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A QUARTERLY REPORT TO THE ICARDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

01 October – 31 December 2005

Table of Contents

Subject Page No 1. RESEARCH AND TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS 2 1.1 MegaProject 1: Management of Scarce Water Resources 2

And Mitigation of Drought in Dry Areas 1.2 MegaProject 2: Integrated Gene Management 5 1.3 MegaProject 3: Improved Land Management to Combat 17

Desertification 1.4 MegaProject 4: Diversification and Sustainable Improvement 20

Of Crop and Livestock Production Systems in the Dry Areas 1.5 MegaProject 5: Poverty and Livelihood Analysis and Impact 25

Assessment in Dry Areas 1.6 MegaProject 6: Knowledge Management and Dissemination 27 1.7 Human Resources Development Unit (HRDU) 29

1.8 Computers and Biometrics Services Unit (CBSU) 31 1.9 Communication, Documentation and Information Services (CODIS) 32

1.10 Geographic Information Systems Unit (GISU) 33 2. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 46 2.1 Arabian Peninsula Regional Program (APRP) 34 2.2 Central Asia and the Caucasus Regional Program (CACRP) 36 2.3 Highland Regional Program (HRP) 37 2.4 North African Regional Program (NARP) 37 2.5 Nile Valley and Red Sea Regional Program (NVRSRP) 38 2.6 West Asia Regional Program (WARP) 39 3. DONOR RELATIONS 39 3.1 Project Proposals Submitted 39 3.2 Project Proposals Approved 41 4. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTS 41 5. STAFF MATTERS 46 6. OTHER DEVELOPMENTS 47

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1. RESEARCH AND TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS 1.1. MegaProject 1: Management of Scarce Water Resources and Mitigation of Drought in Dry Areas 1.1.1. Developments in Research

Benchmark Water Productivity Project • Because of low and erratic rainfall and fragile environment, water harvesting is crucial and is a

challenge for the Badia site of the Water Benchmark Project. Dr Adriana Bruggeman and Mr. Akhtar Ali prepared a hydrologic assessment and hydraulic design for a water harvesting reservoir (hafir) for the Badia Benchmark Watershed in Jordan. The work included GIS-modeling and original estimation procedures to overcome the lack of data.

• Mr. Akhtar Ali traveled to Jordan (October 10-13) to assist with the topographic surveys for the water harvesting reservoir of the Water Benchmark project.

• Drs Benli, Shideed, Bruggeman, Oweis and Mazid prepared the questionnaires for Syria Satellite Site in cooperation with the Syrian NARS to evaluate the impacts of supplemental irrigation technology.

• Drs Benli and Oweis prepared the Work plan for Iraq satellite site in collaboration with the Iraqi partners to evaluate the actual Water Productivity in major irrigated environments in Iraq.

• As part of the research activities to assess and improve on-farm WP in the Water Benchmarks of WANA project and in direct interaction with Moroccan NARS (the rainfed benchmark site), Drs Hamid Farahani and Bogachan Benli reviewed and finalized the water productivity (WP) research proposals (15-20 Oct, 2005). During the site visit, the above team discussed and finalized the technical and operational field activities (05/06), reports, and training needs.

• Dr Benli worked on the modeling activities for Rainfed Benchmark Site with Moroccan colleagues from INRA. The work included data preparation and methodology.

• Dr Benli traveled to Egypt to support NARS in implementing the Water Benchmark project trials, which have been established in the Old land, New land and Marginal land of Nile Delta. Also, he reviewed the on-going modeling activities with the colleagues from ARC.

• Dr Benli traveled also to Morocco for observing the Water Benchmark project trials, which are established in Tadla irrigation district.

Challenge Program - Karkheh River Basin • As part of the CP-PN8 (Improving Water Productivity in Karkheh River Basin (KRB) Project)

and with assistance from Dr Siadat and Dr Amri and guidance from Dr Keshavarz, Dr Farahani and the above team reviewed and facilitated the conceptual development of the Upper/Lower KRB Basin Modeling proposal (to be implemented by Sharif University in Tehran). The team discussed the status and progress of the other three on-going water productivity (WP) research activities, namely on-farm evaluations of the causes of low WP in the rainfed areas north of the KRB dam, the fresh water irrigated areas immediately below the dam, and the irrigated saline areas downstream of the dam and in south-western Iran. A meeting with the Webpage team members was also held (jointly with PN24).

• On-farm supplemental irrigation trials were established in Kermanshah (10 locations in Merek) and Lorestan (11 farms in Honam).

• On-farm soil and water salinity studies and agronomic trials were implemented in irrigated farms in lower KRB (9 farms in Dasht-e-Azadegan).

• Field visits were made to select 100 farms for WP studies under fresh water and non-saline soil conditions in lower KRB (Sorkheh area) (Farahani+Siadat).

• Discussions were made by Drs Oweis and Turkelboom with IWMI representative on synergies between the new KRB-BFP (Basin Focal Project).

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Vallerani Water-harvesting Project • Mr. Akhtar Ali prepared the technical report, annual work plan and budget, and progress report

for Vallerani water harvesting project in Syria and Jordan. Mr. Akhtar Ali, Drs Oweis, Bruggeman, and Shideed traveled to Jordan (November 20-23) to discuss the work progress and work plan for the coming year with the Syrian and Jordanian NARS, during the annual planning meeting of the Vallerani Water Harvesting Project.

• Water and soil loss monitoring system for the Vallerani Water Harvesting Project sites were designed and equipment was procured and installed on the sites.

Bright Spot Salinity Project • Databases on soil, water, and crops were collected from the field trials in three Central Asian

countries (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan) under the IWMI-ICARDA-ICBA joint project funded by the Asian Development Bank. These trials address management of three major problems in the region, (1) conjunctive use of marginal-quality water resources, (2) evaluation of bio-drainage as a substitute to partly- or non-functional artificial drainage system, and (3) management options for sustainable use of high-magnesium land and water resources.

Comprehensive Assessment on Supplemental Irrigation and Water Harvesting • Drs Benli, Oweis and Pala worked on the CropSyst model calibration for Syria, Morocco and

Turkey to analyze the Yield Gap. • Dr Bruggeman traveled to Tunis, December 15-18 to work with Drs Ben Mechlia and

Masmoudi at INAT on the report of the assessment of the suitability for water harvesting and supplemental irrigation in Tunisia for the Comprehensive Assessment.

• Dr Oweis coordinates and leads the Assessment chapter on water productivity and on rainfed agriculture.

• Dr Qadir coordinated and led the Assessment chapter on marginal quality water.

Khanasser Valley Integrated Research Site • Dr Bruggeman and Mr. Elco Luijendijk worked on the development of criteria for the

assessment of the potential of small dams to improve water resources for the Khanasser Valley area. The work included literature and data review, field visits, and meetings with the officials from the Ministry of Irrigation in Aleppo, and development of a short report for the SUMAMAD project.

• Dr Bruggeman and Mr. Luijendijk improved, extended, and edited the chapters of the Khanasser Water Book, a cooperative work with the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria and the University of Bonn.

• Dr Bruggeman, Mr. Luijendijk and Dr Armin Rieser (Bonn University) traveled to Damascus, December 7, to review the edited version of the Khanasser Water Book with Drs Jamal Asfahani and Boulos Abou-Zakhem of the Atomic Energy Commission and to obtain clarifications and improvements.

Balochistan • The ‘Food Security/Poverty Alleviation Project’ in Balochistan, has a strong water management

component. Four research themes were identified: (i) irrigated agriculture, (ii) floodwater harvesting for crop improvement, (iii) sailab/rainfed agriculture with supplemental irrigation, and (iv) water harvesting for range rehabilitation. Technical guidelines for diagnostic analysis and implementation of different research scenarios were developed for NARS.

• Mr. Akhtar Ali traveled to Pakistan (December 1-11) to provide technical backstopping to the ‘Food Security/Poverty Alleviation Project’ in Balochistan. The mission started the implementation of micro-catchment water harvesting for range rehabilitation and management of irrigation conveyance losses.

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Diverse Modeling Activities • Dr Bruggeman traveled to Medenine, Tunisia, December 8-14, 2005, to work with Mohamed

Ouessar, Fethi Abdelli, and Dalel Ouerchefani of IRA, and Rabi Mohtar of Purdue University to (i) work on the editing of the Proceedings of Workshop on Watershed Management in Dry Areas, held January 2005; (ii) write the extended abstracts of the International Soil Conservation Organization (ISCO) Conference to be held in May 2006, Morocco (see publications); (iii) work on a journal publication of a Water Harvesting Structures Evaluation Tool; (iv) to improve the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model application for Oum Zessar watershed, (v) to develop a water harvesting design and modeling project for Purdue students (senior engineering design project); and (vi) develop a brief proposal for continued support by USDA-FAS.

• Dr Bruggeman continued the work on the modifications of the SWAT watershed model code for improved application in the dry areas.

• Dr Benli worked on the comparison of six reference evapotranspiration equations using lysimeter measurement data from Ankara, Turkey.

• Dr Bruggeman and Dr Ian McCann, Delaware University, worked on a model for the scheduling of supplemental irrigation in rainfed environments for application in northern Syria and for submission to the journal Applied Engineering in Agriculture.

1.1.2. Training (Reported by HRDU) 1.1.3. Conferences, Workshops and Meetings • Dr Manzoor Qadir traveled to Sri Lanka (24-30 September) to participate in the Annual Research

Planning Meetings at the IWMI Headquarters. 1.1.4. Publications: Journal Articles and Conference Papers • Ilbeyi, A., H. Ustun, T. Oweis, M. Pala, B. Benli. 2005. Wheat water productivity and yield in a

cool highland environment: Effect of early sowing with supplemental irrigation, Ag.Water Man., Article in Press, Available online October 2005.

• Benli, B., M. Pala, T. Oweis, and C. Stockle. Evaluating CropSyst performance for wheat production under early sowing with supplemental irrigation in a cold highland environment. Submitted to Agr. Systems Journal.

• Luijendijk, E. and A. Bruggeman. Groundwater resources in the Jabal Al Hass region, northwest Syria: An assessment of past use and future potential. Submitted to Hydrogeology Journal.

• Ali, A., T. Oweis, A. Yazar, and F. Topalaglu. Community-based rainwater management to combat desertification: Experiences in the drylands. Submitted to Conference on Water and Land Management in Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.

• Bruggeman, A. and G. van der Meijden. Assessment of water use in a small watershed in Northern Syria, using SWAT. Submitted for publication in the SWAT 2005 Conference Proceedings.

• Ouessar, M., A. Bruggeman, F. Abdelli, R. Mohtar. Use of SWAT model for the assessment of land use changes in an arid watershed of Southeast Tunisia (Extended abstract). Submitted to ISCO Conference, May 2006, Morocco.

• Ouerchefani, D., K.S. Bracmort, R.H. Mohtar, M. Ouessar, A. Bruggeman, F. Abdelli, M. Boufelgha. Evaluation of water-harvesting structures in Southern Tunisia. (Extended abstract). Submitted to ISCO Conference, May 2006, Morocco. Other publications:

• Oweis, T. and B. Benli (Eds.) 2005. “Background Papers”, a document for the Water Benchmarks of CWANA project.

• Oweis, T. and B. Benli (Eds.) 2005. “Review of previous works”, a document for the Water Benchmarks of CWANA project.

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• Oweis, T., A. Bruggeman and B. Benli (eds.) 2005. “Site Selection and Characterization”, a document for the Water Benchmarks of CWANA project.

1.1.5. Project Proposals Prepared/Submitted/Approved • A concept note on "Community-based water-harvesting dams", in cooperation with the Ministry of

Irrigation in Aleppo, was submitted to the World Bank Development Market Place 2006. • The water benchmarks project proposal was submitted to the OPEC FUND and is now in the

pipeline. • T Oweis initiated a proposal on implementing Vallerani mechanical water harvesting in North

Africa together with Dr El Mourid. • A concept note on "Improved recharge well design for groundwater resources in the dry areas" was

submitted to the World Bank Development Market Place 2006, by the Institute des Regions Arides, Tunisia, with support of ICARDA and Purdue University.

• A cooperative proposal on "Sustainable Water Management in the Arid Regions of the Middle East and North Africa" was developed with the Institute des Regions Arides, Tunisia, and Purdue University, and submitted to USDA-FAS, Washington DC.

• Drs Farahani and Oweis prepared a draft proposal for the 2005 Austrian Targeted Funding. • Dr Oweis finalized a proposal on supplemental irrigation in Central Anatolia of Turkey and

submitted to the NARS for review. • Drs Benli and Qadir together with Mr. Mohtar Kelkouli, ITGC Algeria, developed the ‘Algerian

Satellite Site’ proposal on use of treated sewage water and submitted to IDRC. • Dr Oweis participated with other partners in the Mediterranean and Europe in the development of a

project proposal on assessment of the impact of climate change on agriculture, water resources and other aspects. The proposal has passed the 1st screening by the EU.

Other research proposal finalization: The following research proposals were discussed and approved for final submission to AREO, Iran: • Improving rain water productivity by supplemental irrigation and agronomic management in

rainfed areas of upper Karkheh River Basin (KRB). This includes 3 research activities. • Assessment and improvement of water productivity in KRB (under fresh water and non-saline

soil conditions). This includes 4 research activities. Improving agricultural water productivity in saline areas of KRB. This includes 4 research activities.

• Analyzing the effectiveness of policy and institutional options and the economical feasibility of improved irrigation management technologies in KRB (First draft, joint with PN 24)

• Assessment of the upstream/downstream relationship and potential impacts of SI and improved irrigation management downstream (First draft).

• Two proposals on economical assessment of irrigated fields in KRB (joint with PN24).

1.2. MegaProject 2: Integrated Gene Management 1.2.1. Developments in Research Barley Project The barley trials and nurseries were planted at Tel-Hadya, Breda, Terbol, and Kfardan. The seed increases for 2006/07 International Nurseries were planted at Tel-Hadya. Twenty-five locations were planted for the participatory breeding program (PPB) of Barley in Syria. A new PPB program on barley and durum wheat was started in Algeria. In Jordan, NCARTT started the institutionalization of PPB in barley, wheat and chickpea. The barley planted in the summer season in Mexico was harvested. Putative new sources of resistance to Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) and other diseases were identified among the barleys screened from the ICARDA gene bank. On-farm evaluations produced positive results. The barley material at Ciudad Obregón was planted on time in November. An area reduction

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close to 50% was planned due to the increasing costs of the land. A first participatory research experiment (part of an M. Sc. thesis) was planted at Ciudad Obregon with the technical collaborations of Drs S Ceccarelli and S Grando and implementation support from the barley program. Spring Bread Wheat Project Evaluation of Summer-planted Spring Bread Wheat (SBW) nurseries at Terbol, Lebanon, for leaf and stem rust resistance revealed several promising populations and advanced lines. These selections were advanced for further agronomic and yield evaluation in autumn planting. Planting of 2005/06 spring bread wheat trials and nurseries at Tel Hadya and Breda in Syria, and at Terbol and Kfardan in Lebanon has been completed. Similarly, planting of seed increases for 2005/06 International Nurseries and collaborative on-farm trials with NARS has also been completed at special seed increase block in Tel Hadya. Dr Osman Abdalla visited SPII, Iran during Nov 10-17, 2005 to jointly plan and supervise with Iranian colleagues 2005/06 plantings of AREO/ICARDA International Spring Wheat Improvement Program (AIISWIP). By 1st week of Dec 2005, planting of all AIISIWP nurseries, yield trials and segregating populations was completed at Dezful, Iran. Winter Facultative Wheat Project Evaluation and selection of promising genotypes in the International Winter Wheat Improvement Project was completed in Tel Hadya and in Turkey. Also International WFW Nurseries were prepared and dispatched to NARS. One set of irrigated winter wheat CB was sent to Uzbekistan. Also one set of advanced lines for semi-arid and one set of segregating materials (F3) were sent to Iran. Evaluation of the performance of selected breeding materials in summer nurseries for growth habit and leaf rust resistance were done in Terbol, Lebanon. Planting the breeding materials and yield trials in Turkey and Tel Hadya was completed. Durum Wheat Project Durum wheat trials, segregating populations and genetic stocks were planted in Tel Hadya and Breda stations. Large number of advanced lines would be evaluated in 2006 based on this planting. The data analysis in November/December revealed a large number of advanced lines superior in disease resistance, quality parameters, and yield and showing improved adaptability in drought environments of Mediterranean region. Additionally, the durum wheat project participated in shuttle breeding involving ICARDA location at Tel Hadya and Iran location at Dezful for the project AIISWIP. JIRCAS/ICARDA Collaborative Project in Wheat This project “Evaluation of genetic resources and biotechnological approaches for the improvement of wheat germplasm tolerant to environmental stresses” is implemented by three experiments. Experiment 1: Effect of water stress on the yield performance of durum and bread wheats is being conducted by M N Inagaki, M Nachit, T Inoue with objective to evaluate the effect of water stress on the yield performance of durum wheat and synthetic bread wheats. Experiment 2: Effect of stone-mulching on soil moisture and yield performance under dry conditions in wheat is being conducted by M N Inagaki, M Nachit, T Inoue with objective. to evaluate the effect of stone mulching to retain soil moisture and depress soil temperature using a stony field. Experiment 3: Crossability of durum wheat with Triticum tauschii (Aegilops squarrosa) is examining the crossability of durum wheat genotypes with Triticum tauschii accessions collected from West and Central Asia to develop more wide range of synthetic hexaploid wheat genotypes tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses. Food Legume Project Lentil improvement: The lentil summer nurseries comprising of F1, advancing RIL populations to Fx generation, advancing F2 to F3 generation of all segregating populations, seed increase of progenies; materials in preliminary

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screening nursery etc. were planted and harvested successfully in Terbol, Lebanon. Observations were recorded; analyzed and final selection of the materials in various stages of breeding cycles was done and the experimental plan for the program was formulated. The materials were shipped to ICARDA HQ, Aleppo, Syria. According to work-plan, winter experiments were planted at Terbol, Lebanon, Breda in Syria. The Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) trials were planted at 9 villages in lentil-growing areas in Syria. Planting of experiments at Tel-Hadya continued. Seeds of improved varieties were distributed to 296 farmers in Syria (‘Idlib-2’ to 181 farmers and ‘Idlib-3’ to 115 farmers). Each farmer has been given 50 kg seeds to plant 0.5 ha of land. Results of 234 lentil accessions for micronutrient analyses were reported. Considerable number of Iron and Zinc-rich genotypes has been identified. The genotypes were chosen for hybridization both for breeding and biotechnological studies. Crossing block is planted in plastic house, where hybridization among early-maturing parents has already started. Pure lines of wild lentils developed from natural populations were planted for wilt screening studies in the Plastic house at ICARDA. Faba bean improvement: A total of 21 faba bean inbred lines, widely adapted with large seeds (11 lines), and highly resistant to chocolate spot and Ascochyta blight (10 lines) were planted in the crossing blocks in the plastic house at Tel-Hadya. To build up the genetic base of hybrid varieties (50 crosses) and combine wide adaptation with disease resistance (46 crosses), hybridization work has been in progress since middle of December in the plastic house at ICARDA. Segregating populations for resistance to chocolate spot were planted (under screen houses) at Lattakia, and for resistance to Ascochyta blight and Orobanche at Tel Hadya, during the last week of November. F1 crosses along with different new breeding lines were planted for seed multiplication (under screen houses) at Tel Hadya in late December. Results of F6 populations evaluated at Lattakia and Tel Hadya during 2004/05 showed that 127 lines were promising for resistance to chocolate spot, 8 lines promising for resistance Ascochyta blight, and 16 lines for combined resistance to both diseases. Some lines with combined disease resistance were re-evaluated under heavy natural infestation with Orobanche, at Tel Hadya and 10 of these lines combined resistance to chocolate spot, Ascochyta blight and Orobanche. Response of ten faba bean entries to sprinkle irrigation revealed highly significant differences. Irrigated entries yielded 2.9 t/ ha, on average, as compared to un-irrigated which yielded 1.2 t/ ha, an average increase of 135 %. A total of 97sets of faba bean international nurseries were distributed to NARSs, for further evaluation for chocolate spot (26), Ascochyta blight (21), Orobanche (21), S1 populations (18) and low tannin content (11). Chickpea improvement: Summer nurseries were harvested at Terbol, Lebanon and observations recorded and analyzed and the seed material brought to Tel Hadya. Specific seed requirements from different national programs including Iraq, CAC countries, Afghanistan and Syria were handled and seeds dispatched. Seeds for cold tolerance and Ascochyta blight nurseries involving different segregating populations and elite lines, and preliminary yield trials were prepared and planted at Tel Hadya and Terbol. Chickpea International Nurseries for most of the countries and special nurseries for CAC countries and Iraq were prepared and dispatched. Major portion of the winter plantings has been done. Large quantities of seed of two recently released cultivars, ‘Ghab 4’ and ‘Ghab 5’ were distributed to about 80 farmers in Syria for demonstration and adoption by the farmers. Sites for Farmers’ Participatory Trials in Syria were selected and seed made ready for planting in early January. The seed multiplication for the core program and for the NARS (Legume International Nurseries for 2004/05 season) was planned and planting done in collaboration with Seed Unit. The increase of seed for the derived recombinant inbred lines (for mapping) is being made in the plastic house at Tel Hadya. Forage Legume Project Forage legumes trials and nurseries were planted at Tel Hadya and Breda. Seed for low neurotoxin grasspea lines were planted for multiplication in isolation plots to avoid out-crossing. Collaboration with Agha Khan Foundation is continuing for the second year in Salamiyeh, Syria. 500 kg each of common

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vetch and narbon vetch were distributed to farmers in Salamiyeh area. The total number of farmers has increased this year three times more than the first year. Seeds of Vicia ervillia were sown as an intercrop with olive trees as a source of feed and protection of the soil from erosion. Turkmenistan national program announced new release of grasspea variety named ‘Hassyly’. The new variety is a selection from grass pea line # 554 supplied from ICARDA and tested for four years. The variety is a forage type with high biomass (herbage) production, cold and drought tolerance with less than 0.09 % neurotoxin B-ODAP. Biotechnology Construction at ICARDA Tel Hadya of a 40 x 80 m fenced area for field testing of gene flow in ICARDA mandated crops (which are predominantly autogamous) was completed and panting of transformed lentil and chickpea done. The national bio-safety committee of Syria approved the testing of biotech crops in lentil and chickpea for the growing period of 2005/2006. Analysis of data of wheat collection derived from EST-SSR through ABI 377 was completed. Characterization of the Afghanistan barley germplasm through ABI 377 is underway. Biotechnological Evaluation of Germplasm Work is continuing in the Generation Challenge Program commissioned program on Lentil. DNA from 1000 accessions was extracted. Microsatellite analysis of these 1000 accessions is currently underway at ICARDA. Work is continuing on a USAID Linkages Project in collaboration with the University of California, Davis. Direct DNA sequencing based on primers designed from sequences that are conserved between Medicago truncatula and Arabidopsis thaliana is being carried out. To date, a total of 15 genes have been sequenced for 300 accessions. Cereal Pathology Planting of disease nurseries at HQ (Tel Hadya), Tartous and Breda was completed. Seedling evaluation of wheat germplasm for resistance to leaf rust was done. Characterization of yellow rust isolates sampled in Syria in 2005 was completed. A special stem rust trap nursery was assembled and dispatched to 8 countries (Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Syria, and Turkey) for fall panting. Selected wheat germplasm and stem rust trap nursery were assembled for dispatch to Kenya and Ethiopia for off-season testing for stem rust resistance. Wheat germplasm was evaluated at Terbol station (Lebanon) for resistance to rusts. Upgrading of research facilities in the Cereal Pathology Laboratory to 1) strengthen DNA marker-based research on fungal pathogens and 2) facilitate molecular characterization of resistance in wheat to rust and septoria diseases is underway. Microsatellite data analysis and interpretation of the results of the ICARDA/ETH-Zürich collaborative project titled, “Improving resistance to barley scald through understanding the processes that govern the evolution of Rhynchosporium secalis populations” was completed. A novel mark-release-recapture field experiment was used to demonstrate that sexual recombination, immigration, and host-driven selection operate in the barley/Rhynchosporium secalis pathosystem during the barley-growing season and provide ample opportunity for rapid evolution/adaptation of barley scald pathogen populations. These findings have significant implications for the development of improved scald resistance breeding strategies globally. Legume Pathology All foliar disease nurseries were planted at Tel-Hadya and Lattakia. Part of IPM experiments was planted; the other parts will be planted early January 2006. New cheap, efficient alternatives for inoculum preparation were tested and validated. Screening of chickpea lines for resistance to Pathotype III of Ascochyta blight was started under the plastic house conditions. Virology Dr Safaa Kumari and Eritrean colleagues conducted an extensive survey to identify virus diseases affecting chickpea crop in the major chickpea production areas of Eritrea during the period of 13-22 November 2005. Selected breeder’s materials and wild relatives of cereals were planted in the field to

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screen for resistance to Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). Faba bean, lentil, pea and lentil wild relative accessions were planted in the field to screen for resistance to Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV). Faba bean germplasm was planted in the field to screen for Bean leaf roll (BLRV) and Faba bean necrotic yellows (FBNYV) viruses. Two field experiments to study the inheritance of BLRV resistance in faba bean and lentil were planted. Virus management experiments to study the effect of host genotype, planting date, seed treatment with a systemic insecticide, and number of sprays with insecticide and mineral oil were planted in the field at Tel-Hadya, Lattakia, Al-Ghab and Haran stations. Maize streak virus (MSV) was purified and a new antiserum for it will be prepared in the coming few months. International Crop Information System and International Nurseries Network We received a total of 124 individual requests from 50 countries for 1950 sets of Nurseries/Trials. In compliance of these requests, more than 9.3 metric tons of seeds were dispatched to more than 50 countries through the International Nurseries and special dispatches this quarter. In addition, a total of 35 special dispatches weighing 2847 kg were also made. International Barley and Chickpea Information System (IBIS & ICIS) became available on the ICARDA Intranet. Genetic Resources Unit Seed evaluation/processing: • Seed cleaning and data collection was completed for 9913 accessions of grain legumes including

1117 accessions of chickpea and wild Cicer, 677 accessions of lentil and wild Lens, 1819 accessions of faba bean, 500 accessions of Lathyrus and 5800 accessions of Vicia. A total of 91,482 seed bank accessions representing 69% of the total ICARDA collection (132,233) were bar-coded. 95% of ICARDA’s collection stored in the seed bank has seed bank location coordinates (position of each sample in the seed bank).

• 7000 germplasm plots (both cultivated and progenitor cereal species) were planted in the fields at ICARDA Headquarters and at Breda (ICARDA off-station drier site) for characterization and regeneration during 2005-2006 growing season.

• Seed of 3960 accessions of grain legumes has been planted for multiplication, including 244 accessions of chickpea, 49 accessions of wild Cicer, 365 accessions of lentil, 76 of wild Lens, 1607 accessions of faba bean, 673 accessions of Lathyrus, 254 accessions of Vicia and 692 accessions of Pisum. Seed has also been planted for evaluation, including 972 accessions of lentil, 28 accessions of wild Lens, and 432 accessions of faba bean. The lentil and wild Lens accessions were planted at 2 locations.

• 6426 seed samples of barley, wild barley, cultivated and wild wheat were processed and distributed from ICARDA seed bank. 449 of the seed samples were distributed to scientists in 5 countries (England, Italy, Tunisia, Syria, and Switzerland). While 5977 seed samples were utilized by ICARDA commodity programs.

• 5335 seed samples of faba bean, cultivated and wild chickpea, cultivated and wild lentil were processed and distributed from ICARDA seed bank. 552 of the seed samples were distributed to scientists in 3 countries (Azerbaijan, Canada, and India). While 4783 seed samples were utilized by ICARDA commodity programs.

• 2215 seed samples of Medicago sp., Trifolium sp., Pisum sp., and Lathyrus sp. were processed and distributed from ICARDA seed bank. 89 of the seed samples were distributed to scientists in 3 countries (Denmark, Jordan, and Iran). While 2126 seed samples were utilized by ICARDA commodity programs.

• In total 2112 germplasm accessions were tested for viability that included 1378 cereal, 610 food legume and 124 forage accessions.

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Seed Health Activities More than 10,000 incoming seed accessions were tested for seed-borne pathogens; all incoming seeds were planted in post-quarantine fields. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to test fungicide seed treatments against common bunt (Tilletia caries and T. foetida) for durum wheat, against smut and Fusarium for bread wheat and against covered smut (Ustilago hordei) and barley stripe (Helminthosporium gramineum) for barley. 1.2. 2. Training Highlights (See also HRDU) Individual non-degree training: Ms Roula Shamsi (Syria) completed individual training on “Molecular Characterization of Pyrenophord triticirepentis (Tan Spot) on Durum Wheat in Syria”. Mr. Ali Sbeih (Syria) also received his training on Faba bean Ascochyta Blight for 2 months. Ms Suheir Nassif Al-Sermani (Syria) joined for one week training on Cereal Quality Evaluation. Mr. Maher Abdel Kader Nattour, Mr. Zahed Mohammad Abd Al Rahman (Syria) and Ms Najat Adnan Saad (Iraq) received one month training on Seed Health Testing. Short-term courses: Drs S Asaad and S Kumari conducted two-week in-country Seed Health Training Course for 23 participants at Karaj, Iran. Seven female scientists working for seed health labs in Iran participated in the course. Graduate research students: Ms Kinda Mousa, University of Aleppo, completed her M. Sc. thesis research in the Virology Laboratory and successfully defended her thesis on 15December entitled "A study of pea enation mosaic virus on lentil in Syria". She was awarded the degree with a rating of “Very Good”. Mr. Aladdin Hamwieh, Ph.D. student in Biotechnology defended his thesis on “Developing of Micro-satellite Markers for Lentil” at Kiel University, Germany on 27 November. Mr. Mohtasham Mohammadi, Ph.D. student from Tehran University defended his thesis on “Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis for related traits of drought tolerance on barley” in November 2005. 1.2.3. Conferences, Workshops and Meetings • FAO, Plant Production and Protection Division, held Expert Workshop on “Breeding and Disease

Management Strategies for the Prevention and Control of the New Virulent Race of Wheat Stem Rust” at Rome Dec 15-16, 2005. Dr O Abdalla and Dr A Yahyaoui presented papers on containment of UG 99 race of stem rust in this workshop.

• Dr S Rajaram participated in ASA meeting in Salt Lake City from 6 – 10 November and presented a paper on Sustainable Wheat Production System. Dr S Ceccarelli gave a presentation on “Participatory Plant Breeding: a Fast Track to Variety Development” co-authored by Dr S Grando. Dr A Sarker and Dr R S Malhotra participated as well and presented papers.

• Dr S Rajaram presided on the 7th International Wheat Conference (IWC) in Mar del Plata in Argentina from 27 Nov – 2 Dec. Dr M Mosaad presented a paper on “Identification of Wheat Genotypes adapted to Rainfed Condition with Responsiveness to Supplemental Irrigation”. Dr A Yahyaoui also participated in this conference.

• Prof Dr Adel El-Beltagy and Dr S Rajaram attended the meeting on Global Rust Initiative (GRI) in Nairobi Kenya in September.

• Dr S Rajaram participated the CGIAR meeting in Marrakech in Morocco in December. • Dr M Mosaad and Dr S Rajaram attended the Wheat Meeting in Cairo to strengthen GRI Program. • Drs K Makkouk and S Kumari attended the 4th International Food Legumes Research Conference,

October 18-22, 2005 at New Delhi, India and presented a paper entitled “Management of viruses in food legumes”. Drs Adel El-Beltagy, W. Erskine, M.C. Saxena, A. Abd El-Moneim, A. Sarker, S. Khalil, M. Baum and R. S. Malhotra also presented their papers. Dr Bayaa presented a poster on “Identification of New Sources of Resistance to Faba Bean Ascochyta blight.”

• Dr B Bayaa, Dr S Kumari and Dr S Asaad attended the workshop on “Utilization of Intelligent Systems for Plant Protection Project”, one of the CGIAR ICT-KM project activities, 25-26th October, Cairo, Egypt. Twenty-two project partner staff members and six NARS representatives

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from 4 countries attended this workshop. Dr B Bayaa initiated the work on Chickpea Expert System “Knowledge acquisition”.

• Dr M El Bouhssini attended a workshop on the Barley Expert System, 25-26 October, Cairo, Egypt. • ICARDA in collaboration with ARI, Eritrea, DIAS and KVL, Denmark organized a workshop on

Integrated Cereal Disease Management in Eritrea (Asmara, October 1-7). • Dr K Chabane participated to the International Symposium in Crop Improvement in Algeria from 4

to 8 Dec and delivered a talk on: “Comparison of EST-SSR, EST-SNP and AFLP markers for evaluation of genetic diversity on barley”.

• Dr B Furman attended the Expert Consultation on Genetic Erosion Methodologies and Indicators” at ICRISAT, India, 19-21 December as an invited speaker.

• Dr A Sarker participated in CLAN Steering Committee Meeting, 2-5 November 2005. CLSU, Munoz City, Philippines.

• The Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO) organized at Kulumsa Research Center, Ethiopia, 10 – 12 Oct, a national training workshop on wheat rust: “Retrospect and Prospect of Wheat Variety Development for Rust Resistance,” co-sponsored by ICARDA and CIMMYT, focused on the outbreak of stem rust in East Africa. Dr O Abdalla and Dr A Yahyaoui participated and gave a joint presentation entitled “Breeding for Rust resistance at ICARDA”.

• Dr O Abdalla attended the10th NARP Regional Coordination Meeting in Tunis, Dec 13-14. Dr A Yahyaoui also participated and delivered a talk on behalf of the IGM-MegaProject Director.

• Dr S Ceccarelli attended the European Seminar on Seeds “Liberate Diversity” (Poitiers, France) Nov. 24-25, and spoke on “Participatory Plant Breeding-an example of demand-driven research”.

• Dr M El Hadi Maatougui attended the Challenge Program Water & Food (CPWP) workshop on: “Enhancing human and ecological well-being in Africa through sustainable increases in water productivity” and the CPWF project leaders’ annual meeting. Both events were organized by the CPWF-IWMI and the National Water Research Center of Egypt. Dr Maatougui presented the activities of “Water productivity improvement in the Atbara basin of Eritrea”.

• Dr Maatougui conducted a Mini Workshop on “Participatory Plant Breeding” in Algiers for breeders of ITGC and INRAA, and senior research staff the National Chamber of Agriculture (December 24). 26 scientists (14 women and 12 men) attended the workshop. I was one of the concluding activities of Consultative Workshop on Participatory Plant Breeding (CONPAB), Specific Support Action, funded by the European Commission (Contract nº INCO-CT-2003-502444).

• Dr F Capettini participated in the 2005 Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) Forum organized by the US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative at Milwaukee, USA, and presented the highlights of the research supported by this program.

• Dr J Valkoun participated in the 11th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-11) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Montreal, 28 November – 2 December. On behalf of ICARDA’s Director-General, he presented a keynote address on biodiversity, land degradation and poverty alleviation in dry and sub-humid lands as a part of SBSTTA-11’s focus on dry and sub-humid land biodiversity. An extended abstract of the presentation was published as the first success story in implementation of the programs of work on dry and sub-humid lands and the global taxonomy initiative in CBD Technical Series No. 21.

• Dr M Inagaki attended JIRCAS Workshop “Research and Development for Sustainable Dryland Agriculture in West Asia”, December 13, 2005, at JIRCAS, Tsukuba, Japan. He also attended Hokkaido University /JIRCAS joint seminar “Root Improvement for Dryland Agriculture- Current Problems and Solutions”, December 14, at JIRCAS, Tsukuba, Japan.

• Dr M El-Bouhssini attended a planning meeting of the IPM CRSP project led by Michigan State University in Central Asia, 29-30 November, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

• Dr B Bayaa traveled to Australia during the period from 23 Sep - 10 Oct to: i) attend the Australasian Plant Pathology Conference in Geelong (26-29 Sep) and present a poster on management of Chickpea Ascochyta blight, ii) discuss with Australian partners results of last year

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and work plan for 2006 related to ACIAR-funded project on plant health management of pulses, and iii) visit experimental field trials in South and West Australia.

1.2.4. Key visitors to the Program • Drs B Parker, M Skinner from the University of Vermont and M. El Bouhssini traveled to Iran

where they sampled a persistence study of entomo-pathogenic fungi established two years ago in Esfahane and Varamineand met Iranian collaborators and policy makers.

• Dr Jerome Enjalbert from INRA-Grignon, France visited the Cereal Pathology Laboratory (November 20-23, 2005) to discuss and develop collaboration on wheat yellow rust research in the Mediterranean region.

• Dr Iyssau Ghebretatios, Director General and Ms Selam Tesfay, researcher, National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Eritrea, visited the IGM-MP2 to get acquainted with on-going ICARDA activities.

• Dr James Stangoulis and Mr. Lyndon Palmer from the Waite Analytical Services, University of Adelaide, visited the barley and lentil projects to review quality laboratory procedures in the framework of the HarvestPlus activities.

• Prof T Hoshino, Iwate University and Prof T Terauchi, Hokkaido University, October 8-15, 2005. • Dr Wolfgang Kasten from Germany visited Biotechnology Lab to get acquainted with ICARDA

activities during 24-26 October 2005. • Dr Jubrael Jaladat from Iraq visited Biotechnology Lab during 12-15 November 2005 to develop

biotechnology collaborative projects with ICARDA. • Dr Mesut Keser from GDAR, Turkey visited the Program to get acquainted with the activities in the

Integrated Gene Management during 18-21 December 2005. 1.2.5. Publications-prepared, submitted, published Journal articles published: • Abidou, H., A. El-Ahmed, J. M. Nicol, N. Bolat, R. Rivoal and A.Yahyaoui. 2005. Occurrence and

Distribution of Cereal Cyst Nematodes in Syria and Turkey Nematol.Medit.2005. • Abidou, H., S. Valette, J. P. Gauthier, R. Rivoal, A. El-Ahmed and A. Yahyaoui. 2005. Molecular

Polymorphism and Morphometrics of Cereal Cyst Nematodes in Syria and Turkey. Journal of Nematology 2005.

• Al-Yassin, A., S. Grando, O. Kafawin, A. Tell and S. Ceccarelli. 2005. Heritability estimates in contrasting environments as influenced by the adaptation level of barley germplasm. Annals of Applied Biology, 147: 235-244.

• Chabane, K., G.A. Ablett, G.M. Cordeiro, J. Valkoun and R.J. Henry. 2005. EST versus genomic derived microsatellites for genotyping wild and cultivated barley. Genet. Resources & Crop Evol. 52 (7): 907-913.

• Kiros-Meles, A., A. Yahyaoui, H. Abu-Blan, S. Udupa and M. Baum. 2005. Genetic and virulence diversity in a Jordanian field population of Rhynchosporium secalis on barley. Arab Journal of Plant Protection. Volume 23, Issue 2, December 2005.

• Malhotra R.S., A.M. Nassif, K.B. Singh, and G. Khalaf. 2005. Registration of ‘Ghab 4’ Kabuli Chickpea Cultivar. Crop Science 45: 2653.

• Nassif A.M., R.S. Malhotra, K.B. Singh, and G. Khalaf 2005. Registration of ‘Ghab 5’ A- Kabuli Chickpea Cultivar. Crop Science 45: 2652.

• Sabaghpour, S.H., R.S. Malhotra, and T. Banai. 2005. Registration of ‘Hashem’ Kabuli Chickpea. Crop Science 45: 2651.

• Sarker A., B. Bayaa, H. El-Hassan, and W. Erskine. 2005. New sources of resistance for fusarium wilt in lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris). Journal of Lentil Research: 1:30-33.

• Singh M., A. Sarker and W. Erskine. 2005. Estimation of heritability using spatial variability models: The case of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) trials in Syria. Indian J. Genet. 65 (2): 77-83.

Journal Articles) Prepared/Submitted/Accepted

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• Abang, M. M., A. Yahyaoui, C. C. Linde, S. Ceccarelli, B. A. McDonald. Local adaptation and effect of host genotype on the rate of pathogen evolution: an experimental test in the barley/Rhynchosporium secalis pathosystem (Journal of Evolutionary Biology).

• Bekele, B., S. G. Kumari, K. Ali, A. Yusuf, K.M. Makkouk, M. Aslake, M. Ayalew, G. Girma ad D. Hailu. 2005. Phytopathologia Mediterranea, 44: (in press)

• Bouajila, A., S. M. Udupa, S. Haouas, M. M. Abang, M. Baum, H. Harzallah and A.Yahyaoui. 2005. Genetic Variation among Rhynchosporium secalis Populations of Tunisia. Annals of Applied Biology (2005).

• Bouagila, A., S. Haouas, M. Fakhfakh, S. Rezgui, M. El Ahmed and A. Yahyaoui. 2005. Phenotypic diversity in Rhynchosporium secalis (Oudem) in Tunisia. African Journal of Biotechnology (2005).

• Capettini, F., S. Grando, T. Ban and J. Valkoun. 2005. Searching for novel sources of resistance to Fusarium head blight in barley. In 2005 Fusarium Head Blight Forum, USWBSI, Milwaukee, USA, December 9-11 2005.

• Furman, B.J. Book Review: Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering and Crop Improvement: Volume 1 Grain Legumes. Experimental Agriculture. (In press).

• Furman, B. J. Methodology to establish a composite collection: Case study in lentil. Plant Genetic Resources: Conservation and Utilization. (In press).

• Gahoonia, T. S., O. Ali, A. Sarker, A. Jahoor, and M. M. Rahman. (2005). Exploration of reasons for adaptation of Grasspea. Focus on genetic variation in root system and nutrient acquisition. Comm. to Plant Analysis and Soil Science.

• Guo, P., M. Baum, S. Grando and S. Ceccarelli. The refereed journal article “QTLs for chlorophyll and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in barley under post-flowering drought” (prepared).

• Kiros-Meles, A., A.Yahyaoui, S. M. Udupa, H. Abu-Blan, and M. Baum. Molecular genetic and diversity and variation for virulence in populations of Rhynchosporium secalis from barley fields in Ethiopia (European Journal of Plant Pathology).

• Kumari, S. G., K. M. Makkouk and N. Attar. 2005. An improved antiserum for sensitive serologic detection of Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus. Journal of Phytopathology 153: (in press).

• Kumari, S.G., I. Muharram, K.M. Makkouk, R.-El-Pasha, W.A. Al-Motwkel and A. Al-Ansi and A. Haj Kassem. 2005. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection.

• Kusmenoglu, I., R. S. Malhotra, N. Aydin, and K. B. Singh 2005. Registration of ‘Gokce’ A- Kabuli Chickpea Cultivar. Crop Science (Submitted).

• Mishra, S. K., A. Sarker, D. Basandrai, A. K. Basandrai and B. B. Singh. 2005. Slow rusting and potential donors for its resistance in lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus). Indian J. Genet.

• Nan, Z-B., A. M. Abd El-Moneim, A. Larbi and B. Nie. 2005. Productivity of vetches (Vicia spp.) under alpine grassland conditions. Tropical Grassland. (in press)

• Upadhyaya, H. D., B.J. Furman, S. L. Dwivedi, S. M. Udupa, C. L. L. Gowda, M. Baum, J. H. Crouch, H. K. Buhariwala, and Sube Singh. Development of a composite collection for mining germplasm possessing allelic variation for beneficial traits in chickpea. Plant Genetic Resources: Conservation and Utilization. (In press).

• Varshney, R. K., K. Chabane, M. Prasad and A. Graner. Comparative assessment on EST-SSR, EST-SNP and AFLP markers for evaluation of genetic diversity and population structure in wild, cultivated and elite barleys.

• Vashney, R. K., T. Thiel, M. Baum, K. Chabane, J. Valkoun, S. Grando and Graner A. Defining a core set of informative genic SSR and SNP markers for assaying functional diversity in barley.

Articles in the Proceedings • Abd El-Moneim, A. M., L. Larbi, H. Nakkoul, H. Kayyali and R. Ammanah - 2005. Selecting grass

pea (Lathyrus sativus, L.) Lines for food and feed production in crop- livestock systems in the dry areas. 4th International Food legumes Conference, New Delhi, India, October 18-22, Pp 2427.

• Abd El-Moneim, A. M., A. Larbi, M. Pala and H. K. Frincioglu - 2005. Forage legume germplasm improvement for increased feed production and system productivity in dry areas. 4th International

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Food legumes Conference, New Delhi, India, October 18-22, pp. 34. • El-Beltagy, A., Valkoun, J., Amri, A., Thomas, R. and K. Shideed. 2005. Biodiversity, land

degradation and poverty alleviation in dry and sub-humid lands. In: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Success stories in implementation of the program of work on dry and sub-humid lands and the global taxonomy initiative. Abstracts of Poster Presentations at the 11ht Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Technical and Technological Advice of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal, Technical Series no. 21, pp. 13-20.

• Larbi, A., R. Salvador – Fernandez, M. Sanchez, C. D. Hunbury, W. D. Pitman, M. B. Adjei, I. Nsahlai and A. M. Abd El-Moneim - 2005. Feed legumes for improved animal productivity. 4th International Food legumes Conference, New Delhi, India, October 18- 22, pp 3.

• El Bouhssini, M., S. Khoja, R. S. Malhotra and A. Joubi. Mechanisms of Resistance to Chickpea Leaf Miner (Liriomyza cicerina Rond.). 4th International Food Legumes Research Conference, October 18-22, New Delhi, India.

• Chabane, K and R.K. Varshney. 2005. Proceedings of International Symposium in Crop Improvement. APV2005. 4-7 December 2005, Algeria. Comparison of EST-SSR, EST-SNP and AFLP markers for evaluation of genetic diversity on barley. Pp72-74.

Book Chapter submitted Kumar, P. L. and S. G. Kumari. 2005. Virus diseases of chickpea. In: Molecular Characterization of Plant Viruses. G.P. Rao (Editor). Studium Press, Houston, USA. Neupane, R. K., A. Sarker, R. Shrestha, N. K. Yadav, W. Erskine and C. Francis. 2005. Boosting lentil production in Nepal. APAARI publication, Bangkok, Thailand. Abstract for scientific meeting • Amirov L., R. S. Mirzoev, A. Sarker, R. S. Malhotra, B. Djumakhanov and R. S. Paroda. 2005.

Progress in chickpea and lentil research in Azerbaijan: A New start. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 113.

• Aydogan A., A. Kahraman, F. J. Muehlbauer, A. Sarker and W. Erskine. 2005. Evaluation and selection for winter-hardiness in 10 lentils (Lens culinaris Medikus) recombinant inbred populations for adaptation to high elevation regions of Turkey. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 84.

• Bayaa B., M. Kabakebji, S.Khalil, B. Furman and S. Kabbabeh. 2005. New faba bean (Vicia faba L.) Lines with combined resistance to Ascochyta fabae Speg. and Botrytis fabae Surd Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October 2005, New Delhi, India.

• Bayaa. B and Kabbabeh. S. 2005. Fungicide timing affects control of chickpea Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei) in Syria. Australasian Plant Pathology Conference. Geelong, Australia.

• Djumahkanov B., A. Sarker, R. S. Malhotra and R. S. Paroda. 2005. Chickpea and lentil: Future protein-rich crops for Central Asia and the Caucasus. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 41.

• El Bouhssini M., S. Khoja, R. S. Malhotra and A. Joubi. Mechanisms of resistance to chickpea leaf miner (Liriomyza cicerina Rond). Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October 2005, New Delhi, India. p. 77

• Erskine W. and A. Sarker. 2005. Varietal adaptation in food legume improvement. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 10.

• Gowda L. L., R. P. S. Pundir, H. D. Upadhaya, M. Seymour, M. Ali, M. M. Raman, X. Zang, S. Khalil, A. M. Haqqani, S. H. Sabaghpour, Aung May Than and J. K. Milgo 2005. Impact of research and development of food legumes on production and productivity in the last two decades presented in the 4th International Food Legumes Research Conference, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India.

• Imomov S., B. Odinaev, B. Djumakhanov, R. S. Malhotra, A. Sarker and R. S. Paroda. 2005. Progress in chickpea and lentil research in Tajikistan. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 113.

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• Khalil S., B. Bayaa, R. S. Malhotra, M. Singh, W. Erskine, and M. C. Saxena. Performance of ten-faba bean (Vicia faba L.) crosses for resistance to Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta faba Speg.) Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October 2005, New Delhi, India. p 80

• Makkouk, K. M., R. A. C. Jones, F. Morales and S. G. Kumari. 2005. Management of viruses in food legumes. Page 29. In: Abstract book of 4th International Food Legumes Research Conference: Food legumes for Nutritional Security and Sustainable Agriculture, New Delhi, India, October 18-22, 2005. M. C. Kharkwal (Editor). 502 pp.

• Malhotra R. S., A. Sarker, Shree P. Singh, S. P. Dixit, S. Khalil, and T. C. Wang. Biodiversity, Pre-breeding and Participatory Variety Selection in Food Legumes. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October 2005, New Delhi, India.

• Malhotra R.S., A. Sarker, Shree P. Singh, G. P. Dixit, S. Khalil and T. C. Wang. 2005. Biodiversity, pre-breeding and participatory variety selection in food legumes. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 30.

• Medeubayev, R., R.S. Malhotra, and B. Djumakhanov. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in rotation of rainfed conditions in southern Kazakhstan. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October 2005, New Delhi, India. p 392.

• Mishra S.K., B.B. Singh, A. J. Prabakaran, A. Sarker, Dayachand and K. N. Meena. 2005. Potential donors for multiple disease resistance in lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus). Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 335.

• Mihailovie V., A. Mikic, B. Cupina, B. Krstic, D. Milic, S. Vasiljevic and A. Sarker. 2005. Preliminary results of testing narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis L.). Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 425.

• Omar Ali M., A. Sarker, M. M. Rahman, T. S. Gahoonia and M. K. Uddin. 2005. Seed priming in lentil: A key production technology for resource-poor farmers of Bangladesh. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 361.

• Omar Ali M., A. Sarker, M. M. Rahman and M. K. Uddin. 2005. BARI Mung 6: A milestone of mungbean production and soil fertility improvement through rice-wheat-mungbean cropping pattern. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 401.

• Sarker A., B. B. Singh, R. S. Malhotra, S. Gupta, S. Khalil, G. P. Dixit, T. Wang, T. Warkentin and W. Erskine. 2005. Breeding for resistance to biotic stresses in food legumes. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 27.

• Sarker A., A. Aydogan, S. H. Sabaghpour and W. Erskine. 2005. Genetic enhancement for abiotic stress resistance in lentil. Abs. Proc. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, 6-10 November, USA.

• Saxena, M.C. 2005. Challenges in Legume Improvement- Global Perspective. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India.

• Sharma B., A. Sarker, S. S. Yadav and S. K. Mishra. 2005. Breeding strategies in grain legumes. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 9.

• Singh B.B., Shree P. Singh, A. Sarker and Y. Chauhan. 2005. Genetics and breeding for drought tolerance in food legumes. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 22.

• Vacheshvilli P., S. Kopakhia, A. Sarker, R. S. Malhotra, B. Djumakhanov and R. S. Paroda. 2005. Progress in goof legume research in Georgia. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 114.

• Yadav N.K., A. Sarker, R. Darai and B. N. Adhikari. 2005. Food legumes research and production in Nepal. Abs. Proc., International Food Legume Research Conference-IV, 18-22 October, New Delhi, India. P. 114.

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• Yahyaoui, A., O. Abdalla and S. Rajaram. 2005. Monitoring Wheat Rusts in the Caucasus, Horn of Africa, Central and West Asia. 7th.International Wheat Conference, Mar del Plata, Argentina (27 Nov. – 2 Dec., 2005).

• Yahyaoui A. 2005. Yellow Rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici): Epidemiology and Global Threat to Wheat Production. 7th International Wheat Conference: GRI-Workshop, Mar del Plata Argentina. Nov. 28. 2005).

1.2.6. Project Proposals-prepared, approved, concept notes submitted • Dr S Kumari met Dr M Farahpour, Head of Rangelands Research Division, Research Institute of

Forest & Rangeland (RIFR) and his staff, Tehran, Iran on December 21 to develop a 3-year virus research project proposal entitled “Characterization of viruses affecting cereal wild relatives and grasses, and identify the virus vector in Iran”.

• Dr S Kumari met Dr Kaveh Bananej, Deputy of research, PPDRI, Tehran, Iran on December 22 and discussed a project proposal to be submitted soon entitled “Characterization of viruses casing yellowing symptoms affecting cool season food legume in Iran, and producing diagnostic regents for their detection and developing improved control strategies”.

• A TCP on ‘Cereal Rust Monitoring in East Africa’ was prepared for FAO support. • Proposal for ADB support entitled, “Integrated Management of Wheat Diseases and Insect Pests in

CAC countries” was revised. • A concept note and detailed project on Cereal Rust Monitoring in CWANA was prepared. • A concept note for Food Legume Improvement for Sustainable Agriculture was prepared for

international funding. • A proposal on ‘Participatory Approach for Improved Livelihoods from Legumes Targeting the

Poorest of the Poor in Bangladesh and Nepal’ was prepared for Canadian bilateral funding in Bangladesh & Nepal.

• Under the Generation Challenge Program five concept notes for commissioned research were prepared: 1. Development of SSRs and characterization of faba bean, 2. Institutional bioinformatics capacity building, 3. Marker-assisted selection in barley with Morocco and Jordan, 4. Database development for GCP crops, and 5. Allele diversity at orthologous candidate genes in GCP crops.

• A proposal “Analysis of Allelic Gene Expression in ICARDA Mandated Crops” was prepared for submission to GTZ for the German post-doctoral fellowship program.

• Dr B Furman of GRU and Dr Michael Baum, Biotechnology, presented a commissioned research proposal for a multi-institutional collaborative research project on faba bean evaluation to the Generation Challenge Program.

• Dr S Asaad submitted one concept note entitled “Production of healthy wheat seeds in Afghanistan”.

• Two concept notes “Development of SSR markers in date palm” and “Development of a transformation system for date palm” were prepared by the biotechnology group and were submitted to the date palm project coordinator for the GCC countries.

1.2.7. Miscellaneous • Dr S Udupa, Associate Scientist Biotechnology, was appointed P- level Biotechnologist and posted

in Rabat Morocco. • ICARDA and CIMMYT formalized an agreement on Wheat Research in CWANA. Dr S Rajaram

was appointed its first Director of CWANA Wheat Program based at Aleppo. • Dr S Kumari returned from a study visit to Australia on October 15. She spent three months (July

15 - October 15) as visiting scientist at Primary Industries Research Victoria, Knoxfield Center, Australia, supported by GRDC, Australia.

• Dr A Yahyaoui was invited to present a seminar at ETH-Zurich, Switzerland (Oct. 25, 2005) entitled, “Linking University Research to Farmer’s Needs in Developing Countries”. Dr A

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Yahyaoui also presented a seminar at DIAS, Denmark (Nov. 9, 2005) entitled, “Plant Disease Management in Developing Countries: How can Advanced Research Institutes contribute!”

• Dr S Ceccarelli visited the University of Adelaide, South Australia and the Australian Center for Plant Functional Genomics in Adelaide where he conducted selection in the yield trials of the SA barley breeding program, discussed and finalized the CRC salinity project, and discussed possible collaboration on root characteristics as related to drought for the next call for project proposals of the Generation Challenge Program (October 18-30). Dr S Ceccarelli visited Cornell University (Ithaca, NY, USA) where he gave a seminar on “Participatory Plant Breeding and Drought Resistance” at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics (Nov 14-16).

• Dr S Grando traveled to Eritrea (October 15-21) to follow up on the activities of the project funded by the Water and Food Challenge Program. She was accompanied by Dr M. El Hadi Maatougui, consultant and project facilitator. They visited the trials conducted in the different agro ecological zones and met partners at NARI and University of Asmara to discuss project management issues and planning of future project activities.

• Dr M El Hadi Maatougui visited Eritrea (October 15 – November 11) where he organized and conducted the harvest of the different participatory FIT and FAT cereals and food legumes yield trials, visited the chickpea trials and conducted farmer’s selection in the yield trials of faba bean, demonstrated and trained local project team on the use of plot threshers and seed cleaners, planned future project activities, planned and initiated, in collaboration with the PRGA program, activities in the area of participatory research, socio-economics and project monitoring-evaluation and impact assessment.

• Dr S Ceccarelli attended the CGIAR Annual General Meeting. He gave a keynote presentation in the Parallel Sessions on Strengthening Research-for-Development “Farmers as Research and Technology Transfer Partners”. During the session the role that farmers play in planning and implementing agricultural research and technology transfer programs, was discussed. Three farmers, Ms Yussra Al-Saggar (Jordan), Mr. Abed El Latif El Khaled (Syria) and Mr. Kewila Omar Kewila Hamad (Egypt) also attended the session and made interventions.

• Dr P Guo visited the Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany and the Kompetenzzentrum für Fluoreszente Bioanalytik (KFB), Regensburg, Germany for data analysis of this years microarray experiments and the development of Taqman assays for real time PCR analysis.

• Dr R S Malhotra returned from UC Davis, after 4 months of his Sabbatical leave during which he delivered 2 seminars- one in UC Davis and other in CLIMA-Australia, and participated in two international conferences, and evaluated two Ascochyta blight mapping chickpea populations in the labs of University of California , Davis, using different molecular markers.

1.3. MegaProject 3: Improved Land Management to Combat Desertification

1.3.1.Developments in Research Range Management Team Activities • The main activity for the range team was the Badia rangeland survey in Syria. Preliminary results

were obtained, including soil degradation indicators and the most abundant species in 128 sites observed over fifty communities in the Syrian steppe. A M. Sc. student completed data entry and began analysis of rangeland degradation as related to settlements, and summarized vegetation data. Field data was analyzed for a grazing preference study of different shrub species at shrub plots in Tel-Hadya. Data collected from enclosures in marginal rangeland in different villages at Khanasser area were entered and prepared for analysis.

• The implementation of the pastoral Code in Mauritania: The research action project was finalized. Field trip organized in November 16-20 to assess the situation with the local authorities and herders, 6 months after the pastoral code vulgarization. Final report (in French) produced and results

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presented by Dr El Mourid to the coordination and planning meeting MDRE/ICARDA (26-27 December).

• Institutional arrangement for rangeland management in the Oriental, Morocco: The JPO-French MAE / INRA-Oujda project was finalized. The participation to the SDC workshop was the occasion to present the results from 2-year collaboration with the INRA-Oujda team. Three socio-economic papers were produced and they are under finalization: the first one on the analysis of the rangelands use, and the second on the characterization of the communities, and a last one on the impact of tribal dominance in the rangelands use on the livestock production strategies.

Land degradation/soil erosion studies • Sustainable land management experiments set up at Khaltan (a sloping olive growing area in NW

Syria). • Research on indigenous soil conservation measures in NW Syria. • Gully system analysis: Methodology development and analysis (Iran and Syria). • Data entry for field mapping and gully survey at meso-scale (with Extension) - Identifying major

causes for gully erosion. • Proposed to convene 4 sessions at the upcoming International Soil Conservation Conference (ISCO)

at Marrakech, Morocco. • A network of research sites for evaluation soil erosion by tillage and assessment: Threshold of

tillage erosion (feddan & tractor) - 17 sites; the impact of soil tillage fluxes and water erosion on soil harvesting - 7 sites.

• Launched an experiment on the reuse of olive-mill wastewater in agriculture. • Gully monitoring of treated and non-treated gullies in Vallerani research site (Mehasseh). • Finished field work of the study investigating the effects of soil factors on olive productivity in

Afrin area, northwestern Syria. • Training material produced: (1) Manual for sheet erosion measurements; (2) Manual for wind

erosion assessment; (3) Manual for tillage erosion assessment; (4) Wind erosion manual- Draft; and (5) Tillage erosion manual- Draft.

• Several scientists from MP3 participated in the meeting on Participatory Technology Development (PTD) Research on soil and water for protecting the hillside in the olive zone in NW Syria, 4 Oct. 2005 in Khaltan village, Afrin, NW Syria.

• Dr Hanadi El-Dessougi finalized with the farmers in Hweir Al-Hoss village the experiments to be conducted in the current planting season for improving nutrient flows at the farm level using improved technologies for ISFM.

• Dr El-Dessougi conducted a field trip in Iran to supervise the implementation of the Best Bet Practices with the farmers by the Iranian scientists involved in the nutrient flow and integrated soil fertility management study of the Livelihoods Resilience of the KRB project.

1.3.2. Training (Reported by HRDU) Additional training activities include: • Dr Francis Turkelboom attended a training course on “Facilitating Multi-Stakeholder Process” at

Wageningen University, Netherlands. • Kames Al Ahmed attended training on “Community based Natural Resources Management” at

IIRR, The Philippines. Individual degree-related training: (1) Mr. Christian Dingel of Wageningen University did his 3 month M. Sc. research at ICARDA on “Market chain, livelihoods and land management in mountainous olive production systems of NW Syria” and (2) 4 Iranian Ph.D. candidates were selected for the Livelihood Resilience project at Iran (Challenge Program).

1.3.3. Visitors

• Prof Dr Armin Rieser from Bonn University came for his final visit for the Khanasser valley project and to finalize the ‘water book’ with KVIRS colleagues.

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1.3.4. Conferences, Workshops and Meetings • Dr James Tiedeman and Dr Celine Dutilly-Diane organized and participated in the final conference

for the SDC funded project “Sustainable management of the Agropastoral Resource Base in the Magreb”, November 21-26. Research results from 5 countries were presented with published abstracts. Final papers are being written for the Conference proceedings.

• Dr Dutilly-Diane made a presentation on ‘Dominance in rangeland use, social structures and evolution of the pastoral systems in the Oriental, Morocco’ in the SDC final Conference on Sustainable Management of the Agropastoral Resource Base in the Maghreb Phase II, Oujda, 21-23 November 2005.

• Dr Zuhair Masri attended the national planning meeting on ‘sewage sludge in the Ministry of Housing- Damascus (October-17, 2005).

• Dr Ashraf Tubeileh participated in a mission to select fruit tree species to be grown and studied in the framework of Balochistan project during the period December 12-20, 2005. He also attended a workshop to prepare a booklet on Guidelines for Good Agricultural Practices in Olive Groves in AARINENA countries held in Larnaca, Cyprus during the period December 19-21, 2005.

1.3.5. Publications and Conference Papers

• H. Farahani, T. Oweis, A. Hachum, N Katerji, A. Tubeileh, and B. Benli. Limited Irrigation of Maize and Cotton in Semi-arid Eastern Mediterranean. Part II: Water Use and Stress. Abstract submitted to the ASAE Annual International Meeting, Portland, OR, USA, July 9-12, 2006.

• Tubeileh, A. Bruggeman, and F. Turkelboom. Water Harvesting for Olive (Olea europaea L.) Trees in a Marginal Dry Area of Northwestern Syria. Paper submitted to the ISCO meeting, Marrakech, Morocco. May 14-19, 2006.

• Masri Z., El-Naeb H., Zöbisch M., Bruggeman A., and Turkelboom F. (2005). Strategies to sustain productivity of olive groves on steep slopes in North-western Syria. In: Proceedings of: Role and importance of soil and water management for vineyards and olive orchards workshop, May 9-10, 2004, Mosciano S. Angelo, Italy.

• Thomas, R., Bruggeman, A., El Dessougi, H., Luijendijk, E., Turkelboom, F., La Rovere, R. 2005. Sustainable management of drylands – the Khanasser valley Integrated Research Site in Syria. Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Combating Desertification: Sustainable management of marginal drylands (SUMAMAD) project, UNESCO-UNU-ICARDA, 11-15th December 2004. Medenine/Djerba, Tunisia.

• Defrijn S. (2005). Towards a new conceptualization of farmers’ decision making for soil conservation: A case-study in northwest Syria. M. Sc. thesis research report. KU Leuven, Belgium.

• Hoorelbeke S. (2005) Impact of land use on land degradation in hilly olive orchards of NW-Syria. M. Sc. thesis research report. KULeuven, Belgium.

• Klewinghaus A., Turkelboom F. and Skowronek A. A GPS/GIS-integrated approach to assess current water erosion features – Experiences from Mediterranean NW-Syria [Submitted to Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie]

• La Rovere R., Aw-Hassan A., Turkelboom F., Thomas R. Characterizing rural livelihoods to better target research to poverty: The case of the dry marginal areas of Syria. [Submitted to Development and Change Journal]

• Sidle R.C., Ziegler A.D., Negishi J.N., Rahim Nik A., Siew R., Turkelboom F. Erosion processes in steep terrain – Truths, myths, and uncertainties related to forest management in Southeast Asia. [Submitted to Forest Ecology and Management]

• Tubeileh A., Bruggeman B., and Turkelboom F., 2006. Improving the growth and nutrition of young olive (Olea europaea L.) trees in marginal dry areas through water harvesting and limited summer irrigation. [Submitted to Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment].

• Turkelboom, F., Tubeileh A., Bruggeman A. Participatory technology development – Syria. WOCAT Overview book (Bern University)

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• Turkelboom, F., Tubeileh A., Bruggeman A. Furrow-enhanced microcatchments for fruit trees (Hasad Al-Meyah) - Syria. WOCAT Overview book (Bern University)

• Thomas, R.J. and Turkelboom, F. Combating desertification via an integrate approach. Proceedings of the 7th IDDC Beijing, China Feb 2006.

• Thomas, R.J. Dessougi, H., Luijendijk, E., Turkelboom, F., Bruggeman, A. The SUMAMAD project. Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Combating Desertification: Sustainable management of marginal drylands (SUMAMAD) project, UNESCO-UNU-ICARDA, 15-17th November 2005. Islamabad, Pakistan.

• Asgedom H., Becker M., Turkelboom F. Nutrient management in a low input production system of Syria. Tropendag 2005.

• 5 abstracts for the ISCO conference (soil conservation) and 2 abstracts for the IASCP conference (common pool resources).

1.3.6. Project Proposals

• The proposal on ‘Payments for environmental services in the Moroccan rangelands’ has been submitted to IFAD.

• Research proposal on ‘methods to assess the impacts of conservation tillage’ - Morocco. • Small Grant Proposal (GEF, 50K) for Sustainable Land Management in Sloping Olive Orchards in

NW Syria was prepared and approved. The local community of Khaltan (NW Syria) will lead the project with ICARDA and a Syrian NGO (FIRDOS) facilitating and supporting technically (50K).

• Small grant (75K) of the Water-for-Food Challenge projects for NGOS’s was developed for Karkheh. CENESTA will conduct the project in close collaboration with the Iran-ICARDA project at Karkheh river basin (Iran).

1.4. MegaProject 4: Diversification and Sustainable Improvement of Crop and Livestock Production Systems in the Dry Areas 1.4.1. Developments in Research Integrated Pest and Disease Management The Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) group (pathology, virology, entomology) was transferred from MP4 to MP2 following the Lattakia Management Retreat in October 2005. Work in this area has been reported under MP2. Small ruminant health and marketing project: • The preliminary analyses of data collected through community – level surveys to identify small

ruminants’ health and market constraints have been completed in all project countries (Jordan, Syria, Sudan and Tunisia).

• Information for characterization of animal health delivery systems in each participating country is now available and relevant scientific papers will be identified in a project technical meeting scheduled for June 2006 in Tunis.

• Countries have identified 3 main constraints, each of animal health and marketing. These will be research action activities for technological options in 2006.

• L Iniguez supervised the USDA funded project INAT-ICARDA in Tunisia (December 16-18), on the effects of market trends on SR genetic diversity and management and improvement of the Sicilo-Sarde breed. The project is progressing well. Steps in relation to data analysis have to be taken with the hosting of a young researcher at ICARDA in early 2006.

Forage program: • Collaborative studies on farmer participatory evaluation of fodder innovations to diversify income

generation options continued in Syria, Lebanon and Afghanistan.

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• Data from completed studies on forage legume improvement were analysed. Results are being processed for publication in peer reviewed journals in collaboration with scientists in Megaproject 2.

Agronomy program: • The trials of ‘the effect of Phosphogypsum (PG) on the productivity of barley-based rotation in

rainfed areas of Khanasser valley’; ‘the Stubble management/compost application in Barley-vetch and barley-vetch-wheat-vetch rotations’; ‘The comparison of tillage options including zero-tillage direct sowing in wheat-lentil rotation’; were planted in mid November, and a trial on ‘Cuscuta control by different herbicides for legumes and oilseed crops’ has been planted in late December.

• Results of crop diversification and conservation tillage trials in CAC were analyzed and submitted for corporate annual report.

• 55 multi-location research trials on long-term crop rotations, supplemental irrigation, water harvesting, soil management, and crop management (crop stand establishment, fertility management including micro nutrients, weed management, pest control, and mechanization of legumes) in Iran have been planted as decided during the Iran/ICARDA coordination meeting. A report was submitted to ICARDA-Tehran office for compilation as a green planning and coordination book.

• The data of the trials on deficit irrigation for cotton in rotation with wheat, and maize as a second crop after wheat, have been analyzed and reported.

• On-farm trials in the project on ‘Out-scaling of Zero-tillage systems through INRM and participatory research approaches in Central Morocco’ were planted by the NARS partners with the communities of four agro-ecologies.

ICARDA-RALF Program in Afghanistan led by M. Malik: • Currently there are 11 projects being implemented in 17 provinces of Afghanistan by ICARDA and 25 other

implementation partners such as other CG Centers, Afghan, UK and US universities, Afghan Ministry of Afghanistan, Animal Husbandry and Food (MAAHF) and international NGO’s.

• The purpose of RALF (Research in Alternative Livelihoods Fund) is to develop and promote innovative alternative livelihood options for rural Afghans currently economically dependent on opium poppy.

• Introduction of saffron in Herat Province has been quite successful. Income obtained from saffron can compete or even exceed that of opium per unit of land. It requires only one irrigation per year and is as labor-intensive as opium poppy but in late fall when there is little demand for labor at the farm. The implementing partners of ICARDA, DACAAR and Washington State University, have been helping in setting up farmers association, a “corm bank” as well as in standardization, processing and marketing of saffron.

• Cultivation of mint and extraction of mint oil for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes is in full progress in Nangarhar, Kunduz and Helmand provinces. This project which is lead by ICARDA has developed strong linkages with educational, research and industrial institutions, involved in medicinal crops, in Iran and Pakistan.

• The RALF Steering Committee, composed of ICARDA, DFID and the senior management at MAAHF, has emerged as an advisory body since July 2005, when the first meeting took place at MAAHF-Kabul. The 2nd

Steering Committee meeting was convened at MAAHF on Oct.20, 2005. • The potential of oil seed crops (soybean, canola, peanut, safflower, sunflower, linseed) as part of a wheat

based cropping system is under investigation in the Northern provinces of Balkh, Kunduz, Baghlan and Badakhshan. Oil extraction and the by-products of the oilseed crops are expected to promote agroenterprise and the development of poultry and dairy industry.

• ICARDA-RALF has developed capacity building linkage with Kabul University (Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Pharmacy) and the Faculty of Agriculture at Nangarhar, Balkh and Herat Universities. • “Symposium on Medicinal Plants: Research, Cultivation, Conservation, Processing and Marketing”

was convened at MAAHF-Kabul on Nov 19, 2005. Invited speakers from Pakistan, Iran, Washington

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State University, Kabul University, MAAHF and Ministry of Commerce made presentations on the research, processing or marketing challenges of the medicinal plants

• The 2nd RALF Workshop on the theme of "Markets, Market Processes and Marketing: National and International Perspectives" was held at MAAHF-Kabul on Nov. 20, 2005.

• The following scientists visited ICARDA-Afghanistan and participated in week long activities on medicinal plants:

- Dr Mohammad Khan Asrar, Qarshi Herb Research Centre, Hattar, NWFP, Pakistan - Dr Abdullah Mullah Filabi, Khorasan Science Research Park, Mashhad, Iran - Dr Mohammad Bagher Rezaee, Medicinal Plants Division, Research Institute of Forestry and Rangeland , Ministry of Jahad-e-Agriculture, Tehran, Iran - Mr. Hussein Hejazi, President, GTB Group of Industries, Kashan, Iran • Dr N Malik visited the following Iranian research institutions (Aug 2005) in order to develop linkages

between RALF and the Iranian scientists - Khorasan Agr. Res. and Natural Resources Centre, Mashhad, Iran - Khorasan Science Research Park, Mashhad, Iran - Amol Rice Research Station, Mazandaran, Iran - Sari Research Station (Oilseed Crops), Mazandaran, Iran - Plant Pest and Disease Institute, AREO, Tehran, Iran

Iraq-ICARDA-Australia Project (ACIAR CIM/2004/024): Better crop germplasm and management for improved production of wheat, barley and pulse and forage legumes in Iraq’ led by C Piggin: • The Department of Agriculture (DOA) Mosul has set up a district committee to plan, organize and

oversee the demonstration program in at least 9 locations in the 3 main agroclimatic zones (high, medium, low rainfall) and the research program in 3 locations on or near research stations. This committee has met 12 times at approximately 2-weekly intervals and produces regular minutes from the meetings (in Arabic).

• A major baseline survey of 260 farm families has been undertaken and is undergoing analysis with University of Mosul socio-economists, who were introduced as collaborators after the project commenced.

• In the last two months (Nov-Dec) following rains, implementation of field research and demonstration activities, and training, has proceeded. ICARDA sent 16 tonnes of seed for collaborative research and demonstration seed as agreed at the September planning meeting and, despite a long delay crossing the border, this was received satisfactorily in Mosul in early November. From reports and photos furnished by the project leader, Dr Abdul Sattar Rajbu, this is being planted as planned in some 9 demonstration locations and 3 research locations.

• The seeds of crop varieties of chickpea, canola and oats from Australian with potential for adaptation and use in Iraq was received from Australian collaborators, checked for pests and diseases, and planted in late November in a quarantine area at ICARDA. This will be evaluated for yield with any visiting Iraqi scientists and seed collected for 2006 testing of material of interest in Iraq.

• The current Minister of MOA, Dr Ali Al-Bahadly, is very keen to promote seed production. Accordingly, three Iraqi scientists (Mr Diyab Ahmed Khasim, Director, Crop Section, Department of Ninevah State Board for Agricultural Resources; Mr Mohammad Wali Thijeel, Director, Salas Addin Branch, State Board for Seed Inspection and Certification; Mr Alaa Hassan Mohammad, Director, Qadisiyah Branch, State Board of Seed Inspection and Certification) attended a training course on “Seed enterprise development and management” on 13-24 November 2005 at ICARDA HQ. The trainees were also able to interact on the purchase of a seed plant for Mosul requested by the Minister and MOA from the project Capital allocation, as well as to develop links with scientists from other countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan and Yemen.

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1.4.2. Training Highlights (See also HRDU) Individual non-degree training Dr Ikuo Kobayashi from Japan participated in a training program from November to December in the areas of small ruminant feeding and health. This training was part of a fellowship of the Japan-CGIAR program. Individual degree training Ms Sawsan Hassan a M. Sc. student at the University of Aleppo, Syria spent 3 months at the ICARDA headquarters working on her dissertation research under the supervision of A Larbi. Daniel Zeidouni, Layla Hnoud, Tony Mansour and Maya El-Jerdi from the Lebanese University of Beirut, whose dissertation research was co-supervised by A Larbi, successfully defended their B.Sc. dissertation. 1.4.3. Conferences and Workshops • The major annual Project Steering Committee meeting was held on 5 Dec in Cairo, Egypt, and

attended by livestock institution representatives from Jordan, Syria, Tunisia and Sudan, ILRI and ICARDA.

• The Steering Committee Meeting of the livestock research project in Latin America (LA), addressing the market insertion of small ruminant (SR) producers in Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela was held in Aleppo on 20-23 November with a presentation of research results from collaborators from these countries and ICARDA. The project is progressing well and entered its third year of implementation

• A meeting was held at ICARDA of stakeholders involved in dairy sheep production in Syria (November 28, 2005), to look for avenues for expanding a research model to large number of communities and thus accelerate outscaling. A plan of action developed to implement a model of expanding community-based adaptive research to large number of farmers.

• Dr A Larbi participated in a short-term training course on ‘Introducing modeling tools for agricultural decision-making under climate change conditions’ funded by ARIDEMA, 18 November – 01 December 2005, in Vienna, Austria.

• Dr A Larbi attended the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Livestock Program Group (LPG) of the CGIAR-Systemwide Livestock Program in Morocco as an ICARDA representative and a member of the 3-man Executive Committee.

• Luis Iñiguez attended the conference on Options and Strategies for the Conservation of Farm Animal Genetic Resources Conference in Montpellier (Nov 7-10, 2005)

• Luis Iñiguez and Colin Piggin attended a workshop on AnGR organized by FAO, hosted by ICARDA, on November 15-16, 2006. ICARDA was nominated as the focal point for AnGR work in the WANA region by national coordinators representing countries of WANA. Luis Iñiguez made a presentation entitled: The Small Ruminant Genetic Resources in WANA.

• Dr Piggin attended the ICARDA Management Retreat in Lattakia on 24-26 October 2005. • The 2nd RALF workshop on market issues was held on 19-20 November in Kabul with a half-day

symposium on Medicinal Crops, and another workshop held on 15 – 16 November in Herat on Community-based Watershed Management.

1.4.4. Publications Journal articles and books • Nan Z B, El-Moneim A. A, Larbi A and Nie B. Productivity of vetches (Vicia spp.) under alpine

grassland conditions in China. Tropical Grasslands (In press) • Iñiguez, L (ed.). (2005). Characterization of Small Ruminant Breeds in West Asia and North Africa.

Vol. I. West Asia. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Aleppo, Syria.

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Workshop and conference papers and abstracts • Iñiguez, Luis (2005). Characterization of small ruminant genetic resources in Central Asia, the

Caucasus, West Asia and North Africa. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Options and Strategies for the Conservation of Farm Animal Genetic Resources, AGROPOLIS, Montpellier, 7-10 November 2005, Montpellier, SGRP-IPGRI/FAO, Montpellier, France.

• Pala, M. 2005. Agronomic management for improved water use efficiency in the dry areas of West Asia and North Africa. Pp. 185-200 in Proceedings of a workshop on ‘Management for improved water use efficiency in the dry areas of Africa and West Asia (M. Pala, D J Beukes, J P Dimes, and R J K Myers, eds.)’ organized by the Optimizing Soil Water Use (OSWU) Consortium, 22-26 April 2002, Ankara, Turkey. Aleppo, Syria: ICARDA; and Patancheru, India: ICRISAT.

• Ali M. Abd El-Moneim, A. Larbi, M. Pala and H.K. Firincioglu. 2005. Forage legume germplasm improvement for increased feed production and systems productivity in dry areas. Presented in 4th International Food Legumes Research Conference, Oct. 18-22, 2005. New Delhi, India.

• John Ryan and Mustafa Pala. 2005. Syria’s Long-Term Rotation and Tillage Trials: Potential Relevance to Carbon Sequestration in Central Asia. Presented at the ICARDA-sponsored symposium on “Carbon Sequestration in Central Asia,” Nov.2-5, 2005, Columbus, Ohio, USA (Abstract).

1.4.5. Project Proposals Submitted/Approved • L Iñiguez submitted a proposal to ZIL, Switzerland on Improving SR productivity in dry areas

through cost-efficient animal nutrition and improved quality of milk and dairy products. • L Iñiguez submitted a proposal to the Austrian Government on Designing decentralized and

community-based sheep and goat breeding programs with smallholder farmers in Latin America. • L Iñiguez developed concept note proposed to IFAD's Latin American Division on Production tools

to secure market insertion and livelihood improvement of resource poor livestock producers in the dry areas of Chaco and Patagonia.

• Project ‘Community Action in Integrated and Market Oriented Feed-Livestock Production in Central Asia’ was approved by IFAD for US$1,000,000.

• Virtual Information and Communication Center to support the livestock research project in Latin America approved by IFAD for US$120,000.

1.4.6. Miscellaneous • Drs Piggin and Iniguez visited the Animal Production Research Institute of the Agricultural

Research Center in Cairo and the associated Sakha Agricultural Research Station in Kafr El_Sheik Governorate. The institute has impressive facilities and programs on cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and turkeys. Two impressive APRI training facilities are located on the Sakha campus: the Dairy Training Center and the International Livestock Management Training Center (ILMTC). ICARDA could have fruitful collaboration with APRI in high-production potential ruminant systems, integrating feeding, management, milking and processing. Dr Iniguez will explore possibilities. The ILMTC training courses will be useful for NARS collaborators in small ruminant projects.

• Dr Piggin met with the Australian Ambassador to Egypt, Dr Bob Bowker, and Third Secretary, Stuart Campbell, to discuss interests and activities in agriculture, especially the DFAT/AusAID/ACIAR-funded Iraq project. Australia has a large assistance program in Sudan (A$40 million) and they were also interested to learn of the diseases/marketing project.

• Monika Zaklouta organized the rebuilding of many office facilities in the Sheep Unit to provide with more efficient facilities for research staff.

• During the period from July till September 2,300 liters of sheep and goat milk have been transformed into yogurt and cheese and sold to ICARDA’s employees.

• The Animal Nutrition Laboratory analyzed 600 milk samples and 470 samples of feedstuffs during the report period.

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1.5. MegaProject 5: Poverty and Livelihood Analysis and Impact Assessment in Dry Areas 1.5.1. Developments in Research • The study on “Adoption and Impact of Technology Generation and Dissemination for Sustainable

Production of Cereals and Cool-Season Food Legumes in the Nile Valley and Red Sea Region”, coordinated by Dr Ahmed Mazid is progressing as per the research plan, which was jointly developed with NARS in Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Yemen.

• In the study on “Impact of crop improvement and management research on poverty: The case of winter chickpea development in Syria”, supervised by Dr Mazid, a rapid rural appraisal was conducted, and a formal questionnaire was developed and tested. The field work for data collection has started in collaboration with Agricultural Extension Department in Syria.

• Dr Farouk Shomo worked with the Balochistan Technology Transfer Institute to finalize the Baseline Study Report. He is preparing the progress report of Balochistan Project and preparing the annual report of Balochistan Project

• Dr Martini discussed during 10th NARP Coordination meeting, held in Tunis 13-14 December, research collaboration on gender and water management in Ighil Ali, Bejaia, Algeria, through the SDC Mountains Project, and research collaboration on an innovative experience on collective action in bee keeping in Tunisia.

• Drs Shideed and Mazid, in collaboration with MP1, have started the research on assessing the impact of supplemental irrigation in Syria. The research is part of a Ph.D. research of Mr. Amjad Bader under the supervision of Dr Shideed

• For preparing a report on Syria & other MENA countries on Women & Water in Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco & Yemen, Dr Shideed visited on 18 October, Ms Lena Poulsen, Consultant Women & Water, Water Demand Initiative, and Ms Samira Soubh, Gender Specialist, MENA IDRC, Cairo

• Dr Aden Aw-Hassan visited the Karkheh River Water Challenge Project, in Iran, introduced a livelihood data collection procedure, trained researcher in data collection for 2 days, adapted the questionnaire for the study area and developed a draft questionnaire for the project.

• A report on the ‘Impact of Lentil Research in Ethiopia’ has been completed by the National Program of Ethiopia under the guidance of Dr Aden Aw-Hassan. The report is now under review and will be published soon.

1.5.2. Training (See also HRDU) • Dr Ahmed Mazid organized a training workshop for 30 persons from Agricultural Extension

Department in Syria during October 2005. • Dr Aden Aw-Hassan supervised Mr. Gebrehiwot Hailemariam from Tigray Agricultural Research

Institute-Ethiopia as individual trainee in the field of “Rural livelihood analysis and impact assessment”.

• Dr Shideed held a meeting with Ms Abeer Munlahassan, Ph.D. student to discuss sample size and sampling approach,17 October 2005

1.5.3. Visitors • Dr Shideed received two visiting scientists, Dr Abdelaziz Hashem (Sudan) and Mr. L Getachew

(Ethiopia) to follow up and review progress on adoption and impact of IFAD-funded project in NVRS countries, and the development of new research on the nutritive value of barley and lentils, 2-6 October 2005

• Dr Samir Habbab visited MP5 during 2-5 December 2005 to present the results of the marketing study conducted in Jordan, and to work with ICARDA socio-economics group and the small ruminant group towards the finalization of the research report 3. Develop further collaborative activities between the project & University of Jordan

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1.5.4. Conferences, Workshops & Meetings § Drs Shideed and Martini and Mr Markus Buerli participated in the 10th Annual Coordination

Meeting of the North Africa Regional Program on 13 and 14 December 2005 in Tunis. § Drs Shideed and Martini and Mr. Markus Buerli participated in the Technical Coordination Meeting

of the ICARDA-SDC Maghreb Mountain Project on 15 and 16 December 2005. § Dr Ahmed Mazid participated to a meeting for the Extension Program of Lentil in Syria (2005/06)

held in Aleppo, December 6, 2005. § Dr Ahmed Mazid participated in the Mashreq/Maghreb planning Meeting held in Hama-Syria,

October 28, 2005. § Dr Aden Aw-Hassan participated in the impact assessment workshop held in CIMMYT, Mexico on

18-22 October, 2005, and presented a paper titled: “The Challenges for Out-scaling Participatory Research Methods in the Dry Areas”.

§ Dr Aden Aw-Hassan visited the Yale University and Williams College of the United States, on 22-28 October, 2005, gave several invited seminars on Rural Poverty in the Dry Areas and conducted planning discussions with collaborators from US advanced institutions on joint research activities in the field of social sciences.

§ Dr Aden Aw-Hassan co-organized stakeholders meeting on dairy sheep development in Syria on 28 November 2005, along with the livestock project in MP4 (Diversification Mega Project).

§ Dr Martini participated in the International Research Workshop on Gender and Collective Action, and in the Steering Committee Meeting held in Chinag Mai, Thailand, Oct- 17-21, 2005. She also participated in the “Terminal Workshop of the Project TCP/SYR/2909” on Assistance to the Establishment of a National Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS)” on 30 Nov, 1 Dec 2005, sponsored by FAO and MAAR of Syria

§ Dr Shideed attended the M&M III PRCP Steering Committee Meetings, 19-21 Dec. 2005, Tunis, Tunisia

1.5.5. Publications § La Rovere, Roberto and Aden Aw-Hassan. 2005. Ex Ante Assessment of Agricultural Technologies

for Use in Dry Marginal Areas: The Case of the Khanasser Valley. Syria. International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA). Technical Research Report Series No. 6. 102 pp. ISBN 92-9127-175-7

§ Aw-Hassan, Aden A. and Malika Abdelali-Martini, 2005. Semi-Dry Areas and the Changing Demands in Social Science Research. International Conference on Social Research in the CGIAR 11-14 September 2002, Cali, Columbia. CAB International 2006. Researching the Culture in Agri-Culture: Social Research for International Agriculture Development (Eds M.M. Cernea and A.H. Kassam) pp. 237-263.

§ Dr Ahmed Mazid prepared a paper on “Adoption and diffusion of agricultural technologies introduce by Mashreq/Maghreb Project in the dry area of Syria and its effect on households’ income” to be published as a chapter in a book on Mashreq/Maghreb Project (Edit by Shideed). The authors are Haitham Al-Ashkar, Ahmed Mazid, and Aden Aw-Hassan

§ Mr Markus Buerli submitted an article to the Swiss journal ‘Rural Development News’ in on the development of the caper market chain in Syria in cooperation with Ms Alessandra Giuliani from IPGRI.

§ Mr Markus Buerli’s, Dr Aw-Hassan’s and Mr Lalaoui’s (from INRA Marrakech) abstract on ‘Livelihood strategies and market access in the Moroccan High Atlas’ was accepted to be presented at the International Symposium ‘Towards sustainable livelihoods and ecosystems in mountainous regions’ on 7 – 9 March 2006 in Chiang Mai.

§ Mr Markus Buerli and Dr Aw-Hassan submitted an article with the title ‘Microfinance in marginal dry areas: Impact on poverty and recommendations for village credits and savings associations respecting Islamic banking principles’ to the journal Small Enterprise Development.

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§ Mr Markus Buerli, Dr Aw-Hassan and Mr Lalaoui (from INRA Marrakech) submitted an article with the title ‘Improving the market access for mountain products of the rural poor from the High Atlas in Morocco’ to the Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture.

§ Mr Markus Buerli’s and Ms Alessandra Giuliani’s (from IPGRI) abstract on the market chain of capers in Syria was accepted to be presented at the Regional Consultation on Linking Producers to Markets’ financed by USAID and the World Bank on 29 January to 2 February 2006 in Cairo.

1.6. MegaProject 6: Knowledge Management and Dissemination

1.6.1. Developments in Research Exploring the Background of R&D Projects: The Case Study Template (CST), used to standardize the documentation of ICARDA contributions to R&D projects, has been progressing well. • CST of Barani Village Development Project (BVDP) in Pakistan and Matrouh Resource

Management Project (MRMP) in Egypt are completed. Technical reports on outputs, outcomes, Technologies, Institutional and Policy Options (TIPOs) and innovations are drafted and distributed to ICARDA scientists for comments. The BVDP case study was presented in an in-house seminar (18/12/05), and MRMP case study will be presented on 5/1/06.

• CST of the GEF-Biodiversity and Maghreb & Mashreq projects were reviewed and information gap identified for drawing TIPO’s packages, methodologies and innovations.

Website Development: Intranet Site: A first step taken is the development of KMD Intranet pages within the ICARDA website. A draft was circulated and a final version is now published. The site includes the background information about KMD (strategy, mission and plan of action), Case Study Template, the above mentioned four Case studies in HTML format, organogram, and information about the KMD staff. The KMD Website: Next steps. Work in progress The Barley and Chickpea ICIS: In December 2005 databases of the two crops became searchable on the ICARDA intranet under "Information Systems". Efforts are made to push forward on the other mandate crops, and to improve information quality of the databases. Seed Unit • Village Based Seed Enterprise (VBSE) Development in Afghanistan: A training workshop for

VBSE members on record keeping, financial management, seed promotion and marketing was conducted. VBSE achievements were reviewed and new production plans set for 2005/06. VBSEs achieved record returns this year due mainly to high prices for wheat seed.

• On-farm Seed Production in Eritrea: A mission was sent to Eritrea, in the context of the Water Challenge Program, to assess the status of the seed industry at formal and informal levels, and to investigate interest of target communities in setting VBSEs. It was found that the informal seed sector is the most important and dominant, and the formal sector is hardly operational. Discussions revealed a strong interest in seed activities and VBSE concept at most levels; the Ministry, NARI, University of Asmara, NGOs and farming communities.

• Seed Production Units in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco: Implementation of IRDEN durum seed component progressed well, and potential seed entrepreneurs identified earlier used the mobile seed cleaning and treatment units during 2004/05. Apart from cleaning, treating and marketing their production, the potential entrepreneurs also used the equipment and provided seed cleaning and treatment services for neighboring farmers particularly in Algeria and Tunisia. The formation of local seed enterprises will be pursued further in the three countries.

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• International Seed Trade Conference: National seed industries are largely fragmented and nationally focused with little/no seed trade among CWANA countries. Few private companies take the opportunity to capture the potential commercial seed market within the region and beyond. The Turkish Seed Industry Association in collaboration with ICARDA’s Seed Unit organized the conference in Antalya, Turkey (Nov 29th – Dec 1st, 2005) to review seed market potential in CWANA region; provide a forum and opportunity of sharing experience for stimulating regional seed trade; and explore opportunities for establishing regional seed trade association. The conference attracted a large attendance from 45 countries from Africa, Asia, Europe and USA; producer and trading companies, input suppliers and manufacturers, seed trade associations, and R&D organizations working on seeds.

• Support to Protected Agriculture Project in Afghanistan: The SU economist assisted in monitoring and evaluating the performance of protected agriculture project, assessing farmers’ perceptions of the technology, and identifying potential adoption constraints in Afghanistan. The greenhouse technology is drawing substantial interest within farming communities in the six provinces and beyond as there were calls for its expansion and introduction to other provinces.

• Quality Seed Production and Processing services: A total of 40 MT of seed was harvested, cleaned, treated and distributed to NARS, participatory farmers and ICARDA commodity programs for research, technology demonstration and further multiplication. More over, a total amount of 400 metric tones of seed and grain and 3000 seed samples for genetic resources conservation and research purposes have been processed in the seed processing laboratory.

Afghanistan report ICARDA-Afghanistan continued supporting the process of rebuilding agriculture in six provinces (Ghazni, Helmand, Kabul, Kunduz, Nangarhar, Parwan) of Afghanistan, and also provided support to the 11 projects of RALF program, financially supported by DFID of UK. Work continued on demonstrating new technologies of substantial yield increases over farmers’ fields; seed VBSEs; protected agriculture; clean seed production; multiplication and marketing of potato; mint and safflower production as a viable alternative livelihood; and training and capacity building of R&D staff and farming communities. 1.6.2. Meetings, Conferences, Workshops, and Missions • The regular in-house biweekly meetings of KM&D, initiated in September 2005, have proven to be

an effective communication venue for KMD where issues of KMD development, planning and implementation, and interrelations and linkages with other ICARDA MegaProjects and units are discussed.

• A workshop was organized in Cairo under the scope of the “Utilization of Intelligent Systems for Plant Protection” ICT-KM project to review progress, and attended by project partners and scientists.

• Director KMD visited Afghanistan (7-14 Oct) to be acquainted with ICARDA’s past and current involvements in rehabilitating agriculture in post-conflict Afghanistan; to contact relevant government officials and international partners; and to explore the opportunities for ICARDA’s future activities. It was envisaged that there is a good opportunity for ICARDA to implement the research components of the WB projects supporting livestock and horticultural development; USAID’s for three Alternative Livelihood Programs (ALPs), and supports ALPs of DFID, EU and others. It is suggested, ICARDA to coordinates a forum for all implementing agencies and supporting national institutions involved in the ALPs.

• KMD director attended the Second Training Workshop on GFSPDM, IPGRI, Italy (21-23 November). The workshop was organized by “Community at Work” – a San Francisco based firm dedicated to “putting participatory values in our work”. It was sponsored by CGIAR’s Institutional Learning and Change (ILAC) Initiative and the Knowledge Sharing project of the ICT-KM

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Program. The organizers see the workshop an instrument for building knowledge, attitudes and skills for managing participatory decision-making process among CGIAR managers and team leaders. During this mission, KMD director held meetings with IPGRI to discuss the inclusion of ICARDA in IPGRI’s TAG proposal to IFAD on Mainstreaming ILAC; and, with IFAD to discuss CNs on Goat Development for Women, KMD-IFAD Portal Grant, ILAC Mainstreaming, and Spatial Analysis of KMD in the Dry Areas.

• International Assessment for Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) Workshop: ICARDA hosted the First IAASTD CWANA Authors’ Meeting (November 29th – December 2nd 2005). The aim of the workshop was to discuss and finalize the detailed arrangements (preparation, style and structure, team responsibility, etc) for writing up the report on assessing KMD status in CWANA region. The workshop was attended by the authors of the five report chapters, including those from ICARDA, co-chair of the IAASTD Bureau and members of the IAASTD Secretariat.

• NAPC Forum: Dr Salkini attended the Agricultural Policy Forum on “Agriculture, Poverty and Rural Development under Globalization”, held at the National Agricultural Policy Center, Damascus, Syria (December 20th, 2005). The next day, Dr Salkini participated in a consultation meeting with NAPC researchers to discuss some research tools that will be used by NAPC for socioeconomic studies.

1.6.3. Concept notes, papers, and reports KMD coordinated the preparation and submission of the Expression of Interest (EOI) to DFID responding to tendering call for managing a “Research into Use Program”, aiming at scaling up research outputs from DFID’s “Renewable Natural Resource Research Strategy (RNRRS)”.

1.7. Human Resources Development Unit (HRDU)

1.7.1. Training ICARDA offered training opportunities in different subjects to 212 national scientists from 30 countries. About 35% were trained at the ICARDA Headquarters and 26% were women. The following 9 specialized group-training courses were coordinated by HRDU. Two of these were conducted at ICARDA headquarters (HQ) and the other seven were conducted outside in collaboration with the concerned NARS. These courses were: • “Seed Enterprise Development and Management”/MP6-SU (November 13-24, 2005). A part of

the 5-year Third Country Training Program (TCTP) Project for Afghanistan partially funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), it involved 19 senior participants from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria and Turkey.

• “Electronic Production of Agricultural Documents and Web Database (WEBAGRIS)”/CODIS (November 13-24, 2005) involved 13 senior participants from Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, S. Oman, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, UAE, Yemen and Syria.

• “Conservation of Agriculture Technologies for Rainfed Wheat Production Systems” /MP2 (September 26 to October 7, 2005), held in Turkey as a part of Turkey, CIMMYT and ICARDA joint program, involved 24 senior scientists from Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Morocco, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

• In-Country training course on “Participatory Community-based Research Approach”/ MP5 (November 09-20, 2005), held in Quetta and supported by the ICARDA/FAO project on "Food Security/Poverty Alleviation in Arid Agriculture, Balochistan, Pakistan, and involved 26 participants from Pakistan

• Regional training course on “Molecular Markers for Fingerprinting of Date Palm”/SU (November 19-30, 2005), held at Al-Rumaith Agriculture Research Center, Muscat, Sultanate of

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Oman and conducted in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries under the “Date Palm Improvement Project” sponsored by The Gulf Cooperation Council, involved 17 participants from the GCC countries.

• In-Country training course on “Design and Analysis of Experiments”/ CBSU (November 20-24, 2005), held in the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural research (GCSAR) headquarters in Damascus, Syria, involved 10 participants from Syria

• Regional training course on “Agricultural Extension Methodology and Transfer of Technology”/CAC (November 21-25, 2005), held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan with the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MAWM), involved 15 participants from the region.

• A training course on “Seed production of wheat and other cereal and legume crops in Uzbekistan,” held under FAO TCP Project “Improvement of cereals, legumes, oils and forage crops seed production” from 29 September to 4 October 2005 in Tashkent, involved 18 participants from different departments of Ministry of Agriculture and institutions in Uzbekistan.

• Regional training course on “Utilization of Expert Systems in Agricultural Extension and Production”/HRDU/ NVRSRP (December 03-15, 2005), held at the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Expert Systems (CLAES) in Cairo, Egypt, involved 13 participants from Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Morocco, Sudan, Syria and Tunisia.

• In-Country training course on “Seed Health Testing”/MP2-GRU (December 10-21, 2005), held in Karaj, Iran and organized with the Seed Plant Certification and Registration Research Institute (SPCRI) of the Agricultural Research and Education Organization (AREO), Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture, Tehran, Iran, involved 22 participants from Iran.

In addition, 2 individual non-degree and 51 national scientists conducted their graduate research studies for M. Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in collaboration with different universities within and outside the region. One intern from Syria also conducted his internship program. The following other major training-related activities were conducted during the above-mentioned period: • Coordinated and produced the 2006 ICARDA Training Work plan and Budget • On November 25, 2005, an agreement on the CG-GO/FAU initiative was signed by Prof Dr Mohamed Nizar Akil, President of Aleppo University and Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, Director General of ICARDA for collaboration in training. • The Head of HRDU participated in an advanced training course on “Time Management” organized by the American University of Cairo (AUC) and the International Center for Etudes (ICE), December 7-8, 2005 and followed-up on several issues related to training and capacity building in Egypt. 1.7.2. Workshops, Conferences and Scientific Meetings: Following workshops, conferences and scientific meetings were coordinated by HRDU in close collaboration with the ICARDA host Mega Projects / Regional Programs: • The “5th CGIAR Information Managers Annual Meeting”, October 2-6, 2005. • The “Oracle Applications 11i training course for the outreach staff”,

October 02-13, 2005. • The “Management Retreat – Lattakia”, October 24-26, 2005. • The “CIMMYT Board Meetings”, November. 6-8, 2005. • The “Animal Genetic Resources Regional Workshop for the Near East

Countries”, November 15-16, 2005. • The “Steering Committee Meting of the Latin America Project”,

November 20-23, 2005. • The “Integrated Pest Management Towards Out-Scaling Technology

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Improvement in Dairy, Sheep Production in Syria: Stakeholder Meeting on Technology Transfer in El-Bab”, November. 28, 2005.

• The “First CWANA Authors Meeting of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD)”, November 29- December 02, 2005.

1.8. Computers and Biometrics Services Unit (CBSU)

1.8.1. Development of Services • The Oracle Applications 11i went officially live on 9th October 2005, all data migration from the old

10.7 system was completed, and all important reports completed. This was a joint effort by CBSU, Finance, PSD, Personnel and the external consultant Bahwan CyberTek. The Travel module was completed but is not live yet while the new Payroll module is operational. Quality assurance and a Post-Implementation Review of the project were carried out by Ernst and Young who were satisfied with the project. There are still some more reports to be developed and the outreach offices have yet to start using the system remotely.

• Virtual Private Network access to Outreach offices was installed and setup • A front-end Exchange Server was configured and setup. Secure server was created using security

certificates. • Outlook e-mail clients for traveling users were installed with new version for RPC over HTTPS.

Users can get there new messages delivered to their mailbox on traveling laptop. • The following items have been repaired or installed: 134 PCs and servers, 42 Laptop computers, 86

Printers and Scanners, 35 Networking devices, 36 other devices. • A total of 128 user requests were serviced. • 2397 viruses and worms detected and removed from networked devices. • An International Employment Application was developed to be linked to the Oracle HRMS module • The Training Information Database is being converted from MS Access 2003 to Oracle 9i to

facilitate the integration and bridging to Oracle 11i Applications and to cover the financial information and reporting needed by different stakeholders

• Meteorology Database was maintained and migrated to Oracle 9i DBMS • Maintained and supported SeedMan database. • Developed Rotation Trials Database using PHP language and MySQL database as well as web

service technology using XML/SOAP protocol. • Assisted in installing BioCase web services on ICARDA host server (converted GRU Visional Fox

Pro database into MySQL database as well as required setup on the server). • Biometrics consultancies were rendered on over 35 occasions to researchers from the mega projects.

Support on statistical software and data management was provided on more than 27 occasions. Online bio-computing facility was provided to users on 26 occasions.

• Advice on experimental designs was given: for evaluating effect of irrigation on wheat responses; for evaluating biodiversity of Salsola species in Al-Nabek; for evaluating seed and foliar treatments; for evaluation of row-spacing, variety and seed rate of safflower using a split-split plot experiment.

• Statistical analyses were carried out for: screening of models of validating evapotranspiration from experimental data, corrections in established procedures evaluated; allele binning and generation of zero-one matrix for diversity studies using SSR markers; using PlabQTL on barley data, estimation of heritability with and without GxE interaction; on grazing preferences of sheep on the species of shrubs and preference behavior over time; for estimation of diversity using pathogens’ isolate frequencies; for evaluating experimental diet with control on meat tasting experiment— data on sheep variables and sensory evaluation.

• Customization of METCB and METIB programs for analysis of lentil international nursery data was carried out.

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• Prepared Jun-Nov 2005 Report of GCP SP4 Task 29 and submitted to SP4 leader; DARwin, Structure, Distruct, Strata, Tassel software were installed and run; Lecture notes for a training on JoinMap and MapQTL were prepared.

1.8.2. Training and Capacity Building • One M. Sc. student from Sudan is receiving guidance on preparing thesis work on Multiple

Comparison Procedures. • Data management course for five MP2 staff was conducted. • Mr. Sarkisian attended Cisco Advanced Catalyst 6500 Switched Networks course 1.8.3. Project Proposals: • Prepared a proposal for commissioned grant for developing Bioinformatics capability at ICARDA

and submitted to Generation CP SP4 leader • Developed a draft Concept note for Agricultural Research Information Processing Project (jointly

with KMD-MP6) • Prepared a request for CIM (for GTZ)

1.9. Communication, Documentation and Information Services (CODIS) 1.9.1. Media Activities • The Unit played an active role in public awareness and media activities at AGM05, held in

Marrakech, Morocco. Dr S Varma organized a display booth and played a key role in developing presentations made by the ICARDA Director General in Marrakech. The ICARDA booth attracted a large number of visitors and was useful in promoting ICARDA’s work and in making new friends and contacts. A special issue of The Week, covering ICARDA activities at AGM05, was produced.

• The regional and international media in the region continued to provide positive coverage of ICARDA’s work. The clippings are posted on ICARDA website (http://www.icarda.org/Media.htm). Key stories appeared in Daily News; Al-Wattan; Shabiba; Oman News; Al-Jamaheer; Ground Cover (Australia); CGIAR News; and other outlets.

1.9.2. ICARDA Website on the Internet The English version of the site received, on average, 8,000 hits daily. The average daily hits for the Arabic version was 1250. The following pages were added to the site:

• ICARDA Annual Report 2004. • Participatory Research sub-site • ICARDA Annual Report 2003 ( in Arabic) • News Releases (weekly additions, in Arabic & English) • Media Coverage (Arabic & English)

The Unit designed a special sub-site on ICARDA website to serve as a quick reference resource for the EPMR Panel. A large number of documents were added to the sub-site. The work continues. 1.9.3. Multimedia Products • Re-designed five ICARDA training modules for online learning, and uploaded them to the recently

launched CGIAR learning objects repository and learning management system (http://www.cgxhange.org and http://learning.cgiar.org/resources)

• Prepared a short video on the Late Dr Robert Havener, which was shown at AGM05 in Morocco. • Shared video clips with Al-Jazeera TV crew that visited ICARDA in November, on various

ICARDA research activities including mechanized lentil harvesting, winter sowing of chickpea, durum wheat harvesting, and Friekeh processing.

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1.9.4. Publications The Week at ICARDA continued to be published on schedule. The other key publications produced included: Characterization of Small Ruminants in West Asia and North Africa; and Food Barley: Importance, Uses and Local Knowledge. Journal Articles and Conference Papers: Six journal articles and four conference papers were processed for publication or presentation. 1.9.5. Library and Documentation Services The Library added to its collection over 80 books, 250 issues of journals and Annual Reports, and updates of AGRIS databases on CD-ROMs. It fulfilled 600 requests for its services, including 50 literature searches, from NARS scientists. The Virtual Library (CD-ROM library) on the Intranet of the Center received 300 hits (average of 100/month) during the quarter, and was enriched with additional links to useful reference sources. 1.9.6. Staff Professional Development • Dr Nihad Maliha, Manager, Library and Documentation Services, participated in, and organized the

5th CGIAR Library and Information Managers’ Meeting at ICARDA, 2-6 October. He also participated in the FAO GFAR Expert Consultation, hosted by FAO in Rome, 17-24 October. At the Rome meeting he discussed strengthening collaboration between the FAO and ICARDA. As a result, FAO-GIL agreed to send a resource person to help in the ICARDA Library Annual Training course, held in November. Dr Maliha also worked with a representative of NewGenLib on installing and customizing the Integrated Library Management System in the ICARDA Library. The new system will allow the Library to computerize all library activities, as well as network all ICARDA program libraries including those of the Regional Offices.

• Mr. Moyo Bolarin, Multimedia Specialist, participated in the CG online learning resources workshop, 24-28 October 2005, at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium.

1.10. Geographic Information Systems Unit (GISU)

1.10.1. Developments in Research • A methodology was completed for mapping the agroecological zones in the CWANA region. In

addition, the map of agroecological zones of CWANA was prepared. • A methodology was completed to map the areas suitable for supplemental irrigation in Syria based

on criteria related to current land use, soils, terrain and climatic conditions. Currently a computer program is developed to map these areas.

• In association with the Plant Stress and Water Conservation Laboratory of USDA-ARS Lubbock, a

software program was completed to characterize climatic stresses in CWANA. This research was presented during an ICARDA in-house seminar on 30 November.

• In association with MP4 a report and maps were completed that allow identifying the priority areas for rangeland restoration in the Syrian Badia.

1.10.2. Conferences, Workshops, Meetings • Dr De Pauw participated in the Methodology Development Workshop of the ICARDA-Morocco

Linkage Fund Project “Development of an Integrated Natural Resources Management Framework for Durable Agriculture in Central Morocco”, held in Rabat, Morocco, 3-5 October. The objectives of the workshop were to review progress made in implementing the program of the GIS/RS/AEC component agreed during the INRM No-tillage Workshop 15 December and to develop a methodology for the assessment at regional level of suitability under either conventional tillage or no-tillage scenarios.

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• Dr De Pauw participated in the international workshop on “Carbon Sequestration in the Soils of Central Asia”, held at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 1-4 November, where he made a presentation on the “Principal Biomes of Central Asia”. A paper is being prepared on this topic.

• Dr De Pauw participated in the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, held in Salt Lake City, Utah, 7-10 November. Afterwards he discussed future collaborative activities with the Center for Earth Observations at Yale University, New Haven, on 14-15 November.

• After Turkey’s agreement to fund a joint project with ICARDA on agroecological zoning of Turkey, Dr De Pauw visited the Central Research Institute for Field Crops in Ankara on 5-9 December to discuss methodological issues and prepare a work plan for 2006 and for the three-year project period.

• Between 9 and 22 December Dr De Pauw worked in Iran with various collaborators on different projects. He worked in Tehran from 10 to 15 December and in Marageh from 1 to 21 December.

• Dr De Pauw participated in the technical workshop of all GCIAR GIS units, organized by the Consortium of Spatial Information of the CGIAR and held in Nairobi, Kenya 17-22 October. He made a presentation on ICARDA’s GIS and remote sensing activities and presented several posters.

2. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 2.1. Arabian Peninsula Regional Program (APRP) 2.1.1. Developments in Research NARS Relations • Dr Magdy Madkour, ADG-IC, ICARDA and Dr Ahmed Moustafa, Regional Coordinator,

ICARDA-APRP held talks with H.E. Sheikh Salim bin Hilal Al-Khalili, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), Oman, on 20 Nov 2005 to expanded ICARDA and MAF collaborative research activities, date palm project and ICARDA’s new office in Muscat were the main topics of the discussion.

• On farm research activities on testing new forages developed by APRP in collaboration with NARS in Emirates is under progress. Many farmers are now growing the indigenous forages with high water use efficiency. The new approach which relies on direct seeding of the new forages is expected to boost the process. Emirates was able to produce over one ton of seed of Buffle grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and around 0.7 ton seed of Da’e (Lasiurus scindicus) this year. The process of seed production has augmented considerably as a result of the seed technology unit which was provided by ICARDA-APRP.

• The successful on farm experiments and transfer of soil-less culture technology to one of the Omani growers had a good impact on the other growers through the generation of 15444OR (40,138 US$) net profit from 3 double span Greenhouses (GHs) of cucumbers. Growers facing problems with soil and water salinity are ready to adopt soil-less production techniques in their farms. In recognition of the advantages of soil-less production systems to growers and increased water savings, the Ministry decided to contribute 50% of the initial investment towards the system as a direct subsidy to growers in Oman.

• New vertical soil-less production system for strawberry was installed in a private farm in Oman. This is a joint activity between ICARDA-APRP and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Oman. The system was initially installed at the research station in Oman and training was provided by APRP scientists.

• In Yemen, the Protected Agriculture project in Taiz is progressing. The 17 targeted pilot growers for the first year were selected and GHs were installed. The project implementation teams were trained by ICARDA-APRP consultants during a special training course held in last June in Taez. GHs are under preparation for planting in the month of January 2006.

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• The establishment of Seed Technology Units (STU) in Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia is under progress. The building is being prepared and the seed cleaning and trussing equipments have been purchased by APRP and shipped to Al Jouf.

2.1.2. Meetings, Training Courses, Conferences and Workshops • APRP Technical Coordination Meeting, held on 17 December in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, was

attended by 37 participants, from seven countries of the Arabian Peninsula; ICARDA-APRP staff in Dubai; Agricultural Counselor in the Royal Netherlands Embassy- Abu Dhabi Dr Ir J G (Hans) van Der Beek; the FAO representative in Qatar, Dr Laurie Kitch and three Omani growers.

• APRP Regional Steering Committee Meeting (RSCM) was held on 19th Dec, chaired by Prof Dr Magdy Madkour; Assistant Director General for International Cooperation, and attended by the National and Technical Coordinators of the seven AP countries and APRP’s Regional Coordinator and scientists.

• A national seminar on the Protection of New Varieties of Plants under the UPOV Convention was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Dubai during 13 to 14 November 2005. Mr. Rolf Jordens, Vice Secretary General UPOV and Mr. Makoto Tabata, Senior Counselor UPOV addressed the seminar and gave details on the draft low of plant protection. ICARDA-APRP was invited and represented by Dr Ahmed Osman, Range and Pasture specialist.

• A regional workshop on Soil Deterioration, Desertification and Environment was organized by the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water resources, Oman in collaboration with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science (ONCECS) from 5 to 7 Dec in Muscat, Oman. ICARDA was invited and represented by Dr Ahmed Osman who presented a paper entitled “ICARDA works to reverse land degradation and combat desertification”.

2.1.3. Donors Relations • “Improvement of Major Production Systems, Proper Natural Resource Management and the

Enhancement of Rural Development in the Arabian Peninsula through the Transfer of Successfully Developed Technology Packages” is the title of a new project proposal prepared by ICARDA-APRP in collaboration with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems of the Arabian Peninsula countries. This will be submitted to potential donors.

• The successful achievements of Protected Agriculture Project in Afghanistan attracted the attention NGO MERCI CORPS (MC). MC proposed to provide partial financial support to install, and provide training and production materials to 30 new growers to adopt PA production techniques.

2.1.4. Publication and Presentations • A book entitled “Collection of valuable indigenous plant species of the Arabian Peninsula” was

published by APRP and edited by Dr Ahmed Osman, Forage/Range Specialist, ICARDA-APRP. • “Evaluation and restructuring of Agricultural Research Systems in the GCC countries”- a special

study report for ICARDA-APRP prepared by (late) Prof Dr Ghazi Hariri. • ICARDA-APRP website (www.icarda.org/aprp) was updated. The new publications, training

courses and other ICARDA APRP activities during last year were uploaded on the internet. A new page for APRP News and Events were created in www.icarda-aprp.ae/News.htm and linked to the APRP sites.

• The APRP Weather station network is now available under http://www.apmet-icarda.org:85/default.html. The webpage is running from a server in ICARDA-APRP office in Dubai.

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2.2. Central Asia and the Caucasus Regional Program (CACRP) 2.2.1. Developments in Research • Three Brazilian no-till planters, one Brazilian boom sprayer and three Indian raised-bed planters

provided to the project pilot farmers involved in TCP FAO in Karakalpakstan were used for planting winter wheat on 200 ha. The raised bed planters from India were also used in winter wheat planting in Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, the no-till planters were used in southern Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

• Agricultural policy changes in Uzbekistan have been made towards further dismantling Soviet type large farms and establishing individual small farms targeting to finish this process in 2006. Uzbekistan has been reforming seed production system and applied to ISTA for a membership. The Kazakhstan Government decided to support from next year crop diversification program promoting increased acreages of soybean in irrigated agriculture and rapeseed in dryland agriculture. It also will promote zero tillage adoption in large scale.

2.2.2. Training Highlights • A 3 month English training course started in December 2005 in Tashkent for 28 scientists from 6

countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. • A training course on Agriculture Extension Methodology for Transfer of Technology was held

under the Soil and Water Project funded by ADB during November 21-25, 2005, at Tashkent, Uzbekistan. (see HRDU)

2.2.3. Workshops and Meetings • Farmer’s Demonstration Field Day on Raised Bed Planting was organized on 26 October for 31

participants including 26 farmers from Ter-Ter region in Azerbaijan. Dr Djumshudov explained farmers about agro-technical, financial and labor saving benefits of raise-bed planting. He highlighted support of ICARDA in terms of collaborative research activities and providing one more raise-bed planter, which allowed to increase area under this technology up to 1,000 ha.

• An International Conference on Carbon Sequestration in Central Asia organized by Ohio State University, ICARDA, CIMMYT and USDA was held in Columbus, Ohio, USA during 1-4 November. A decision was taken to establish a Central Asian Network on Carbon Sequestration with ICARDA as the lead Center.

2.2.4. Exchange of visits • Four scientists from the region participated in a Fourth International Food Legume Research

Conference (IFLRC-IV) held in New Delhi in October 2005. • Drs E De-Pauw, R Thomas, J Ryan and M Suleimenov (ICARDA), Drs S Sanginov (Tajikijstan)

and A Saparov (Kazakhstan) participated in the International Conference on Carbon Sequestration in Central Asia held in Columbus, Ohio and presented papers on activities conducted in ADB Project on Soil and Water Management.

2.2.5. New project proposal for funding • A TCP/FAO “Improvement of Cereal, Leguminous, Oil and Forage Crops Seed Production” was

approved for Uzbekistan with ICARDA providing technical backstopping. • Project Concept Note on Mountain Agriculture in the Caucasus for Armenia and Georgia was

prepared and submitted to Ministries of Environment Protection of both countries as well as to UNEP Agency. The CN got positive reaction with comments for revision from the UNEP, approval

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from Armenia but negative comments from Georgia. The process of negotiating with a new Georgian Focal Point continues.

• Michigan State University got USAID IPM CRSP grant for a Regional IPM program in Central Asia to be implemented in collaboration with ICARDA and PFU-CGIAR in Tashkent with activities starting from November 2005.

2.3. Highland Regional Network (HRNW) Activities in Turkey • CWANA International Seed Trade Conference organized by Turkish Seed Industry Association

(TURKTED) and ICARDA was held in Antalya, Turkey during November 29 to December 1, 2005. • CWANA Global Authors Meeting for the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and

Technology for Development (IAASTD) was held in Istanbul during the period November 14 - 17, 2005.

• Two ICARDA technicians traveled to Turkey, Gazianteb 21-24 November 2005 to sample a persistence study of entomo-pathogenic fungi for Sunn pest management. This activity has been funded in the past by DFID, UK and this year by USAID linkage funds

Iran-ICARDA Collaboration • Drs El Bouhssini, Parker and Skinner visited Iran on 09-23 October 2005 to assess the Sunn pest

populations in many sites. • The Steering Committee of the Karkheh River Basin project met in Tehran on 16-20 October where

the progress reports were presented and the plans for the coming year were discussed. • Dr Amri visited Maragheh and Kerminshah and gave seminars on preliminary observations on

cereal breeding for the dry areas. It was decided to review the breeding strategies during the coming years.

• Dr Amri visited with the Deputy Ministers for Extension and Horticulture who expressed their desire to develop strong partnerships with ICARDA. They also requested ICARDA assistance on extension of cactus and olive plantations in Iran and showed interest in visiting the success story in North Africa and Egypt.

• Dr Amri visited Esfahan University and discussed with Prof Ahoonmanesh future collaboration with ICARDA.

• Dr Siham Asaad and Dr Safaa Kumari provided training on seed health in collaboration with Plants and Seeds Certification and Registration Institute in Karaj on 07-23 December 2005 for 14 participants from different AREO institutions. This was an opportunity to discuss future collaboration between ICARDA and AREO institutions dealing with seed production and plants diseases.

2.4. North African Regional Program (NARP) NARP conducted following activities during the fourth quarter of 2005:

• The most important event in the region was the organization of the AGM 05 in Marrakech/Morocco.

NARP helped the CGIAR in the logistics and secretariats. • Organization of National Coordination meetings in Algeria, Mauritania and Tunisia: attended by

scientist from NARS and ICARDA. The meeting reviewed the results of collaborative activities during 2004-2005, developed plan of work for 2005-2006, and suggested many new proposals to strengthen ongoing projects.

• Organization of Regional Coordination and Planning meetings of the Projects :

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1. 4th Durum Improvement Project IRDEN (December 11-12, 2005, Tunis), IFAD- funded project, Fostering Adoption of Low Cost Durum Technologies in WANA

2. 3rd Mountains Maghreb (December 15-16, 2005, Tunis): The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) funded project on Improving the Livelihood of rural Communities and Management of Natural Resources in the Mountains of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia)

3. 1st Maghreb and Mashreq III (December 19-20, 2005, Tunis): IFAD and AFESD funded project on Development of Livelihood of Agro Pastoral Communities in the Mashreq/Maghreb Region.

4. 1st Steering Committee of M&M III (December 21, 2005, Tunis) attended by IFAD, ICARDA and NARS (AFESD apologized) All these meetings presented the results of 2004-2005 cropping season and plan of work for 2005-2006. New proposals were discussed for IRDEN and the Mountains projects for their continuation.

5. 10th NARP Regional and Coordination Meeting (December 13-14, 2005, Tunis): attended by more than 100 scientists from NARS of Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia; by ICARDA scientists and representatives of the Embassies of Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Morocco and USA; as well as Representatives of Regional and International organizations accredited in Tunis (FAO, UNDP, IPGR). It was also attended by development agencies and farmers organizations in Tunisia. For the first time, the presentations of collaborative projects in the region were given by scientist from NARS on behalf of all involved countries. ICARDA Mega Project Directors gave presentations on Integrated Gene Management (MP2), and Knowledge Management and Dissemination (MP6), as well as a presentation on ICARDA strategy 2006-2015 was given by Dr Kamel Shideed to get the feedback of NARP partners. The participants also identified five priority areas for new concept notes for project development.

6. Contacts with Donors: a. SDC Swiss : Dr Hans Schellenberg visited ICARDA NARP and the site of he

mountains project in Ould Hilal Tunisia; b. Discussion with the Ag. Attaché USDA/USA Embassy in Morocco on finalizing the

biotechnology project for the Maghreb. 2.5. Nile Valley and Red Sea Regional Program (NVRSRP)

2.5.1. Training courses/workshops and meetings in Egypt • ICARDA in collaboration with ILRI organized the 3rd Meeting of the Program Steering Committee

(PSC) for the project “Small Ruminant Health-Improved Livelihoods and Market Opportunities for Poor Farmers in the Near East and North Africa Region” on 5th December in Cairo, Egypt. Twelve scientists from Sudan, Syria, Tunis, Jordan, ILRI and ICARDA participated.

• ICARDA in collaboration with CLAES organized: o A joint training course on Utilization of Expert systems in Agricultural Extension and

Production held in Cairo during 03-15 December 2005. o A workshop on Faba Bean Expert System Verification held in Cairo during 01-03 October

2005. Eleven scientists form Sudan, Syria, Ethiopia, Tunis, Morocco and Egypt participated in the training course.

o A workshop on Utilization of Intelligent Systems for Plant Protection held in Cairo during 25-26 October 2005. Eighteen scientists form Sudan, Algeria, Tunis,

2.5.2. Meetings/Conference • Biotechnology Conference in Khartoum, Sudan: Dr Khaled Makkouk, NVRSRP Regional

coordinator attended a conference on “Biotechnology and Future Prospects” held in Khartoum, December 13-15, 2005, and organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The meeting was attended by around 500 scientists from different Sudanese institutions, in addition to invited speakers from ICARDA, FAO, WHO, WIPO and the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria. Dr

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Makkouk gave an oral presentation on behalf of the Biotechnology Group at ICARDA entitled “Biotechnology at ICARDA: Use of DNA Markers for Crop Improvement”

• CGIAR Consortium Meeting in Southern Sudan: A meeting of the Consortium for Agricultural Research and Rehabilitation in Southern Sudan (CARRSS) and the Secretariat of Agriculture and Animal Resources (SAAR)/Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)/Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries (MARF) was held in Yei, Southern Sudan, 24-27 October. The meeting was attended by representatives of 15 IARCs. Dr K Makkouk, NVRSRP Coordinator, represented ICARDA in this meeting. The main objective was to discuss with scientists from different national institutions potential projects urgently needed for Southern Sudan.

2.6. West Asia Regional Program (WARP) • ICARDA Board Chair Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson visited Jordan on 08-10 November 2005 and

met with several collaborating researchers. • World Bank External Review Mission accompanied by Dr Makkouk visited Jordan on 15-18

November 2005 to discuss the activities of Dryland Initiative in Mahareb, Ramtha and Madaba and met with the project team.

• The Vallerani Project on mechanization of water harvesting organized its annual planning and coordination meeting in Jordan on 19-22 November 2005 followed by a visit to a field visit to Mahareb and Majidia demonstration trials attended by more than 75 farmers and dignitaries from the region who were highly impressed by the rehabilitation of the degraded rangelands.

• Dr Amri visited Yemen on 18-25 November 2005 to provide expertise on development of a World Bank project on Rainfed Agriculture Development. It was also an opportunity to discuss the joint development of a concept note on promoting Agrobiodiversity Conservation and Adaptation to Climatic Change in the Highlands of Yemen to be submitted to GEF.

• Dr Amri met HE Dr Waleed Abedrabboh, the Minister of Agriculture in the Palestinian Authority and discussed the need for ICARDA’s help in reorganizing the research activities.

• ICARDA Office in Amman started hosting the Executive Secretariat of the WANA Regional Forum AARINENA.

• Dr Amri visited European Union, USAID and JICA representatives in Jordan to seek financial assistance for a project in Jordan on Cereal leaf minor.

3. DONOR RELATIONS 3.1. Project Proposal Submitted: A total of seventeen proposals were submitted in the fourth quarter of 2005, as listed below. • At the invitation of the Asian Division of IFAD, ICARDA submitted a concept note for a large

grant for Rehabilitation of Agricultural Livelihoods of Women in Marginal and Post-Conflict Areas of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan: Research, development and adoption of improved dairy goat production systems, with a budget of US$ 1.077 million over three years. The concept note will be considered by IFAD’s technical review committee in January 2006.

• Also at the invitation of the Latin American Division of IFAD, ICARDA submitted a concept note on Production tools to secure the market insertion and livelihood improvement of resource poor livestock producers in the dry areas of Argentinean Chaco and Patagonia.

• Following discussions with the Director General of the OPEC Fund for International Development, ICARDA submitted a request to the OPEC Fund for co-financing of US$ 1.96 million for the project Community-based optimization of the management of scarce water resources in West Asia and North Africa, which is currently supported by IFAD and the Arab Fund.

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• In response to a call for proposals for targeted funding for CG Centers by the Federal Ministry of Finance of Austria, ICARDA submitted a proposal on Designing decentralized and community-based sheep and goat breeding programs with smallholder farmers in Latin America in partnership with BOKU (University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna) with a budget of € 362,436 (equivalent to US$ 440,360) over three years.

• ICARDA is partner in a proposal on improving small ruminant productivity in dry areas through cost-efficient animal nutrition and improved quality of milk and dairy products, submitted by the ETH (Swiss Centre for International Agriculture) Institute of Animal Science to the ETH/ZIL annual internal call for proposals. The proposal has a total budget of CHF 294,500 (US$ 230,000) and would support one PhD student from ETH posted at ICARDA and two M. Sc. students from Syrian universities.

• A proposal for a Post-doctoral Fellow in Analysis of Allelic Gene Expression in ICARDA Mandated Crops was submitted to the annual call for proposals by BMZ, Germany, requesting support for three years for a German Post-Doc to be posted to ICARDA.

• In August 2005 CIM (Centrum für internationale Migration und Entwicklung), Germany, invited applications for their Integrated Experts Program, through which they place German and other European experts with organizations in developing countries. CIM partially supports the salary and associated employment costs of the expert. ICARDA submitted three applications for experts in Knowledge Management and Dissemination; Learning Resources (design and development of electronic training material); and Bioinformatics.

• ICARDA also submitted an application for CIM’s Young Professionals Program for a young scientist to assist in research on the assessment of alternative water policies for improved water demand management in dry areas.

• ICARDA submitted a proposal on Community-based water-harvesting dams to the World Bank 2006 Global Development Marketplace Competition for Innovations in Water, Sanitation, and Energy Services for Poor People. The proposal was submitted in partnership with the Syrian Ministry of Irrigation, with a budget of US$ 110,000 over two years.

• ICARDA is also a partner in a proposal on Improved recharge wells design for groundwater resources in the dry areas submitted by IRA (Institut des Regions Arides), Tunisia, to the World Bank Global Development Marketplace, with a budget of US$ 160,000 over two years.

• ICARDA is a partner with an Iranian NGO CENESTA (Centre for Sustainable Development and Environment) in a proposal on Up/out-scaling strategies in Karkheh submitted to the Challenge Program for Water and Food (CPWF) Small Grants Program with a budget of US$ 75,000. The proposed project links directly with ICARDA’s current CPWF projects in the Karkeh river basin of Iran.

• ICARDA submitted a proposal to the GEF (Global Environment Facility) Small Grants Program (SGP) in Syria on Sustaining livelihoods and land resources in the olive mountains of NW Syria, with a budget of SYP 2,718,000 (US$ 49,400). Under the SGP, the grant is provided to a community-based organization, while ICARDA would provide technical assistance.

• ICARDA is partner in a concept note on Climate change impacts in the Mediterranean area submitted by IDDRI (Institut du développement durable et des relations internationals), Paris, France, for funding within the EC FP6 (6th Framework Program). The concept note passed the first stage of evaluations and a full proposal is currently being developed for submission in March 2006.

• ICARDA is also a partner in a concept note on Food security and safety through Lathyrus improvement in sustainable agricultural systems, submitted by Instituto Agricultura Sostenible (CSIC), Spain, for funding from the EC FP6 INCO (International Cooperation) program

• ICARDA is partner in a concept note on Identifying genes from H. spontaneum that can confer drought and low nitrogen tolerance in European barley, submitted by CAZS Natural Resources University of Wales in response to a call for proposals for “Innovation in crop science - exploitation of genetics for sustainability initiative” by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences

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Research Council (BBSRC), UK. The concept note passed the first stage of competition and has been accepted for development into a full proposal.

• ICARDA submitted a proposal to IDRC’s regional office for the Middle East and North Africa for an International Workshop: Management of Marginal-Quality Water Resources in Water Scarce Countries scheduled for late 2006. IDRC agreed to provide partial funding for the total cost of the workshop of US$ 70,000. ICARDA will also approach other donors in 2006.

• A concept note on Helping land users cope with climate change in the rainfed areas of CWANA through increased adaptive capacity, with a budget of US$ 2.835 million, was submitted to the CGIAR Inter-Centre Working Group on Climate Change as part of a bid for a new CG System wide Program.

3.2. Project Proposals Approved Three new grants totaling US$ 1.225 million were approved as follows: • IFAD’s Board approved a grant of US$ 1.2 million for the three year project Community Action in

Integrated and Market Oriented Feed-Livestock Production in Central and South Asia. • The GEF Small Grants Program in Syria approved a grant of SYP 2,718,000 (US$ 49,400) for a

project on Sustaining livelihoods and land resources in the olive mountains of NW Syria. The grant will be provided to the Khaltan village community with which ICARDA is working with some funding supporting ICARDA’s technical assistance.

• The Challenge Program for Water and Food (CPWF) Small Grants Program approved a grant of US$ 75,000 to the CENESTA (Centre for Sustainable Development and Environment), an Iranian NGO, for a project on Up/out-scaling strategies in Karkheh which links directly with ICARDA’s current CPWF projects in the Karkeh river basin of Iran.

In addition, over 25 grant proposals were still pending a decision from donors at the end of 2005. 4. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

4.1. Financial Performance to Fourth Quarter of 2005 The Center generated an all-time high revenue of US$29.812 million and expensed US$29.331million ending in a surplus of US$ 0.481million (with the school, a total of US$ 0.483 million). The Center’s incurred a currency exchange loss of US$0.661million.

Performance for the period ended 31 December 2005: Budgeted revenue and expenses compared with actual by funding source. All figures are in million US $

As of

31 Dec, 2005 Variance

Reasons

Revenue and expenses by

Funding Source

Internal

Annual Budget 2005

Budget (a)

Actual* (b)

(a) –(b)

%

Core 8.537 8.537 8.537 0 World Bank 1.500 1.500 1.500 0 Sub-total – Core 10.037 10.037 10.037 0 Donor directed 2.912 2.912 2.912 0 Income equals expenses Restricted 17.829 17.829 15.933 1.896 11% Actual expenses=

revenue Total Grants 30.778 30.778 28.882 1.896 6% Other income 0.930 0.930 0.930 0 0%

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Total Revenue 31.708 31.708 29.812 1.896 6% Core 11.204 11.204 10.723 0.481 4% Exchange loss 0.661 0.661 0.661 0 0% Donor directed 2.912 2.912 2.912 0 Restricted 17.829 17.829 15.933 1.896 11% Total expenses 32.606 32.606 30.229 2.377 7% Less: Overhead (0.898) (0.898) (0.898) 0 0% Total Expenses 31.708 31.708 29.331 2.377 7%

Surplus / (Deficit) ICARDA

0.000 0.000 0.481 0.481 Cost control & utilization of restricted project funds

IISA (net) 0.000 0.000 0.002 0.002 Surplus /(Deficit) 0.000 0.483 0.483

*Actual includes proportionate actual receipts and receivable revenue. 4.2. Expenses by Natural Classifications The following is the statement of expenses by natural classification of ICARDA as at 31 December 2005. Table 2. Expenses by natural classifications. All figures in US$ million

Unrestricted Restricted Total % Personnel cost 6.765 4.142 10.907 37% Supplies & Services 3.361 8.941 12.302 41% Collaborators cost 0.045 2.866 2.911 8% Travel 0.741 1.869 2.610 8% Depreciation 0.472 1.027 1.499 6% Total 11.384 18.845 30.229 100%

4.3. Statement of Financial Position as at 31 December 2005 The following is the Statement of Financial Position of ICARDA as at 31 December 2005: Table 3: Statement of financial position, 31 December 2005

ASSETS

US$ M LIABILITIES

US$M

Cash & Cash equivalent 13.382 Current liabilities 9.864 Cash receipts from Donors 5.957 Accruals & Provisions 4.888 Total Cash & Cash equivalent

19.339 Accrued staff benefits 4.145

Accounts Receivables 7.907 Total liabilities 18.897 Inventories 0.324 Capital reserve 7.990 Advances and Prepayments 0.527 Other reserve 0.645 Total current assets 38.097 Operating reserve 0.565 Property & Equipment 3.511 Capital invested in Property &

Equipment 3.511

TOTAL ASSETS 31.608 TOTAL LIABILITIES 31.608

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The Center as of 31 December 2005 has the ability to pay off its liabilities. The Center has provided fully for staff liabilities. 4.4. CGIAR Financial Health Indicators CGIAR has recommended four financial health indicators to determine the financial performance of the Centers. They are: a. Short-Term Solvency (Liquidity) (No. of days of operating expenses that can be covered excluding depreciation of working capital, calculated as Current assets minus current liabilities divided by per day operating expenses excluding depreciation. Recommended acceptable range 90 to 120 days): With the CA being: $28.097million and CL being $14.752million the net assets are $13.345 million, which would be sufficient for 170 days based on a per day operating expenses (excluding depreciation) of US$78.71k. This is above the benchmark showing good health. b. Long-Term Financial Stability (Adequacy of Resources) (No. of days of operating expenses in unrestricted net assets divided by per day operating expenses. Acceptable range 75 – 90 days). Unrestricted net assets net of property and equipment amount to US $ 9.200 million (US$12.711million minus US$3.511million= 9.200 million) divided by per day operating expenses (US$78.71k) gives a value of 117 days. This is above the benchmark showing good health. c. Efficiency of Operations (indirect cost ratio) – Additional indicator introduced from 2005 (Ratio of indirect costs to direct costs) Indirect costs being $4.629m and direct costs $25.600m gives an indirect cost ration of 18.1%. This is within the acceptable norms. d. Cash Management on Restricted Operations – Additional indicator introduced by CG since 2005 (Ratio of restricted donor accounts receivable over restricted donor accounts payables) Restricted donor accounts receivable being US $4.848m and restricted donor accounts payables being $5.925m the ratio comes out to be 81.82%. The time trend for the indicators is given below: Table 4: Financial health indicators –Comparison of bench mark with CGIAR

2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Benchmark Short-term solvency 170 days 196 days 188 days 182 days 188 days 90–120 daysLong-term Financial stability 117 days 136 days 132 days 130 days 140 days 75–90 days Efficiency of Operations 18.1% 19.6% Cash management on restricted operation81.82%

4.5. Highlights of Major Activities in 2005 4.5.1. Finance: • The operating surplus as of 31 December 2005 is US$0.565m • The unrestricted cash balance stood at all-time high of US$1.568m since 1990 • The center removed from its fixed assets register, the fully depreciated fixed assets in the amount of

US$22.77m and full records are maintained separately in its fixed assets module for better control • From 01 January 2006, it was decided to capitalize the Oracle project amounting to US$1.175 m

over the period of five years • The Center reached an all-time low inventory of US$0.324m • Due to frequent monitoring of restricted projects, the net impact of restricted project receivable and

payable stood at US$1.077 m, which is lesser compared to the value in 2004 amounting US$3.280m

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• As advised by the external auditors, the Center wrote back US$0.150m from the EPMR/CCER provision

• The Center has US$0.682 m provision for EPMR/CCER in 2006 • The School ended in a surplus of US$0.002m in 2005 compared to a deficit of US$0.079m in 2004 • The Center received an advance core grant of US$1.165m from Australia, Sweden, the Netherlands

and the World Bank • The Capital additions for the period were US$1.337 million. Of this US$ 0.202 million, represented

addition of Computers. • The Center spent US$0.898m as restricted project • The Center crossed the US$25 million World Bank benchmark for non World Bank revenues 4.5.2 Activities • The Center has reached an all time high revenue recognition at US$29.814m • All control accounts and in-transit accounts reconciled • The Center ended in a surplus of US$0.483 m. • Indirect costs recovery is US$0.898m. • The indirect to direct cost ratio is 18.1% as compared to 19.6% in 2004. • The Center touched again an all-time low of administration and management costs at 11% • The Center realized an all-time high farm revenue of US$0.301m • The Center conducted risk reviews of Finance, Computer Services and Corporate Services • South Africa and Switzerland joined as new core donors in 2005 at US$0.040m and US$0.245 m,

respectively • The Center received US$0.400m from the World Bank for its superior performance in 2004 4.5.3 Oracle • The Center went live on the new Oracle System for financial data from August 22, 2005 • The external and internal auditors were invited to review the taking over the balances from 10.7

versions to 11-i version. • Four finance officers were sent to USA for special training on security and control aspects of Oracle

Financials in February 2005 • Several training sessions were held for the staff in finance, PSD and Personnel by the implementers

as part of training and hand holding. • Oracle implementation was concluded on 31 December 2005. • Post implementation review of the Oracle project was completed and considered the project as a

success, with recommendation for further tuning up • School accounts have been segregated for better internal control purposes • Finance developed nearly 10 manuals for Oracle financials based on risk management, internal

control and segregation of duties and the same were distributed to concerned users • All outreach staff were trained in the Oracle financials in user-specific functionalities 4.5.4. General • The management reports were redesigned based on Mega projects • Continued to review the restricted projects receivables • Included the carry over funds in the internal budget of restricted projects for better project

management by the concerned scientists • The Center commenced operation of a fully-fledged guesthouse in the last quarter of 2005 4.6. Activities Continued in Finance During 2005 • Finalizing monthly accounts in Year end Audit format, since August 2002 • Provided a monthly management report on the first of each month

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• Introduced written financial reports to all the Executive and Management Committees • Reconciled for the first time the Accounts Payable module with the General Ledger on the old

systems and from the new system • Reconciled of Fixed Assets with the General Ledger

Reconciled the inventory module with the General Ledger • Monthly monitoring of accruals and provisions • Monthly reconciliation of most of the trial balance accounts • School repatriation and cost control were introduced and monitored • Recognition of other reserve items • Monthly financial and management reports were subject to internal audit reviews • Reconciled the inventory module with the General Ledger • Revision of provision of repatriation benefits • Revision of accounting of school income • Monthly monitoring of accruals and provisions with detailed analysis • Introduced project receivables and collection mechanism since February 2004 • Placed a mechanism to outreach advances monitoring • Selected finance staffs were provided training in Oracle Financials version 11-i, in the General

Ledger, Accounts Payable and fixed assets module in Chennai with Bahwan Cybertek. • All outreach locations were provided adequate imprest funds on a quarterly basis and a monitoring

mechanism was put in place • A monthly monitoring status of financial documents from outreach locations was put in place. • Two new PC’s were introduced during 2005 as part of implementation. • Significant time was spent by all finance staff with the implementation of Oracle Financials

including Quality Assurance from the External Auditors • The Center closed its books and completed the final audit in an historical record time of eight

workdays (11 workdays for 2004 and 15 workdays for 2003 accounts) and the accounts signed off on January 22, 2005. Special projects are expected to be completed in February 2005.

4.7. Other issues • Final External Audit: The current External Auditors, Ernst & Young, Bahrain, completed and

signed off ICARDA’s audited financials for 2005 on 22 January 2006. This is last year of their audit function.

• Submission of 2005 Audited Financials to CGIAR: The 2005 Audited Financials were submitted on 23 January 2006 to the CGIAR Secretariat. ICARDA was the first Center to submit its audited financials to CG Secretariat on January 23, 2005.

• Certification: For the second time in the financial history of ICARDA, a report of management was provided to include that the financial records of the Center have been properly maintained and these financial statements have been prepared from the accounting records of the Center and comply with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the provisions of the CGIAR Accounting Practices and Reporting Practices Manual. It mentioned about the introduction of the new system from September 2005 and that the data transfer was reviewed by the external and CGIAR/ICARDA Internal auditors of the Center. It also confirmed that to the best of their knowledge and belief that the financial statements and notes thereto, provides a true and fair view of the financial position of the Center as of 31 December 2005 and the results of its operations and its cash flows then ended in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards.

4.8. Risk Management and Internal Control Environment • The interrelated components of internal control (Control Environment, Risk assessment, Control

activities, Information and Communication and Monitoring) were reviewed as an ongoing process by the application of Control Self Assessment.

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• The Center joined the CGIAR consortium for Internal Audit in 2005 on an annual contribution of US$0.035 million. The CGIAR Internal Audit Director and CGIAR Internal Auditor visited the Center six times in 2005 covering three times for review of Oracle implementation and three times for attending the Audit Committee meeting and Center-wide risk reviews.

• The Center conducted Risk Management review for Finance, CBSU and Genetic Resources Unit and the process was assisted and monitored by the CGIAR internal audit unit. Further the Center has planned to review comprehensively the internal and risk aspects in outreach locations through a planned visit by Finance officers and CGIAR/ICARDA Internal auditor and the new external auditors.

• The overall assessment of internal control function and checks and balances in place in relation to processing of all financial documents were enhanced and found adequate and satisfactory.

• The Center put in place a cross validation and quality assurance process as follows for the successful implementation of the Oracle Financials process. The entire process from the selection of vendor to final payment was based on the recommendation of the Quality Assurance Vendor viz. Ernst & Young. All data transfer was made under the presence of the ICARDA’s external auditor and CGIAR/ICARDA internal auditor. The post implementation review was conducted within first hundred days to ensure the completion of the process and also to identify areas in each module to be addressed as part of post implementation support by the implementation vendor.

• The working of the finance department in a shrinking funding scenario, which involved monthly reconciliation of bank accounts, monthly monitoring of expenses, projections based on monthly actual and review of investments periodically and exploring areas of cost control and implementing core cash expenses control, was significant.

5. Staff Matters 1. Following staff members left the Center in the period 1 October 2005 to 31 December 2005:

Category & Name Position Reason Program Date

Left P LEVEL Osman, A. El Tayeb (Sudan)

Range/Forage Scientist/Ecologist Retirement MP2/APRP 31-Dec-05

National Professional Officer Sayed, M. Haitham (Syria)

Markers-Assisted Selection Specialist (molecular- Marker Project)

Resignation MP2 30-Nov-05

2. Following staff changes occurred since 1 October 2005 to 31 December 2005:

Name Program Date of Change

Position

P-LEVEL Title Changed De Pauw, Eddy GISU 01-Oct-05 Head - The Geographic

Information Systems Unit (GISU)

RA-LEVEL

Transfer Chabane, Kamel MP2 01-Dec-05 Biotechnologist RA-LEVEL Title Changed

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Inagaki, Masanori MP2 19-Oct-05 JIRCAS Scientific Representative

3. Recruitment process underway for the following positions:

Category & Position Program Status Date advertised

P-Level

Date Palm Specialist in the Arabian Peninsula Regional Program (New Position)

IC - APRP Completed

10-Jan-2005

Analytical Scientist: Knowledge Generation (New Position) MP6 Active 14-Sep-2005 Head - Seed Unit (Replacement for A Van Gastel) MP6 Active 22-Nov-05 Senior Livestock Scientist (Small Ruminants Management) (New Position)

MP4 Active 30-Nov-05

RA-Level

Technical Coordinator (New Position) IC - Tashkent

Active 14-Mar-2004

Researcher on Integrated Natural Resource Management in Dry Mountainous Areas (New Position)

MP3 Completed

24-Feb-2005

Internal Auditor (Replacement for H De Silva) DGO Completed

24-Feb-2005

Science Writer/Editor (Replacement for G Manners) CODIS Active 01-Mar-2005 Coordinator, CWANA Sub-global Component of the (IAASTD) (New Position)

MP6 Completed

24-Jul-2005

Communication Specialist (Replacement for R Kayanja) CODIS Active 28-Sep-2005 Research Associate - Plant Molecular Genetics (Replacement for S Udupa)

MP2 Active 29-Nov-05

Post Doctoral Fellow

PDF - Legume Pathologist (New Position) MP4 Completed

14-Feb-2005

6. Other Developments • On the invitation from H.E. Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, President of the World Food Prize, Prof

Dr Adel El-Beltagy participated in the WFP International Symposium: ‘The Dual Global Challenges of Malnutrition and Obesity,’ which took place on 12-14 October at Des Moines, Iowa State Capitol. The celebration also included 2005 Laureate Award Ceremony held in the evening of 13th October. This time the World Food Prize was presented to Dr Modadugu Gupta of India for his unique achievements in bringing improved nutrition through aquaculture to over one million poor people in South and Southeast Asia and Africa. The Open Forum of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development was chaired by Peter McPherson. The Forum focused on ‘The Role of Agriculture and Nutrition in countering HIV/AIDS in Africa.

• The Management Committee of the Center held its retreat in Lattakia, 24-26 October 2005, to:

review the work progress of the system of six MegaProjects and their interaction and linkages since implementation in January 2005; develop restricted project proposal ideas as building blocks address funding prospects and ways and means to strengthen the financial status of ICARDA and

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make projections for funding portfolio in a five to seven year perspective; and review the progress in developing the Center’s Strategic Plan for 2006-2015. The financial status of ICARDA was also presented. The DG urged the members to make efforts to enhance funding support to maintain healthy financial status of the Center. The resulting planned project proposals were then exposed in ICARDA to colleagues in the extraordinary planning meeting in 2006. During the retreat, MegaProject Directors and Unit Heads made presentations on funding plans and Dr Kamel Shideed presented the early draft of the Strategic Plan. It was decided that the early draft of the Strategic Plan would be shared with NARS leaders and the regional forums at a CWANA NARS meeting scheduled for 2006.

• CIMMYT Board of Trustees held its annual meeting at ICARDA HQ during the period 6-8 November 2005. ICARDA Board Chair, Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson and Board Chair elect, Dr Guido Gryseels were also present to join the DG in welcoming the CIMMYT Board. During the course of her presentation, Dr Catley-Carlson welcomed the meeting and highlighted the vital role CIMMYT and ICARDA are playing in contributing to the improvement in the livelihoods of millions of people. She wished CIMMYT Board meeting fruitful deliberations. The DG also welcomed CIMMYT Board Members in what he called as their second home – the ICARDA region, which is the “home” of wheat. Dr Alex McCalla, the outgoing Board Chair of CIMMYT joined Director General Dr Masa Iwanaga and the incoming Board Chair Dr Lene Lang in expressing thanks to ICARDA for hosting CIMMYT Board. The CIMMYT Board visited ICARDA research facilities and programs at the Center and then had a sight- seeing tour in Hama, Afamia, Homs and Palmyra. On behalf of CIMMYT Board of Trustees, Dr Masa Iwanaga, sent a letter of thanks for ICARDA’s hospitality and support to the meetings and the field research excursions.

• Prof Dr Adel El-Beltagy attended the World Science Forum – Knowledge, Ethics and

Responsibility - scheduled on 9-12 November 2005 in Budapest, Hungary. The Forum addressed opportunities for science to make a significant contribution to the sustainable livelihood development of humankind by means of new roles and challenges of scientific knowledge.

• In collaboration with ICARDA, FAO AnGR, a regional workshop was held at ICARDA Headquarters on 15-17 November, in which animal scientist from 11 countries of WANA participated to address the need to coordinate regional and sub-regional efforts in conserving and preserving available animal genetic biodiversity. Dr Salwa Amber, FAO Resident Representative in Syria, welcomed the participants noting that the focus of the AnGR regional program was capacity building. The ICARDA Director General highlighted the importance of animal production to the livelihood of the people in the region. The meeting concluded by choosing ICARDA as the Regional Focal Point for AnGR in the Near East. A discussion session led to the identification of a set of strategic priorities in four key areas a) inventory, monitoring and characterization; b) sustainable use and development of animal genetic resources; c) conservation of animal genetic resources; and d) policies, institutions and capacity building. Drs Richardo Cardellino, FAO’s AnGR Senior Program Officer and Dr Adel Aboul Naga, Senior Advisor were the key players for the success of the workshop.

• The DG participated in the 4th International Food Legumes Research Conference (IFLRC) hosted by

the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding, from 18-22 November in New Delhi, India. Dr Willie Erskine participated in this Conference in his capacity as Program Chairperson of IFLRC IV joined by a group of ICARDA Legume Scientists including Drs Mohan Saxena, Ali Abdel El-Moneim, Khaled Makkouk, Safa Kumari, R Malhotra, A Sarker and Z Bishaw, who gave at least a paper each. Prof El-Beltagy gave a key-note presentation. The Conference addressed diverse issues relating to food legumes to ensure greater food, nutrition and environmental security for the poor in the future.

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• ICARDA had a strong participation in the CGIAR Annual General Meeting (AGM05) held on 5-9 December 2005 in Marrakech, Morocco. Board Members attending included Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson, Chairperson, Dr Guido Gryseels, Dr David Sammons, Dr Abdelmajid Slama and Dr Majd Jamal. Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General Designate, was also in attendance. H.E. Dr Adel Safar, the Syrian Minister of Agriculture participated also as a CGIAR Member. The first day of AGM meeting was designated as ‘Centers and Members Day, which was inaugurated by Drs Uzo Mokwunye, Chair of the Center Board Chairs Committee (CBC). The opening remarks were made by Dr Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chair, and the Centers’ overview was presented by Prof Dr Adel El-Beltagy; and the Centers’ achievements by Dr William Dar, the outgoing Chair of Centers Alliance Executive (AE). A presentation was also made by Dr Joachim Voss, CIAT DG and the incoming Chair of AE. ICARDA as the host CGIAR Center was associated with Morocco in welcoming the participants to AGM05 Meeting. During the course of AGM05, ICARDA held various important sessions, included a Session on 4 December to honor late Dr Robert Havener and a Scientific Symposium in recognition of the contributions of the ICARDA DG to global agricultural research and development. The two speakers at the Symposium were Prof Theodore C Hsiao, Prof Emeritus, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC, Davis, and Dr Marc van Montague, Prof Emeritus, Ghent University, Belgium. Mrs. Elizabeth Havener was invited to attend this session in honor of lat Dr. Havener. ICARDA, as the Convener of the Ecoregional Program for Central Asia and the Caucasus, arranged a luncheon meeting on the CGIAR Program for Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC) on 5 December. A session was also arranged for signing the ICARDA/CIMMYT revised agreement of collaboration. A special session was held on Global Rust Initiative on 5 December; a session on farmers as research and technology transfer partners was also held on 5 December during which ICARDA’s experience in the CWANA region was shared through Dr Salvatore Ceccarelli’s key-note presentation and the follow-up discussion held with the invited farmers from Syria, Jordan and Egypt. ICARDA’s display booth of its posters, publications and CDs attracted a large number of donor representatives, researchers and media people. Daily meetings with donor representatives were held. Donors met included CIDA, DFID, DANIDA, EMBRAPA, IFAD, JIRCAS, SAREC, GTZ, Switzerland, Austria, Syngenta Foundation, OPEC Fund for International Development, and USAID.

• Prof Dr Adel El-Beltagy attended the 2nd Regional Consultative Workshop of the Arab Water

Council held in Cairo on 14-15 December 2005 to discuss the preparation process of the upcoming 4th World Water Forum scheduled to take place in Mexico City, 16-22 March 2006. The Opening Session was inaugurated by H.E. Dr Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, President, Arab Water Council and Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt. Representatives from World Bank, Islamic Development Bank and several regional organizations attended. The representatives of the organizing committee of the 4th World Water Forum attending the meeting discussed the program of the 4th WWF and agreed that there would be session on ‘Water in the Dry Areas’ to be lead by ICARDA and supported by Arab Water Council.

• ICARDA paid appropriate tribute to H.E. late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, President of the

UAE (1971-2004) in recognition of his remarkable support to agricultural research in general and to ICARDA’s collaborative projects with NARS in the UAE and Arabian Peninsula in particular. In this regard, a special issue of ‘The Week at ICARDA’ was published.