Sustainable wheat and maize production in Afghanistan

Project ID:

CIM/2007/065

Collaborating Countries:

Afghanistan

Commissioned Organisation:

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Afghanistan

Project Leader

Dr Mahmood Osmanzai
Phone: 35782 (local line)
Fax:
Email: m.osmanzai@cgiar.org

Collaborating Institutions:

Project Budget:

$1,525,180

Project Duration:

01/10/2007 - 30/09/2011

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Dr Paul Fox

Project Overview

Wheat is the major grain crop in Afghanistan, grown in both irrigated and rainfed conditions. The main constraints to wheat production for small-scale farmers in Afghanistan are a lack of improved, adapted varieties, limited availability of quality seed, limited access to fertilisers, inadequate production technologies and damaged rural infrastructure. The Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock is committed to rebuilding agriculture in Afghanistan and has developed an Agriculture Master Plan which places a strong emphasis on cropping and capacity building. In line with that Plan, this project will focus on continuing the introduction and screening of new wheat lines with a particular emphasis on resistance to yellow rust and stem rust (including Ug99), supporting the release of new high yielding varieties, supporting the production and dissemination of quality breeder seed, improved targeting of wheat improvement programs, the evaluation and promotion of crop management practices, and on-going capacity building efforts.

Project Progress Reports

Year One

The project CIM-2007-065 started on 1 October 2007 and during this reporting period to 31 May 2008 the following brief progress can be reported.
Wheat and maize yield trials and screening nurseries, in collaboration with ARIA and partners, were planned, designed, prepared and conducted (Appendix 1). The reporting period coincides with our fall planting in 2007 and field observations of spring 2008. The wheat harvest will commence in June-September, depending on the sites, and therefore results will be available during the next reporting period.
A training course on wheat improvement for ARIA researchers, in collaboration with JAICAF/NARP and ARIA, was organised by CIMMYT during 10-29 May, 2008 within MAIL in Kabul. The participants were Afghan researchers involved in wheat research activities. The course was mainly coordinated by Dr. Mahmood Osmanzai with teaching contributions from Dr. Ram C. Sharma, Dr. Mahmood Osmanzai and Dr. Peter Hobbs. M. Khaliq Hazem (NARP) assisted in some of the logistic arrangements. The course was evaluated by the participants as being highly effective and relevant. The details are reported in Section 4 of this report.