‘Global body helps govt restore natural pastures’

Research on to battle desertification

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 1, (KUNA): The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is keen on improving supplemental irrigation and watersaving irrigation techniques in farm lands and natural pastures, Deputy Director of Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAF) Faisal Al-Sadiqi said on Thursday.

Al-Sadiqi made this remark during a meeting held between ICARDA Director General Aly Abousabaa, advisor and supervisor of fisheries at GCC general secretariat Bander Al-Izani and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) representative Mohammad Abdul-Qader.

Al-Sadiqi pointed out that ICARDA is keen on enhancing food security and improving sustainability of natural resources in the Gulf region.

He added that the international organization has helped Kuwait in combating desertification and rehabilitation of natural pastures.

He noted that a laboratory for desert plants seeds technology is being built; it’s a laboratory where research on seed physiology, pathology and biology is conducted in order to study seed development, maturation, germination, dormancy and deterioration. This laboratory will be the largest in the world in this field.

The concept of modern agriculture emphasizes the utilization of technologies and teaching farmers their application to improve and increase production; hence, achieving food security in the region.

ICARDA was established in 1977. It is one of 15 such centers supported by the CGIAR. ICARDA’s founding mandate to promote agricultural development in the dry areas of developing countries remains highly relevant today.