Better crop germplasm and management for improved production of wheat, barley and pulse and forage legumes in Iraq

The implementation of the project has been and remains difficult given the political and security situation in Iraq. There have been changes in MOA Minister (twice) and MOA Coordinator, a referendum and election, and land disputes and security concerns, which have meant that no planned activity has been possible in Tel Afar and Al Rashidya research stations. The MOA project co-ordinator, Dr Awad Abbas, DG of the State Board of Agricultural Extension was assassinated in Baghdad after returning from the September 2005 planning meeting at ICARDA, which was a severe setback, although his replacement, Dr Saleh Bader, DG of the State Board of Research, is providing excellent support. There has been severe violence and bombings in Mosul and Tel Afar, where much of the project activity is located, which has made it difficult and dangerous for project personnel in both the office and field - these problems have escalated considerably since the start of the project. Another constraint is that in-country field visits by ICARDA and Australian collaborators for planning, implementing and checking the work are not possible.

Despite these difficulties, the project has gone remarkably well since commencement on 1 May 2005. This has been facilitated by the enthusiasm, flexibility and dedication of Iraqi collaborators, the proximity of ICARDA, and the interest and support of ICARDA and Australian scientists. There have been two major planning meetings at ICARDA in July and September 2005, which were well attended by Baghdad, Mosul, ICARDA and Australian scientists. A major baseline survey of 260 farm families has been undertaken and is being analyzed and evaluated by University of Mosul, MOA Baghdad and ICARDA socio-economists, the former introduced as collaborators after the project commenced. The Ninevah Implementation Committee, set up by MOA to manage the project, has met and produced minutes from 18 meetings which discussed and coordinated the Iraqi activity. The agreed workplan for the demonstration program has been carried out at 13 locations in the four main agroclimatic zones as planned. However, because of heavy rain, security concerns, land disputes and transport shortages, it was only possible to undertake 30 of the 80 planned research trials evaluating better adapted lines/varieties. The agreed training program at ICARDA for 23 Iraqi scientists was exceeded. Capital purchase of zero-till seeders was completed and seed cleaning plants are under way. Operational funds were transferred to all partners. This is detailed below.

Activities were initiated and facilitated through three major meetings to identify "best-bet" varieties and technologies for demonstrations and varieties/lines and technologies for further research. These meetings were held at ICARDA in June 2005 with ICARDA scientists, in July 2005 with ICARDA and Iraq scientists, and in September 2005 with ICARDA, Iraqi and Australian scientists. Much of the discussion was based on previous experience by collaborators in Iraq and in similar environments in north-east Syria.

To provide background and a base for future impact assessment, a baseline survey was developed and conducted with 260 farmers in July/August 2005 by MOA and University of Mosul socio-economists, which characterized the dryland environments and farming systems in Ninevah and identified constraints. Preliminary results were collated and presented at the September 2005 planning meeting to help guide selection of crop varieties and technologies for testing/promotion.

Varieties and technologies of interest identified in these meetings and the baseline survey were incorporated into a detailed 2005/06 workplan prepared at the September 2005 meeting, which formed the basis of trials and demonstrations undertaken in 2005/06. ICARDA and Australia provided seed for trials and demonstrations based on this evaluation and workplan.

On-farm demonstrations of improved varieties were conducted as planned in the following locations:
High Rainfall Areas: Al Shekhan, Rabiah, Al Kosh
Medium Rainfall Areas: Al Hamdaniah, Tel Keyf, Basheeka, Al Namroud
Low Rainfall Areas: Tel Abta, Al Hadar, Al Mahlabiah
Supplementary Irrigation: Rabiah, Al Namroud, Humeydat

Best-bet technologies and new lines/varieties were tested and demonstrated at these sites in a participatory manner with farmers. Experiences were also promoted more widely amongst farmers through field days at each of the demonstration sites. Many farmers were interested in some of the improved varieties which seemed to perform better than farmer varieties. Dissemination will be encouraged through distribution of seed from the demonstrations/trials to interested farmers for planting in 2006/07.

Planned demonstration trials on crop management issues such as tillage (farmer practice vs modified tillage), fertilizers (recommended and reduced rates of N and P), weed control (plus and minus herbicides) were not conducted because of heavy rain, security concerns, land disputes, lack of machinery and transport shortages; it is planned to conduct them in 2006/07.

Research trials evaluating better adapted lines/varieties of the project crops were planned at ten locations: Rabiah (HRA), Al Kosh (HRA), Al Rashidya (MRA), Baashika (MRA), Telkeyf (MRA), Al Namroud (MRA), Bartala (LRA), Al Hadar (LRA), Tel Abta (LRA), Tel Afar (LRA). However, it was only possible to conduct 30 of the planned 80 research trials as listed below. Many trials could not be established because of heavy rain, security concerns, land disputes and transport shortages. This was disappointing although the plan was very ambitious; it is planned to conduct them in 2006/07.

Wheat: 6 of 14 planned durum/bread wheat experiments conducted at Al Rashidya research centre
Barley: 5 of 17 planned experiments conducted at Al Rashidya and Al-Hadar
Chickpea: 14 of 16 planned research experiments conducted at Al Rashidya, Bartala and Al-Kosh
Lentil: 4 of 8 planned experiments conducted at Al Rashidya and Bartala
Faba bean: 1 of 9 planned experiments conducted at Al Rashidya
Forage legumes: 16 forage legume experiments could not be planted because of heavy Jan-Feb rains.

In project-linked research at ICARDA, a range of varieties/lines of oats, peas, canola and other oilseeds (Brassica napus, B. juncea, B. carinata, B. rapa, camelina sativa, C. abyssinica, Sinapis alba, Linum usitatissimum) from Australian collaborators was introduced and tested for adaptation and use in Iraq. Some varieties grew and seeded very well. The trial was inspected and discussed with several groups of visiting Iraqi scientists and seed was collected for broader testing of material of interest in Iraq and ICARDA in 2006/07.

Demonstrations and trials have been harvested and measured and data collected, analyzed and evaluated. Reports are being prepared and will be presented at the September 2006 annual reporting/planning meeting at ICARDA.

The project has re-established international linkages amongst Iraqi, ICARDA and Australian scientists. Twenty six Iraqi scientists have participated in six ICARDA training courses, and there were several other visits by MOA/DOA scientists to discuss and plan project activities. Australian collaborators presented four seminars in the September 2005 planning meeting on advances of relevance to Iraq in cereal and legume improvement, crop management and crop-livestock interactions in Australia.

Lists of priority items for capital purchase were discussed and developed between MOA and ICARDA according to the agreed budget. Four zero-till seeders from India were purchased, with three sent to DOA Mosul in May 2006 and one kept at ICARDA for project research and training. Specifications and prices for high-priority seed cleaning equipment were obtained - MOA/DOA are still considering the most appropriate machines for purchase.

There were major delays with dispatch of the budget to Iraq. Fortunately, fund transfer delays did not affect technical progress and the extensive 2005/06 demonstration and research programs were implemented with a special allocation of funds from MOA, support with fertilizers and time/money from farmers, and willing contributions of vehicles and time from DOA staff. The fund transfer issue was eventually solved and the first-year Iraq operational funding was transferred to the MOA Baghdad Bank in June 2006.

Similar to the year of 2005/06 the implementation of the project has been difficult given the political and security situation in Iraq. There has been severe violence and bombings in Mosul and Tel Afar, where much of the project activity is located, which has made it difficult and dangerous for project personnel in both the office and field - these problems have escalated considerably since the start of the project. Another constraint is that in-country field visits by ICARDA and Australian collaborators for planning, implementing and checking the work are not possible.

Despite these difficulties, the project has gone remarkably well since 1 July 2006. This has been facilitated by the enthusiasm, flexibility and dedication of Iraqi collaborators, the proximity of ICARDA, and the interest and support of ICARDA and Australian scientists. There was a major reporting and planning meeting at ICARDA in October 2006, which was well attended by Baghdad, Mosul, ICARDA and Australian scientists. Using the experience of 2005/06, more manageable and realistic workplans were developed for cereal evaluation, legume evaluation, agronomy, socio-economic, and seed production R & D for 2006/07. The Ninevah Implementation Committee, set up by MOA to manage the project, which functioned excellently in 2005-06, has been unable to meet regularly in Mosul/Ninevah as it is too dangerous, so coordination and oversight has been through regular visits and interactions at research and demonstration sites. The agreed workplans for the demonstration and research programs were carried out at 12 locations, 3 in each the four main agroclimatic zones, with a target of 41 demonstrations (33 for cereals and 8 for legumes) and 22 research yield trials (15 for cereals and 7 for legumes).

Some 60-70% of the demonstration workplan has been implemented with all crops sown in most of the 12 demonstration locations under farmer, improved tillage, and zero-tillage treatments. There is great enthusiasm about the potential of zero-tillage, which reportedly has never been tried before in Iraq. Enthusiasm has no doubt been increased by the increase in the price of 200 l of diesel from $2 a few years ago, to $125 in 2006, and to $250 in 2007 (near world prices). The two sub-soilers (deep tillage machines) requested by the DOA Ninevah group for trials and demonstrations have been purchased and dispatched, arriving a little late for 2006/07 planting but ready for 2007/08. There has been considerable interaction in the arrangements for purchase of 10 MOA-requested seed cleaning plants. A final inspection and specification check by MOA at the manufacturer's factory in Syria is pending. It is hoped the seed cleaners will be in place for use in seed cleaning after the 2007 harvest.

The agreed training program at ICARDA for about 20 Iraqi scientists was exceeded and a total of 34 participants took part in short-term courses and on-the-job training. In addition, 8 farmers accompanied by 4 DOA Ninevah scientists including the Iraqi Project Manager, visited ICARDA and inspected research on soil and crop management and crop improvement including zero-till direct sowing compared with conventional deep tillage.

Activities were initiated and facilitated through two major meetings to identify "best-bet" varieties and technologies for demonstrations and varieties/lines and technologies for further research. These meetings were held at ICARDA in October 2006 with ICARDA, Iraqi and Australian scientists and in Amman, Jordan, in January 2007 with project coordinators both from ICARDA and Iraq during the Iraq/ICARDA coordination meeting. Much of the discussion was based on previous experiences by collaborators in Iraq and in similar environments in north-east Syria.

Cereal and legume varieties and technologies of interest including zero-till direct sowing identified in these meetings were incorporated into a detailed 2006/07 workplan prepared at the October 2006 meeting, which formed the basis of trials and demonstrations undertaken in 2006/07. ICARDA and Australia provided additional seed for trials and demonstrations based on these evaluations and workplan.

On-farm demonstrations of improved cereal and legume varieties were conducted as planned in the following locations:
High Rainfall Areas: Al Shekhan, Rabiah, Al Kosh
Medium Rainfall Areas: Al Hamdaniah, Tel Keyf, Basheeka
Low Rainfall Areas: Tel Abta, Al Hatra, Al Mahlabiah
Supplementary Irrigation: Rabiah, Al Namroud, Humeydat

Similar to the 2005/06 season, best-bet technologies and new lines/varieties were tested and demonstrated at these sites in a participatory manner with farmers. Thus, crop varieties in demonstrations were planted under three crop management practices (zero-tillage, chisel plough soil preparation, farmers' practice). Experiences and findings were promoted widely amongst farmers through field days at each of the demonstration sites. Many farmers were interested in some of the improved varieties which seemed to perform better than farmer varieties. Dissemination will be encouraged further through distribution of seed from the demonstrations/trials to interested farmers for planting in 2007/08.

In the research program, a range of nurseries and trials were planted in late Dec/early Jan and these established well because of good January rains (>31 mm during late January) in Rasheedya Experimental Station in Mosul. These were:

Barley Nursery for Iraq
International Barley Yield Trial - Moderate Rainfall Areas 2006 -2007 (IBYT07 - MRA set 25)
International Barley Observation Nursery Moderate Rainfall Areas (IBON-MRA) 2006-2007
Chickpea International Elite Nursery-Latin America 2007 (CIEN-LA-2007)
Chickpea International Elite Nursery-Winter-2007 (CIEN -W-2007)
Faba Bean S1 populations 2007
Selection from Lentil F3 populations 2007
Comparison of 16 genotypes of "Bekia" (Vicia sativa)
Effect of land management and crop rotation with Lentil on Durum Wheat Om-Rabi5 productivity and quality

New seed from ICARDA for trials and demonstrations was discussed and agreed at the Reporting/Planning meeting at ICARDA in October 2006. This supplemented the considerable amount of seed saved from the 2006 harvest in Ninevah. About 2 tonnes of seed was prepared and tested for pests/diseases - some seed was found to be contaminated and was replaced and retested. Testing was finished and the shipment was received by DOA Ninevah on 16 December. This did not delay the planting program which proceeded with seed already on hand following good rains in early November.

In project-linked research at ICARDA, four agronomy trials linked to the project on zero-tillage of oats, wheat, chickpea, and barley and adaptation/seed increase of Australian-supplied oilseeds and oats were established using the Indian zero-till planter at ICARDA in November 2006. These gave good information on new systems of conservation cropping and were useful for training of Iraqi visitors. Some on-farm demonstrations of growing crops with zero-tillage and stubble mulching were also established on farms around ICARDA with the Indian zero-till seeder and local cooperating farmers seem very interested - encouragingly, the machine has worked very well, even on somewhat stony soils. A range of varieties/lines of oats from Australian collaborators tested in 2005/06 season for adaptation and use in Iraq were planted for seed increase in 2006/07. Mitika and Possum outyielded the others including local in a dry year with about 315 mm of seasonal rainfall. The trials were inspected and discussed with several groups of visiting Iraqi scientists and farmers.

Demonstrations and trials have been harvested and measured and data collected are now undergoing analysis and evaluation. Reports are being prepared and will be presented at the September 2007 annual reporting/planning meeting at ICARDA.

The project has again re-established international linkages amongst Iraqi, ICARDA and Australian scientists. Formal interactions at ICARDA included thirty four (34) Iraqi scientists participating in seven (7) ICARDA training courses, eight (8) farmers visiting accompanied by 4 Iraqi scientists to view conservation cropping and crop improvement research, and several MOA/DOA scientist groups visiting to discuss and plan project activities. Australian collaborators presented four seminars in the October 2006 planning meeting on advances of relevance to Iraq on genotype-environment studies in chickpea and improved crop agronomy and management for more productive and sustainable dryland cropping in Mediterranean environments.