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The CGIAR 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands
Author(s): Baum, Michael (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2024-12-01)
Date: 2024-12-01
Type: Presentation
Status: Timeless limited access
Presentation on the CGIAR 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands.
Mapping and Profiling Legume Seed Value Chain Actors in Morocco: Chickpea and Lentil
Author(s): Bishaw, Zewdie; Imtiaz, Muhammad; Yigezu, Yigezu; Lammari, Abdelali; Rredani, Latifa; Boughlala, Mohamed (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2024-12-01)
Date: 2024-12-01
Type: Internal Report
Status: Timeless limited access
In Morocco, food legumes occupied as large areas as 600 thousand ha in the early 1970s. Thereafter, however, the area under food legumes fluctuated with a general downward trend. For the period 2001-2010, the annual average was 427 thousand ha per year which decreased to 404 thousand ha between 2011 and 2022. In 2024, the area allocated to food legumes is about 200 thousand ha. The decline in food legumes area is due not only to climate variability (periodic droughts) but mainly to other factors such as diseases (including Orobanche and Ascochyta Blight), increased mono-cropping of cereals and other crops, and lack of appropriate technologies (such as lack of high yielding, water efficient, and short duration varieties which are also amenable to mechanization). Moreover, the market for food legumes still suffers from poor organization because it remains controlled by several intermediaries that are exploiting their power to extract more than their fair share of the price without making comparable value addition thereby reducing the price received by food legume producers. In these conditions, more efforts are needed to improve food legume production and rehabilitation. As part of the solution to revitalize food legumes, this study aims to investigate the systemic challenges of the seed system and identify the constraints and opportunities of the main stakeholders. Due to time and resource constraints, only lentils and chickpeas were targeted.
According to the results of interviews and surveys, legumes-certified seed production is far from being a priority for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests (MARDWF). However, it is important to note that many actors are involved in the seed sector and the most important ones are AMMS, INRA, FNIS, ONSSA, ONCA, and COMADER. The private sector is involved in the seed sector but not in food legumes. According to the Moroccan Seed Growers Association (AMMS), the Department of Agriculture will launch a new initiative in the 2024-2025 cropping season by targeting seed multipliers operating within the aggregation system and including them under contracts for certified seed multiplication. The constraints of the legume sector do not pertain to only the production of certified seed, but also to the lack of appropriate varieties, limited number of herbicides, lack of sufficient incentives, high demand for labor, and mechanization.
Where Do We Stand After Ten Years of Harmonized Seed Trade Regulations in COMESA? Case Studies from Egypt and Sudan
Author(s): Bishaw, Zewdie; Yigezu, Yigezu; Berhane, Guush (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2024-12-01)
Date: 2024-12-01
Type: Policy Contribution
Status: Open access
1. Background and context
Effective seed systems that provide farmers access to well-adapted and quality seeds are crucial for food system transformation and improving food security in Sub-Sahara Africa. However, seed systems across SSA are at early stages of development and only a fraction of farmers in this region have access to improved varieties and quality seeds (FAO, 1998, Cromwell, 1987, Rohrbach et al., 2003, Hunga et al 2023) particularly for food security crops. Lack of access to quality seeds of well adapted varieties thus remains a critical bottleneck to transforming Africa’s food systems, in general, and the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) region, in particular (Gaffney et al., 2016).
An important historical precedence in the global varietal release and seed system development is that countries need not wait until local capabilities are developed to generate their own improved varieties. Historically, countries have benefited from sharing of imported improved high-yielding varieties developed through research and breeding programs elsewhere and facilitated by deliberate cross-border seed trade. A notable example is the cross-border trade of high-yielding rice and wheat varieties among the participants of the Green Revolution in Asia (Hazel, 2019). Besides facilitating the transfer of technologies, such cross-border seed trade allowed the introduction of diverse crops adapted to regions with unique environmental and agroclimatic conditions and enabled them to mitigate local challenges.
Cross-border seed trade is however unlikely to occur in a vacuum and involves a robust national and regional seed sector organized with coherent and transparent seed laws and regulations that facilitate trade (Rohrbach et al., 2003; Hunga et al., 2023). An efficient and transparent seed regulatory system is crucial to ensure that farmers have timely access to high quality seed at an affordable price (See e.g., Kuhlmann et al., 2023). While cross-border seed trade and integration of regional markets can help resolve this challenge, lack of harmonized, lengthy, and bureaucratic varietal release and registration system, seed quality assurance and certification procedures, and inadequate phytosanitary and quarantine measures for seed import and export as well as non-transparent, and non-inclusive domestic seed regulations stand out as obstacles in this process (Daniel et al., 2019; Hunga et al 2023). Harmonizing varietal release and seed regulations is thus crucial for promoting regional seed trade and ensuring the safe movement of improved varieties and quality seeds across borders (Rohrbach et al., 2003, Kuhlmann, 2015, Kuhlmann, 2023).
Regional organizations such as COMESA (The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) have been aspiring to bridge cross-border trade through harmonized seed regulations across member states (Kuhlmann, 2015; Hunga et al., 2023). A notable example is the strategic initiative of COMESA’s specialized agency of the Alliance for Commodity Trade in East and Southern Africa (ACTESA) to harmonize seed trade regulations across the COMESA region. The initiative, which is known as the COMESA Seed Harmonization Implementation Plan (COMSHIP) was signed by all member states in 2014 (COMESA, 2014; Kuhlmann, 2015). The launching of COMESA’s seed trade harmonization regulations is considered an important milestone for Sub-Saharan Africa’s seed sector development1.
COMESA has collaborated with other regional organizations, including the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to establish the COMESA-SADC-EAC Tripartite Free Trade Area, which includes harmonized seed trade regulations that aimed to streamline the marketing, and removal of barriers for variety release and registration as well as seed production, certification, and marketing (UNECA, 2012; Hunga et al., 2023). The COMESA regulations aim primarily to harmonize variety release and registration procedures, seed quality assurance and certification schemes, and phytosanitary and quarantine measures in the region (Kuhlmann, 2015; Gaffney et al. 2016; Munyi, 2022). An important feature in this regulation is that a variety is released and registered in the COMESA catalogue
Small-Scale Mechanization Adoption and Scalability: Consultation Workshop and Policy Dialogue in Egypt
Author(s): Devkota Wasti, Mina; Attaher, Samar (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA))
Date: 2024-12-09
Type: Internal Report
Status: Timeless limited access
Implementing small-scale mechanization in Egyptian agriculture can increase productivity,
promote sustainability, and enhance socio-economic resilience among smallholder farmers.
However, in overall, adoption of mechanization is low in Egypt. In this context a stakeholder
consultation and policy dialogue was organized with focusing on option for scaling out scale
appropriate mechanization for smallholder farmers in Egypt.
On 9th December 2024, ARC and ICARDA held a pivotal workshop titled Challenges and
Opportunities for Small-Mechanization Scalability in Egypt to address the critical issues
and opportunities surrounding agricultural mechanization in Egypt. The workshop was held at
the Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AEnRI- ARC) in Dokki-Giza. This workshop
brought together 58 diverse groups of experts, including agricultural engineers, economists,
industry representatives, researchers, and policymakers, to discuss and evaluate the current
state and prospects of small-scale agricultural machinery in Egypt.
Recommendations from the workshop included revising cooperative laws, exploring funding
programs for small-scale projects, and promoting multi-purpose machinery to enhance cost
efficiency. Participants also emphasized the need for collaboration between manufacturers and
researchers to create tailored solutions for small plots and fragmented landholdings. Digital
tools, such as online platforms for machinery promotion and technical support, were proposed
to bridge gaps in communication and accessibility.
The workshop underscored the importance of coordinated efforts to address the barriers to
mechanization and drive sustainable agricultural practices in Egypt. By fostering partnerships
and leveraging innovation, the sector can unlock its potential and significantly improve
productivity for smallholders.
To improve the state of agricultural mechanization, coordinated efforts among government
bodies, private sector players, NGOs, and research institutions are essential. Recommendations
include subsidizing machinery costs, promoting local manufacturing, and developing
cooperative-run machinery pools. Training farmers and creating financing options, such as
leasing or installment plans, will further support smallholders in adopting mechanization.
Private sector involvement in designing compact, affordable machinery tailored to small-scale
farming is also critical.
Strengthening spare parts availability, improving diagnostic capabilities, and fostering
collaboration between manufacturers and farmers will also be pivotal in driving mechanization.
With strategic investments and focused initiatives, Egypt's agriculture can transition toward
higher productivity and sustainability. Addressing the gaps in mechanization will reduce
dependency on manual labor, improve crop yields, and ensure food security, particularly for
small-scale farmers who form the backbone of the agricultural sector.
Sustainable Land Productivity and Community Resilience: Micro and Meso-Scale Water Harvesting in Jordan's Rangelands and Rainfed Areas
Author(s): Dhehibi, Boubaker; Haddad, Mira; Souissi, Asma (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2024-12-31)
Date: 2024-12-31
Type: Working Paper
Status: Open access
This section should provide a snapshot of the entire document and highlight the most important findings. This working paper highlights the economic and environmental benefits of implementing micro and meso-scale water harvesting (RWH) technologies in Jordan’s arid and semi-arid regions, emphasizing their potential for sustainable water and land management. Technologies analyzed include Vallerani RWH, Marab RWH, and olive farming techniques (soil and stone bunds) tailored to diverse topographical and ecological conditions.
Key findings demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and profitability of these systems. Olive soil bunds
emerge as the most cost-efficient option, with a low investment of US$76 per hectare and an exceptional Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 23.36, reflecting significant economic returns. Marab RWH shows moderate capital expenditure (US$918/ha) but offers strong financial viability with a Net Present Value (NPV) of US$6,699 and a payback period of just three years. Vallerani RWH, while having a more extended payback period (6 years), provides extensive ecosystem restoration benefits alongside economic returns.
Beyond financial indicators, these technologies enhance ecosystem services by reducing runoff and
soil erosion, improving soil fertility, and increasing water retention. They support agricultural productivity, stabilize degraded lands, and contribute to climate resilience. The integration of these systems into national water management strategies can address pressing challenges like water scarcity, desertification, and land degradation.
Policy recommendations emphasize scaling up these RWH systems across suitable regions, ensuring
community engagement, and integrating them into broader watershed management frameworks. Strategic investment in these technologies will not only enhance agricultural sustainability but also strengthen Jordan’s resilience to climate variability and resource scarcity.