A new ICARDA study shows how applying key agri-innovations can strengthen dryland rainfed production systems in the face of accelerating climate change. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region predominantly relies upon rainfall to service its agricultural production systems. Still, in today’s climate change environment, such reliance is increasingly risky for farmers in the region. In Morocco, where about
The launch in Mali in 2023 of the country’s first-ever community-based breeding scheme for goats demonstrates that when small-scale livestock keepers collaborate, they can improve the genetic potential of their goats and enhance their livelihoods. By including key public, private, and professional stakeholders in the design of the program, ICARDA and ILRI ensure it is tailored to the Malian context
ICARDA’s innovative Analysis Pack for Economics of Land Degradation (APELD) tool, developed through the CGIAR Research Initiative on Livestock and Climate, quantifies economic losses of Land degradation (LD) and analyzes the benefits of land rehabilitation interventions. Land degradation (LD) poses a substantial economic threat globally, with estimates suggesting annual agricultural productivity losses ranging from USD 6.3 to 10.6 trillion,
By Mounir Louhaichi, Research Team Leader for Rangeland Ecology and Forages, ICARDA Through CGIAR’s Research Initiative on Livestock and Climate, ICARDA’s Sustainable Rangeland Management toolkit and regenerative grazing practices combine modern science and indigenous knowledge that combat desertification by restoring degraded lands to generate sustainable agriculture for dryland farmers. Desertification is a growing global concern, leading to biodiversity loss, environmental degradation,
The red palm weevil can devastate the valuable date palm plantations of the Middle East. Yet, date producers are still hesitant to apply new technologies that can control this invasive pest. A recent ICARDA study reveals factors that hinder pest control adoption. In the arid regions of the Near East and North Africa (NENA), where palm trees stand as
Broadcasting innovations in livestock production through native-language radio programs effectively communicate with farmers, promoting agriculture and development in rural areas. ICARDA launched a radio program on sheep fattening in Ethiopia, broadcast in six native languages to engage local communities. The interactive format allows farmers to share comments and questions, and a baseline survey reveals radio’s value in disseminating agricultural
ICARDA’s new lightweight version of its Raised Bed Machine (RBM) is revolutionizing smallholder farming by making groundbreaking technology and agri-approaches more accessible and efficient. The raised-bed machine, first released in 2019, was designed by ICARDA scientists and manufactured locally. It efficiently creates furrows for even water distribution and sows crop seeds between these furrows to maximize sunlight exposure. The RBM
From Left to Right: Dr. Youssry Khafagy, Head of the Irrigation Development Sector at MWRI; H.E. Oka Hiroshi, the Japanese Ambassador to Egypt; Gen. Alaa Abdel Moati, Governor of Kafr El-Sheikh; Dr. Abdulhakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for NENA; Mr. Aly Abousabaa, ICARDA Director General; Mr. Nageh Gharbia, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture in Kafr