ICARDA Newsletter Focuses on Water Productivity, Drought-Resistant Fodder and Improved Seed Varieties

The February issue of the newsletter of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) highlights recent research and partnerships related to water, genetic diversity and climate-adapted crops in Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

Within the context of an ongoing partnership with the Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) in India, ICARDA is researching land and water productivity through the use of different cropping and irrigation practices, as well as building CAZRI's capacity to use crop modeling systems and apply best practices in experimental design.

ICARDA researchers have also been sharing experiences with Ethiopian researchers and rural development specialists through the US Agency for International Development (USAID)-supported Africa Rising Initiative, with a course on seed system development. ICARDA has been applying these practices through its work on enhancing the adoption of improved bean varieties in the Bale Highlands of Ethiopia.

The newsletter also describes ongoing work on the introduction of prickly pear cactus into Oman and UAE to act as a forage crop that is more tolerant to drought and salinity, than other fodder grown in the region.

ICARDA is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).