

Central Asia and Caucasus Region
Azerbaijan
The State Commission on Testing and Protection of Breeders' Achievements has released two bread wheat varieties, ‘Azametly-95’ and ‘Nurlu-99’, from CIMMYT-ICARDA-Turkey nurseries supplied to Azerbaijan. During four year trials, these varieties demonstrated good resistance to diseases, including yellow rust, and their suitability for irrigated conditions in lowlands and foothills. In addition to maturing early, both varieties have a potential productivity of 7-8 tonnes ha^-1. About 20 tonnes of seed will be distributed to farmers in different areas of Azerbaijan in 2004.

Kyrgyzstan
‘Jamin’, a facultative wheat variety, has been released as a spring crop for mountainous areas in Issyk-Kul and Naryn provinces in Khyrgzstan. Besides maturing early and producing high yields, this is the first facultative wheat variety released in Kyrgyzstan since 1978.

With a productivity potential of about 6 tonnes ha^-1, it is resistant to yellow rust and, therefore, may soon replace ‘Intensivnaya’ (released in 1978), which has become susceptible to yellow rust but is still grown on about 50% of the total wheat area in Kyrgyzstan. About 70 tonnes of ‘Jamin’ seed will be produced in 2004.

Georgia
Three new varieties of vetch were released in Georgia. All three varieties are rich in digestible dry matter, which makes them particularly suitable as green fodder. Since these varieties are cold tolerant, they can be planted in late autumn or early winter.

Vicia dasycarpa, variety ‘Abigi’, has dark green leaves with a stem height of about 86.6cm. It flowers in spring and produces about 18 pods per plant (0.16 kg seeds). In dry areas, ‘Abigi’ produces an average of 6.2 tonnes ha^-1 of hay and its vegetative period lasts between 170 and 175 days.

Vicia narbonensis, variety ‘Abika’, has dark green leaves and a stem height of about 92cm. It flowers in spring, and produces about 12 pods per plant (0.11 kg seeds). ‘Abika’ yields 7.3 tonnes ha^-1 of hay and 0.54 tonnes ha^-1 of seed, and its vegetative period is between 150 and 155 days.

Vicia sativa, variety ‘Abiza’, has a short stem of 68.7cm. It produces dark green leaves and flowers in spring. ‘Abiza’ produces 21 pods/per plant (0.17 kg seeds) and yields 9.3 tonnes ha^-1 of hay. The vegetative period is between 170 and 175 days.