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Recent Submissions
Sunn pest management: A decade of progress 1994-2004
Author(s): Parker, Bruce L.; Skinner, Margaret; El Bouhssini, Mustapha; Kumari, Safaa (Arab Society for Plant Protection, 2007-12-31)
Date: 2007-12-31
Type: Conference Proceedings
Status: Timeless limited access
Wheat is the staple food in the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region. Annual per capita consumption of wheat in CWANA is about 185 kg, the highest in the world. The region accounts for 23% of the global wheat area but only 14% of global wheat production. Wheat productivity is only 1.5 t/ha, compared with the world average of 5 t/ha. The main limiting factors include drought- 70 % of wheat acreage in CWANA is affected by drought-heat and cold stress, diseases, and pests. To meet domestic demand, many countries in the region have to import large quantities of bread wheat, which places a heavy burden on national economies.
Of the various wheat pests, the Sunn Pest is the most devastating. It can cause up to 100% crop loss. It affects about 15 million hectares of wheat annually, and over US$150 million is spent each year on pesticides in the Sunn Pest-prone areas. In addition to the high cost, insecticides pose risks to human health and the environment. In collaboration with a range of partners, ICARDA has been developing integrated pest management (lPM) options for Sunn Pest. The partners include NARS in CWANA; the University of Vermont, USA; CABI Bioscience; and the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK.
Scientists from 23 countries in CWANA and Eastern Europe (where wheat and barley crops suffer Sunn Pest infestation) met at ICARDA headquarters on 19-22 July 2004 for the Second International Conference on Sunn Pest on the theme 'Enhancing International Cereal Production Capacity for Food Security'. The conference was co-organized by ICARDA, the University of Vermont, and the Arab Society for Plant Protection.
Research findings presented and discussed during the conference highlighted various technical possibilities of IPM: safeguarding the complex of natural enemies, use of insect-killing fungi, host plant resistance, cultural practices, and selective use of pesticides. IPM will reduce production costs, benefit national economies, and significantly reduce environmental pollution and health hazards.
While very encouraging progress has been made in research, several priority issues were identified to further enhance the field implementation of effective, sustainable, and environmentally sound IPM strategies. Significant investment in both research and on-farm field activities must be made through regional approaches and international collaboration. Because insects do not recognize country borders, a regional strategy is critical, if we are to reduce the negative impact of Sunn Pest on food security. The ultimate goal is to maintain Sunn Pest populations at low levels using an integrated approach in a well-coordinated regional program.
Sustainable development and management of dry lands in the 21st century: Abstracts of the 7th International Conference on Development of Dry Lands
Author(s): (ICARDA), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2003-12-31)
Date: 2003-12-31
Type: Conference Proceedings
Status: Open access
Abstracts of the 7th International Conference on Development of Dry Lands held in Tehran, Iran on 14-17 September 2003.
Sustainable management of marginal drylands: application of indigenous knowledge for coastal drylands. Proceedings
Author(s): Adeel, Zafar (United Nations University Institute of Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), 2003-12-31)
Date: 2003-12-31
Type: Conference Proceedings
Status: Open access
Proceedings of the Conference Sustainable Management of Marginal Drylands held in Alexandria, Egypt on 21-25 September 2002.
Technologie de la Production de Semences
Author(s): Srivastava, J. P.; Simarski, Lynn Teo (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 1992-12-31)
Date: 1992-12-31
Type: Book
Status: Open access
L'emploi d'une technologie avancee de production de semences est primordial si on devait obtenir des semences ameliories, reconnues pour leur qualite superieure. En outre, si la recherche au sein de I'lCARDA devait produire des resultats pratiques, iI faudrait que ces semences anivent aux agriculteurs. Ceux la, a leur tour, devraient etre convaincus des avantages que I'utilisation de telles semences pourait bien leur porter, ce qui engendrerait une augmentation tant en quantite qu'en qualite des aliments disponibles aux pays en voie de developpement du Moyen-Orient et de I'Afrique du Nord; ceci etant I'objectif principal de /'lCARDA.
Les pays de la region different enormement tant par les systemes d'exploitation que chacun a developpe que par les conditions climatiques auxquelles les agriculteurs sont confrontes. Plusieurs varietes existent deja dansces pays, cependant, I'infrastructure de l'industrie de production de semences de la region, bien qu'elle ait atteinte differents niveaux de developpement dans les differents pays, a davantage besoin de consolidation. Ce document vient donc tracer les ''regles fondamentales" regissant la production de semences, une plethone d'options pami lesquelles chaque pays doit choisir ce qui lui convient Ie plus. Les auteurs ont donc voulu produire un guide pratique destine aux producteurs et techniciens, afin de les tenir au courant des dernieres technologies disponibles.
L'idee de ce documellt a pris naissance lors d'un colloque qui a eu lieu en Mars 1981, auquel avaient assiste 33 specialistes provenant de 16 pays en voie de developpement. L'ICARDA et la Station d'Essais de Semences du Gourvemement Royal des Pays-Bas (RPvZ) avaient sponsorise ce colloque, a I'issu duquel un cours de perfectionnement aux techniques de production de semences fut organise a I'lCARDA meme, pendant la periode Avril-Mai 1981.
Les specialistes de 10 pays du Moyen-Orient et de I'A/rique du Nord y ont participe et les conferences tenues furent publiees en 1983 sous Ie titre "Teclmologie de la Production de Semences".
Advance short course on Water Saving and Increasing Water Productivity: Challenges and Options
Author(s): Hamdy, Atef (International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), 2001-12-31)
Date: 2001-12-31
Type: Book
Status: Timeless limited access
The advanced short course is held under the running activities of the second phase of the Regional Action Programme (RAP), funded by the EU for the duration of two years: 2000-2002, and carried out by the National Water Research Center of Egypt in tight cooperation with CIHEAM/MAIBari.
The subject is of great importance to the world, in general, and to many countries of the Mediterranean region, in particular. The importance of freshwater for every major aspect of development is fully recognized but there is always a considerable mismatch of freshwater and water distribution in the world. The right quantity and quality of water is not generally available whenever required and wherever needed throughout the year. Hence, efficient water use and proper water management are essential. As the demand for water continues to increase, it is imperative that the limited resources be efficiently used.
During the last decade, there has been a growing realization that problems of freshwater availability and quantities are intimately linked to broader environmental concerns, and should not be viewed independently. An integrated approach to water resources management is essential.
There have been considerable advances in water-saving techniques, but much of it has not had yet large field and national applications. The transfer of management to local organizations often involves a host of complex issues. New models of interaction between government agencies and farming communities need to be developed.
In our regions, many of the positive experiences exist and the purpose of this course is to present, share, and discuss these experiences.