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This publication examines the role of farmer-to-farmer seed exchange in the distribution of new barley varieties. Seed of new varieties was supplied to 52 farmers from 24 villages in Syria, and the subsequent distribution traced for five years, by which time the varieties had reached over 200 farmers. The study provides insights on the mechanisms and viability of this distribution channel, and the factors determining acceptance or rejection of a new variety. Farmers' used several factors to judge new varieties: yield, lodging resistance, and plant height (tall genotypes are perceived to be less vulnerable to drought). Rapid spread and high adoption rates - up to 75% - emphasized the value of farmer-to-farmer distribution in the dissemination of new varieties. 'Lead farmers' who helped researchers select and test varieties, played an important role in initiating and sustaining farmer-to-farmer distribution.
Price: US$10.
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This study was built on investigations on households in communities selected in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, and the development of models of mathematical programming to simulate the impact of institutional and political changes into the adoption of technology in each community. The study focused particularly on plantations of cactus and other animal feed technologies. Various aspects were studied: institutional options (regulation of work, credit, right of ownership and right of use), the operation of the markets for the provision of inputs and the sale of the products, the perception of the risks by the stakeholders and effects of the liberalization of the markets.
The various models developed constitute interesting tools to include/understand the reasons or resistances to the adoption. Considering the sociological stakes, new research should support the integration of the social constraints in these models using coupling of models or through new models.
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Water scarcity is a major threat to economic development in Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA). A major new project is exploring new ways to improve water-use efficiency through water harvesting and other methods, in the three major agroecologies in the region - steppe, rainfed, and irrigated areas. Benchmark and satellite sites have been established in each agroecology, covering ten countries. This report provides background information on each agroecology: biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics, ongoing R&D efforts, constraints to water productivity; and future prospects. A synthesis chapter helps understand the intricacies of water management, and the technical issues relating to selection of research sites and establishment of baselines..
Price: US$15.
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The steppe (badia in Arabic) covers vast areas in West Asia and North Africa. Despite poor rainfall and acute water scarcity, rainwater is poorly managed, and much of it is lost to runoff and evaporation. This report describes one component of a larger regional project on water harvesting and other methods to improve water-use efficiency in integrated crop-livestock systems. It discusses the use of modern tools (GIS and satellite images), in conjunction with traditional methods, to select water-harvesting sites. It illustrates general guidelines and criteria, as well as methods to select sites with specific characteristics. It also describes the biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics of watershed sites in the steppe, selected for the regional project.
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Balochistan province occupies 44% of the total area of Pakistan. It is a largely agrarian economy, with low rainfall, limited arable land, and poor economic development. This report summarizes results from a baseline study conducted as part of a large integrated development project. The study examined livelihood assets and opportunities in rural Balochistan, through surveys at six sites representing two-thirds of the population. It provides data on household size and composition, crop and horticulture production, livestock, farm sizes, incomes, capital, infrastructure, and local institutions. This information is now being used to design interventions to improve livelihoods, and to judge the impact of these interventions.
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Poverty is subjective, complex, and multidimensional. While poverty is primarily about income, limited access to the necessary natural resources for agricultural production is a major constraint to poverty alleviation in the dry areas. Poverty mapping allows the well-being of rural populations to be assessed in a spatial context, and can thus be used to identify poverty hotspots. It has considerable potential as a tool for regional policy analysis. This report outlines ICARDA's approach to poverty mapping, using Syria as a case study. Agricultural income was mapped using a combination of agricultural statistics and indicators of resource endowment. The report analyzes the distribution of agricultural income in relation to land tenure, income from agricultural labor, rural unemployment and other socio-economic factors. It also emphasizes the country's population dynamics and the impact of population pressure on both resource endowment and irrigation. It is recommended to socio-economic and agricultural researchers especially in the dry areas of the world, policymakers, students, NGOs, and the public.
Price: US$10.
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Majority of the poor in developing countries live in rural areas, with several constraints such as scarce natural resources and poor infrastructure. Hence, farmers are not able to adopt technological innovations at the same level. The research agenda of ICARDA focuses on developing technological innovations targeted to increase farm income and reduce rural poverty. This publication documents a study that aimed at identifying farming enterprises, technologies, and management options for solving poverty and ecological problems in the Khanasser Valley of Syria. The study examined the appropriateness of a number of technological innovations in the area, with the participation of farmers. The outcome of the research work would be useful in developing similar technologies in marginal agricultural zones in dry areas that have similar ecologies. The book is, therefore, recommended to researchers, farmers, policymakers, extension agents, teachers, and students of agriculture, especially in the dry areas.
Price: US$10.
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Low levels of economic activity, high incidence of land degradation, and a high concentration of rural population characterize the low rainfall areas of West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. To address the challenges in the region, the Mashreq/Maghreb (M&M) project was initiated and designed as an adaptive research program for the development of integrated crop-livestock production systems in the low rainfall areas of WANA. This publication documents the empirical results of uptake by end-users, constraints to adoption, and impact of the technologies. It provides useful information for policymakers, particularly those in WANA, researchers, students and the general public.
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Durum wheat is a staple food of strategic importance, and its production is a major farm activity in Morocco. It has important implications for the national economy of the country, as Morocco is the second largest producer of durum wheat in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. This publication assesses the impact of the durum wheat program in Morocco as part of a regional effort initiated within the West Asia and North Africa Dryland Durum Improvement Network (WANADDIN) project. It provides an overview of durum production and research, and highlights the importance of efficient seed delivery systems to encourage farmers to adopt new varieties. The book is an excellent resource for policymakers, agricultural and extension officers, researchers, and students of agriculture.
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This publication describes the major plant species found in Al-Hass and Shbeith mountains, and part of the Khanasser Valley adjacent to the mountains in Syria. It is intended to help scientists and managers identify the plant species of the area and to understand the potential of natural vegetation. It will help them establish sustainable rangeland development strategies and to regain potential production of the vegetation. The publication contains information on 133 native species distributed in the area, including names, common characteristics, taxonomic description, and uses of each species. It is a product of collaboration between the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the Bonn University, Germany. It is recommended to students of biological sciences, rangelands and pastures specialists, and the general public.
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This report presents results of three studies conducted in Iran by researchers from ICARDA and the Dryland Research Institute of Iran during 1995-2002 aimed at increasing and stabilizing rainfed wheat production using supplemental irrigation. The use of supplemental irrigation, in addition to various levels of fertilizer use, increased the yield and yield-stability of wheat in the study areas. The report will be very useful to researchers, extensionists and farmers who are struggling to improve water productivity, especially in the dry areas.
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This report presents research results from six case studies conducted by ICARDA, the United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia and national scientists in Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria, which led to the development of a new empirical approach for assessing on-farm water-use efficiency. The studies reveal that even in the dry areas, which are characterized by water scarcity, available water is not used efficiently for agricultural production due to farmers’ practices and prevailing policies on water. The report will be useful to policy makers, researchers and farmers in the dry areas who are trying to increase water productivity.
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This report presents the results of a six-year study on supplemental irrigation for improving water-use efficiency and productivity of wheat in Al-Hasakeh governorate, northern Syria. One of the most important findings of the research is that about half of supplemental irrigation amounts currently applied may be saved with only 10-15 % yield loss. The saved water may be applied to new rainfed crops with substantial yield increases. The findings and recommendations of this work have important policy implications which, if addressed, will benefit the farmers in rainfed areas in Syria and other similar environments in CWANA.
Price: US$ 10.00
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This report presents findings of a study conducted in 1997-2001 in the Syria Badia to test different water-harvesting techniques for improving vegetative cover. The study identified technologies that could enhance soil-water retention to enable crops survive, even during periods of drought. The collaborative research was undertaken by ICARDA scientists and their counterparts from the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research of the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform.
Price: US$ 10.00
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This report provides the results of a survey made from January 1979 to September 1981 among 17 semi-nomadic and settled sheep-owning farmers living at the margins of the northwest Syrian steppe. It describes the prevailing sheep-dominated system and defines the levels of and constraints to productivity, and economic returns from sheep flocks.
Price: US$ 10.00
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This report deals with the developmental history of faba bean in China, as well as the production technology, theoretical research, germplasm resources, genetics and breeding, cultivation, diseases, insect pests and utilization.
(out of stock)
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This publication provides information on laboratory methods for seed inspection and testing of faba beans. The chapters deal with inspection and seed testing, viral diseases, bacterial diseases, fungal diseases, stem nematode, bruchids, parasitic weeds, and concomitant contaminations with other pests/pathogens.
Price: US$ 15.00
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Upper Egypt. 1995. Aw-Hassan, A.; Ghanem, E.; Ali, A.A.; Mansour, M.; Solh, M.B. ICARDA Social Science Paper No. 1. 31 pp.
Using survey data, this study looks at farmers' wheat-production practices in the southern governorates of Egypt (Upper Egypt). It analyzes profitability and productivity of improved wheat technologies and the effect of government policy reforms.
Price: US$ 10.00
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This study discusses the major challenges faced by the agricultural sector in the developing Mediterranean countries.
Price: US$ 10.00
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Supplemental Irrigation: A Highly Efficient Water-use Practice. 1997. Oweis, T. 16 pp. (Available in English and Arabic)
This
publication highlights the conjunctive use of rain and other water resources in
supplemental irrigation through developing technologies for efficient use of rainfall
and other available water resources.
Price: US$ 10.00
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Wheat Productivity Under Supplemental Irrigation in Northern Iraq. On-Farm Water Husbandry Research Report Series, No. 2. 2002. Adary, A.; Hachum, A.; Oweis, T.; Pala, M. 38 pp.
This
report presents the results of a 4-year research study on improving the productivity
of wheat through the application of supplemental irrigation and optimizing the
conjunctive use of rainfall and the limited water resources available, along with
other production inputs such as improved cultivars, fertilizers and other soil
and crop management strategies which will benefit the farmers in northern Iraq
and other similar environments. In the report the timing and amount of supplemental
irrigation are defined in order to improve yield and water use efficiency; water
application rates and nitrogen levels suitable for the conditions of the area
are determined; wheat cultivars' response to supplemental irrigation practices
are identified; and the relationships between sowing date and productivity under
supplemental irrigation are determined.
Price: US$ 10.00
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Water Harvesting : Indigenous Knowledge for the Future of the Drier Environments. 2001. Oweis, T.; Prinz, D.; Hachum, A. 36 pp. (Available in English and Arabic)
This publication distils the knowledge and experience of water harvesting gained by ICARDA, national research groups, and advanced institutions over the years and presents them in a non-technical language. It emphasizes the techniques most suitable for the steppe areas of WANA and outlines the principles applicable in dry areas worldwide.Price: US$ 10.00
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