Discussion Forums for the ARD community

Dear Colleagues,

First of all I would like to thank you for giving us this unique opportunity. I would like to start by introducing myself to you. My name is Behrooz Arastoo. I am a educator at Division of natural resources, institute technical vocational higher education , in agriculture jihad, Semnan .IRAN I am Ph.D student My Ph.D.field of study is in land use management (GIS. RS).

I teach the courses on GIS, CLIMATOLOGY, GPS, RS, and application of computer software in natural resources as undergraduate course

My interest fields for research are : Climate change – ICT application in agriculture and environment change .

Best regards

Behrooz Arastoo.

institute technical vocational higher education , in agriculture jihad, Semnan .IRAN

po box 35145-393

Tel/Fax: ++98(231)4458887

Mobile Phone: ++98912-331-0141

Sharing our experience with agricultural innovation

Agriculture in the WANA region depends on irrigation and soil fertility as well as productivity. WANA's food security is comparatively fragile and therefore it is in need of developing its agriculture more rapidly. Since agricultural innovation is a major key for development, interaction and dialogue between the various stakeholders helps learning and capacity building in the field of agricultural knowledge and technologies. Information and knowledge systems enhance communication technologies and new ideas among the different stakeholders.

The aim of agricultural innovation is to improve the stakeholders' performance and the product quality.

What has worked until now, is science and technology in the field of agricultural innovation in the WANA region. However, organizations and structures of our various partners are on different levels of development and facing many problems.

Biotechnology, e.g. has a positive effect on agricultural innovation but still there are various barriers and obstacles to the implementation of biotechnological innovations as well as to their implementation, especially relating to a lack of adequate research facilities and infrastructure. Moreover, rural communities are mostly poor and untrained and therefore unable to share in agricultural innovation.

Prof. Dr. M.S.A.Safwat

Chairman of the Board, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Network, AARINENA

Dear all,

My name is Simone Staiger Rivas. I am a social communicator, based in Cali, Colombia. I have been working for the International Center of Tropical Agriculture CIAT and for the CGIAR and its ICT KM program for more or less 10 years now and I am very honored to coordinate the regional consultations globally and to facilitate the Asian Pacific consultation in particular.

It is a real pleasure to read through the introductions, so many experiences that should help a great deal in reshaping Agricultural Research to achieve a more significant impact on development.

I thought you might be interested in getting a sense of what is going on in the other regional consultations. Please find below a very short summary.

Also please note that we are currently trying to information of all the consultations on line. On the blog http://gcardblog.wordpress.com/ we share stories with previous authorization of the authors. On Twitter http://twitter.com/GCARD2010 we share quotes, links and news. I invite you to have a look, leave a comment on the blog and share those links with your colleagues.

Regional updates

Asia Pacific AP
· The consultation started on Tuesday and the list has currently 87 participants. We have received some 20 messages, some of them with very extensive experiences.

· The areas that have been covered by participants are: Farmer competitiveness, Food Security& diet sufficiency, Climate Change for a highly vulnerable Bangladesh, Soil Fertility & Safe Agriculture, native and invaded/exotic natural enemies -insect pests dynamics, response to climate change and the changing agro-ecosystem, the potential of native crops, the growing area of work on underutilized crops, examples for a more effective knowledge dissemination, many views and experiences on how to put the farmers into the centre

Central Asia and Caucasus CAC

· The consultation started on Wednesday and over 60 participants are subscribed. The discussion unfolds in parallel in English and Russian. Some 30 messages have been exchanged

· The covered areas are amongst others:

1. Organic farming and Environment - Heavy metal pollution that affects this area of agricultural production but also has other implications for general education.

2. Horticulture, fruits and vegetables and its importance in the region

3. Agricultural Research Systems in the region and the role of donors and International Agricultural Research Systems

West Asia and North Africa WANA

· The consultation started on Wednesday with 88 people who joined the group so far. More or less 40 messages have been sent.

· Some of the areas that have been raised: Drip/sprinkle irrigation, the relationship between water availability and rural poverty, the sue of Satellite Remote Sensing data in Pakistan, Farmer field schools in Pakistan, the need for strategic partnerships and functional extension services, the need to empower the women in the rural areas to take her real place in the food production, ICTs for development.

Europe EU
· The consultation started on Tuesday. 58 are subscribed to the list

· 5 introductions have been shared with some good stories on: the usefulness of connecting farmers into networks, the challenges of a rural development project in Romania, the potential of quality declared seed versus certified seed, the failure of agricultural research when it is done top-down and in isolation.

Africa FARA

· The consultation starts on Monday

· 150 people had subscribed yesterday

Americas Foragro

· The consultation starts on September, 14

· More than 400 participants subscribed !

Best regards and thank you all for your active participation which will make a real difference in the GCARD process.

Simone Staiger-Rivas
ICT-KM Program CGIAR
Knowledge Sharing Specialist
CIAT, Colombia
E-mail:
skype:simonestaiger
Phone: +57 (2) 4450222

my email is

--
Prof.Dr.Nabil Omar
Department of Microbiology,
Soils,Water and Environment Res.Ins.,
ARC,Giza,Egypt
9 El-Gamaa St.,Giza,Egypt
emial:

Dear All

I am Mohammed Ayesh (Msc soil and irrigation). I work for the National Center for Agricultural Research & Extension as water and environment researcher. My background is water management, saline water use, grey water reuse, permaculture and organic farming, community participation and public awareness. I focus on my research on activities which benefits the local community. for example, in the grey water project, proejct focus on help local community to utilize grey water for home garden irrigation, increase commnutiy participation, increase family income. In addtion, it is very important to focus on health issues, e.g organic farming, while discusing the need to increase to food for the poors. I hope this e-forum will gather the international experience on development of agricultural research toward helping the local community espcially the poor.

Regards,
Mohammed Ayesh
Water & Environment Researcher
National Center for Agricultural Research & Extension (NCARE)

Dear all,

It is great pleasure for me to participate in the e-consultation.

My Name is Samia Akroush , Jordanian , Ph.D. in Agricultural economics I work for the National Center for Agricultural Research & Extension (NCARE) as an Socio-Economist researcher and Director for the socio economic research study department. My background is agricultural economist with wide range of experience in designing, conducting, computer coding & analysis using statistical packages and writing final technical reports for the Socio-economic studies.

In 1998 started work as researcher at the National Center For Agricultural Research and Extension (NCARE) , Previously known as NCARTT , in the Socio-Economist research directorate , during this period conducted many research studies concerning economic and financial analysis and evaluation of projects and Formulation of questionnaires and field surveys, conducting benefits—cost analysis, econometric, socio-economic, and feasibility studies.

I have good experience in Coordinating and lead teams for project supervision and for the preparation of project completion reports and participate in pre-appraisal and appraisal mission led by national, regional and international institutions.

Also Carrying out economic and financial analysis and evaluation of projects. Formulation of questionnaires and field surveys, duties were also involved in conducting benefits—cost analysis, econometric, socio-economic, and feasibility studies.

Operating and participating in many activities and projects which are implemented by NCARE with cooperation with the National Center of Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas( ICARDA). In 2008-2009, national coordinator of the project " commodity chain of selected herbal and Medicinal plants in the NENA region

Participated and presented papers in many regional and international conferences . Participated in many training courses. I have (23) participation in regional conferences , meetings and workshops , 5 published papers and 6 reports in addition to participation as co author in many internal studies at NCARE.

Hope to have good role in the e- consultation

Thank you all

Best regards

Dr. Samia Akroush
Director of Socioeconomic Studies Directorate
National Center for Agricultural Research And Extension (NCARE)
Baq’a (19381). P.O.Box 639
Tel. 009626 – 4725071
Fax 009626 – 4726099 Mobile 0777841700
P.O.Box 639 Baqa’a 19381 Jordan

Dear all

It is my pleasure to introduce myself and share my experience, I am Mohammad Majdalalawi, I am an Environmental and water economist,working for AARINENA as a consultant in addition to teaching at Jarash University in Jordan.

From my experience the issue of water is one of the most important issues affecting agricultural development in the region and it is clear that most of the Arab countries are suffering from water problems. If we consider one figure only in this field the average share of water per person per year in Arab region is about 800mm3. This quantity is very low comparing with the average at the global level which is more than 7500 mm3. In addition to that the minimum requiring water for person in a year must be at least more than 1000mm3 (Line of Water poverty). Scarcity of water in the region reflects its impact on the food security; to produce our food we need sufficient quantity water.

I was working for Arab organization for Agricultural Development AOAD for few a years as a water awareness project leader. The application of this project was on the regional level of Arab countries. This project was funded by IFAD, IDCR and OPEC Fund. The idea of this project was to exchange the experience and information between different countries, it was oriented to the farmers as well as to the agricultural experts. It reflects the cooperation between countries and international organizations.

From my experience at regional level each country in the region has its own plan and has used its own technology to deal with this problem. Unfortunately these efforts at national level still need more cooperation, coordination and collaboration between countries as well as international organization especially if we considered the water problem must be dealt with at a regional level and to consider a comprehensive and integrated water management.

I hope to hear your opinion depending on your experience and arising the challenges and innovations of agricultural development.

Best regards

Majdalawi

E-consultation coordinator

AARINENA

Dear organizers and participants,

It is an honor to me to participate in this e-consultation, which might play an important role in agriculture improvement. Sharing our knowledge and pass it to the right scientist and the extension personnel can have a great impact on the future of agriculture, hope we all succeed in this vital mission for the sack of people who suffering from poverty and hunger.

Before I precede let me introduce my self:

My name is Mussaddak Janat

Nationality: Syrian

Office address: Atomic Energy Commission, Dept of Agriculture,

Damascus–Syria.

Education:

1983-1985 : Ms. In soil science. University of Arizona, USA

1986-1989 : Ph.D. in soil and water science, University of Arizona, USA.

List the specializations:

1- Soil fertility (N +P) Fertiliser Requirement of different crops.

2- Introducing drip irrigation for cotton, vines, and row crops.

3- Fertigation of cotton, potato, soybean and sugar beets

4- Irrigation scheduling of different crop.

5- Biological nitrogen fixation and biofertigation.

6- Reclamation of salt affected soil by biological mean.

7- Growing organic colored (Brown cotton) cotton.

8- Use of saline groundwater for irrigation.

Other specific experiences, not listed above, related to the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge are:

Scientific co-ordinator and director of the following Courses

1- IRTC (interregional training course) Use of Nuclear Techniques in Water and Nutrient Management Practices. Damascus, Syria. 1998.

2- IRTC (interregional) Use of Nuclear Techniques for Irrigation scheduling under Biosaline Agriculture Practices. Damascus, Syria. 2000.

3- National TC. Irrigation scheduling and soil moisture determination uses Neutron scattering technique. Damascus, Syria. 2001.

4- RTC (Regional training course) Drip fertigation, a promising approach for irrigation water and fertilizer rationing and clean environment using nuclear technique. Damascus, Syria 2003.

5- RTC (regional) Drip irrigation of row crops using different quality irrigation water. Damascus, Syria 2005.

6- Training more than 30 scientists from Yemen, Iran, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Jordan, and Pakistan.

Also I worked as;

External expert by IAEA to Yemen for establishing drip fertigation project on potato, and initiation TC project. March, 1999, May, 1999, June, 2000, June, 2001.

External expert by IAEA to Libya for establishing drip fertigation project on potato. May, 2004.

Special qualifications and skills confirmed by licenses and membership in professional, international, societies or institutions relevant to Field of work;

International Editor Pak Journal of Soil Science and reviewer for few international and national scientific journals.

Expert on irrigation water and irrigation techniques for the Arab Commission for Agricultural Investment. Sudan, 2007.

Member of the Central Fertilizer committee of Cotton in Syria.

Member of the central ferigation committee in Syria

Member of the central sugarbeet committee in Syria.

Lecturer at the Arab organization for agricultural development, Damascus, 2004, Dubai 2005 and 2006, Egypt 2006, in the field of saline agriculture, the use of non-traditional water for irrigation, irrigation water quality, irrigation methods and management, fertigation and biofertigation.

Participated in many national, regional and international conferences, meetings, workshops, and training courses.

Duties:

Since 1990 I have been assigned as a research co-ordinater to conduct research on different projects all are related to soil fertility, irrigation practices, reclamation of salt affected soils, Biofertigation, fertigation, and quantification of biological nitrogen fixation.

2000-2004
Irrigation and Water Requirements Division Head.

2006-2008
Soil and Plant nutrition Division Head.

Achievements:

1- National program for P and N fertilization of cotton grown under conventional surface irrigation and drip fertigation.

2- Quantification of biological nitrogen fixation by soybean and groundnuts using 15N dilution method.

3- Introduction of drip irrigation on cotton, sugarbeet, soybean, watermelon and potato.

4- Reclamation of salt affected soils and rehabilitation of waste lands.

Dear all

My name i Prof. Mohammad Samir El-Habbab. I am teaching in the Faculty
of Agriculture, University of Jordan. MOre over I am conducteing
dseveral consultancy with national, regional and internatioal agency
mainly in the field of agricultural marketing. I am now resposible to
prepare the agricultural research review in WANA and NIle valley& red
Sea regions. I hope that all of us will benefit of the contributions
of the registered scientists for the sake of enable the agricultural
research to drive poverty alleviationa nd economic development in our
countries.

Best regards

Prof. Mohammad Samir El-Habbab

Dear All

It is a great pleasure to share with you all experience and to introduce myself.

Esmat Al-Karadsheh, Jordanian. Ph.D. in Water Management and Environment, University of Kassel/Faculty of Ecological Agricultural Sciences/Germany in cooperation with Federal Agriculture Research Center (FAL)/Braunschweig/Germany 2003. During the 1987-1993 worked as teaching and research assistance in the UoJ/Faculty of Agriculture and private companies. In 1993 started work as researcher at the National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension (NCARE), previously known as NCARTT, in Water and Environmental Management Researches Directorate. During this period, conducted many field studies and researches concerning the best management and usage of conventional and non-conventional water (Saline and Treated Wastewater) in irrigation participated and presented papers in many regional and international conferences and member in some national committees such as establishing a national strategy for the irrigated agriculture, evaluating the research activities in NCARE, and formulating the research plans for the future works as well as member in evaluation missions. In 2003-2008, was the regional coordinator for the international project "Improving the Irrigation Water Management in Jordan and Lebanon-IRWA Project" financed by the European Commission. In June 2008 appointed as national coordinator for "Oasis-Combating Land Degradation" and "ME Water-Livelihood Initiative: Improving Rural Livelihood through Sustainable Water and Land Use Management in ME Countries, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen" and "Community Based approach for reuse of greywater in home gardening" Projects.

Regards

I am Dr. Rachid Mrabet, actually research leader at INRA Morocco and regional director of Center at Tangier. I am holding a PhD in agronomy from colorado state university and a MS from University of Minnesota and Agronomic Institute of Rabat. I am working mostly on conservation agriculture in semiarid Morocco. For more details on my CV please conslut my website : http://rachidmrabet.googlepages.com

All the best

Dear all

I agree with Dr Majdalawi. Aalthough the arab countries face a severe problem of water resources shortage, it is most important colaboration at national and regional level. For example, the inetrnational water is an issue face several arab countries which a clear understanding on the important of this water and the real need to utilize the int. water for differnet purposes. Better collaboration and cooperation and agrrement between Arab and other countries would lead to better management of the int. water at national level.

Regards,
Mohammed Ayesh
NCARE

Dear participants in the e-consultation for developing a research priority for WANA.

I am pleased to be part of this process which at the end will have a positive impact on the research activities that will be implemented in our region to serve the development in the countries and to help reduce poverty and improve the livelihood of the rural poor.

let me introduce myself, I am Nasri Haddad, a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Jordan, I have a PhD in plant breeding. My work at the Faculty of Agriculture include teaching graduate and under graduate course in plant breeding, plant genetic resources and crop management, advise graduate students at the MSc and PhD levels. My research work focused on breeding and management of food legumes (lentil and chickpea). I worked with ICARDA for around 12 years as the Regional Coordinator for West Asia Regional Program (WARP) based in Amman, Jordan and Regional Coordinator for Nile Valley and Red Sea Regional Program based in Cairo, Egypt. My major tasks in these positions are to manage research and to coordinate regional projects. I am currently the ICARDA Regional Coordinator for WARP based in Amman in a leave from the University.

I hope during the course of this process we will have the chance to interact, exchange views and reach some consensus of the major issues.

looking forward for a fruit full consultation for the benefit of our countries and the region.

Nasri Haddad

Dear Colleagues and participants,

There is a general agreement these days after the food crises at the different levels (policy makers and scientists) that agriculture is the main tool to alleviate poverty and improve livelihood of the rural poor. It is well established now that the effect of the agriculture sector in reducing poverty and improving livelihood is much higher than any other sectors in any country. And also that research on Agricultural and natural resources management problems can play a key role in achieving these objectives and eventually will contribute to the achieving MDGs.

Our region (WANA) is suffering from water scarcity, severe drought, land degradation and desertification, low crop productivity and increasing yield gap, which all contribute to the modest effect of the agriculture sector in the overall development and in achieving the mentioned objectives above ( differences among countries in this regard exist) .

The problems that the region is facing required combining both the conventional research approach with advanced tools. In some cases the research results showed a significant improvement on crop productivity but have not been adopted by farmers and users. Soft type of research in studying constraints (policy, institutions and technology suitability to the target agro-ecology) is what is needed in such case. The weak linkage between research and extension/knowledge dissemination system is the area that need to be addressed to make research more effective and yield the anticipated impact.

The research priority could be easily figured out by addressing the problems that the encountered the development of the agriculture sector, some of which have been mentioned earlier in this message.

In our region On-farm water management and better water use technologies are needed. However, Sustainable crop improvement specially the staple food commodities is also very important area for research which have a direct impact on improving farmers income and their livelihood.

There is a need to adopt new tools for research such as biotechnology for the genetic improvement to address the difficult problems that is facing plants (drought , salinity, and pests) and animals. The Region is suffering from these problems and development can’t move steadily with out having solutions to some of these problems.

Research is needed on crop diversification and sustainable intensification of the production system, farmers in our area are used to grow certain crops which some time have low return; research is needed to introduce and adapt new crops ( high value commodities) such as medicinal and dramatic plants or high value vegetable etc, to the production system. This will also ensure farmer income diversification and stability.

The area of land degradation and desertification combating is a neglected research area at the national level, and these areas are being addressed when outside fund is available and in response to the donors requirements. I believe there is a growing concern recently at the national research systems about the importance of these areas as priority area in there research agenda.

We should not forget a neglected area in the region research agenda which is the policy and institution research.

How we develop policies to enhance agricultural growth.

How we integrate proper technologies, policies and institutions options (TIPOs) to enable growth, improve farmers income and conserve the resource base.

How could we improve knowledge dissemination.

How could we improve the capacity of our researchers.

These are some topics for discussion.

Nasri Haddad

ICARDA RC, West Asia Regional Program

Amman, Jordan

Dear All
I highly appreciate the invitation for the participation in this e-consultation that will hopefully contributes to GCARD.

To introduce my self:
I am Butros Hattar ,an associate Professor of Soil Fertility and Chemistry , and also the Director of Water and Environmental Research and Study Center(WERSC) at the University of Jordan. Prior to this, I was a Project Manager (1995-2002) of a EU-funded Jordan Arid Zone Productivity Project. I have published several papers dealing with soil fertility and fertilizers, plant nutrition, and management of arid soils of Jordan. I have a PHD in Soils from Washington State University.

Best regards

Butros Hattar,Ph.D

Director

Water and Environment

Research and Study Center.

Univ.of Jordan, Amman

Tel.Office

+962-6) 5355000 Ext. 23900