The GAP-ICARDA project is being implemented under two main themes:
(i) on-farm demonstrations and seed systems development on wheat,
barley, lentil, and chickpea; and (ii) improvement of natural pastures
and forage crops, and small ruminant production.
A major challenge to agriculture in the GAP region is the lack of
quality seed of improved crop varieties. The on-farm demonstrations
and seed development component, therefore, aims to establish a well-defined
system for variety evaluation, demonstrations, multiplication, and
diffusion, primarily as an extension activity closely linked to
farmers. It includes activities to inject material into the formal
seed sector and secondary diffusion within the farming communities,
with some management to direct seed flows in the most effective
way.
On-farm demonstrations
Several trials were conducted at the Southeastern Anatolia Research
Institute (SARI), Diyarbakir; Faculties of Agriculture of the Dicle
and Harran Universities; and Koruklu Research Station, Sanliurfa;
for different crops to select high-yielding cultivars that are tolerant
to biotic and abiotic stresses in the region. Subsequently, ICARDA
introduced improved and adapted varieties of wheat, barley, lentil,
chickpea, and vetch, along with improved production practices such
as the use of raised beds in irrigated wheat fields to increase
yield and water use efficiency. The introductions and adaptations
were achieved through on-farm demonstrations with progressive farmers.
They were monitored and evaluated by GAP staff, local extension
personnel, and ICARDA scientists.
 |
ICARDA
lentil breeder discusses the advantages of ‘Firat-87’
with farmers and GAP staff. |
Improved varieties of wheat, barley, lentil, and chickpea were planted
in about 404 large-scale demonstrations on farmers’ fields
in nine provinces of the four governorates, for seven years (1999/2000
to 2005/2006).
 |
 |
| GAP-ICARDA
project coordinator/ wheat breeder and GAP staff monitor an
on-farm trial site on improved durum wheat varieties. |
|
Table 1. Number
of demonstrations, cropped area, and quantity of high quality
seed used for the different crops
|
| Year |
Crop
|
Number of
demonstrations
|
Area (ha)
|
Quantity of
seed (tons)
|
| 1999/2000 |
Wheat
Lentil
|
13
2
|
13
1.2
|
2.78
|
| 2000/2001 |
Wheat
Barley
Lentil
Chickpea
|
10
4
4
2
|
3.75
2
2
1
|
1.53
|
| 2001/2002 |
Wheat
Barley
|
36
1
|
48.5
1
|
9.9
|
| 2002/2003 |
Wheat (certified seed)
Wheat (production)
Barley
Chickpea
Lentil (2 varieties)
|
3
20
2
11
2
|
33
34
1
13
1
|
16.04
|
| 2003/2004 |
Wheat (certified seed)
Wheat (production)
Barley
Chickpea
Lentil
|
9
48
1
10
3
|
170
170.45
1
14
5
|
058.71
|
| 2004/2005 |
Wheat
Barley
Chickpea
Lentil
|
68
15
10
12
|
124
24
15
14.3
|
33.557
|
| 2005/2006 |
Wheat
Barley
Chickpea
Lentil
|
69
25
3
21
|
112
23.3
4.4
20.2
|
41.08
|
| Total |
|
404
|
788.6
|
136.597
|
 |
| Figure 1: On-farm grain
yield of the local and improved wheat cultivars. |
Improved varieties derived from ICARDA germplasm, which are now
popular with GAP farmers, include ‘Gidara 2’ durum wheat,
‘Gokce’ and ‘Diyar 95’ chickpea, ‘Firat
87’ and ‘Idlib-3’ lentil. ICARDA has also enhanced
mechanical harvesting of lentil in the GAP region by introducing
upright varieties of the crop.
 |
| Figure 2: On-farm grain yield of the
local and improved barley and chickpea cultivars. |