Role of Sustainable Wheat Production to Ensure Food Security in the CWANA region
Journal Title: Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences - Year 2017, Vol 5, Issue 0
Abstract
Wheat is the world’s most widely cultivated cereal. By 2050, global demand for wheat is projected to increase by 60%. In the CWANA region which ICARDA is tasked to serve, wheat is the basic staple and food security crop, contributing over 60% of people’s daily calorific and protein needs. Due to the large proportion of subsistence farmers, wheat production also has a major impact on household food security. Despite this, the productivity of wheat in the region is very low (less than 2.5 t/ha) due largely to the major abiotic (drought, cold, heat, salinity) and biotic (stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust and Hessian fly) stresses encountered. Most countries in the region are net importers of wheat for human consumption, with regional demand predicted to continue rising. Egypt alone currently imports 9 million tons annually. The situation is further complicated by food production shortfalls associated with climate change which can cause food crises, civil unrest and even migration. The wheat breeding program at ICARDA has developed high yielding and heat tolerant wheat genotypes which have been tested and released as cultivars by many countries in the CWANA region. Out-scaling and intensification of wheat cultivars combined with other improved crop management practices have been carried out by ICARDA in partnership with the national programs in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen resulting with an average increase of wheat production by 28%. The result clearly indicates that development and utilization of climate smart wheat technologies including high yielding and stress tolerant cultivars; integrated crop management systems; establishment of conducive policies and infrastructures are crucial to increase productivity and ensure food and nutrition security.
Authors and Affiliations
W. Tadesse, H. Halila, M. Jamal, S. El-Hanafi, T. Oweis
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP427989
- DOI 10.18006/2017.5(Spl-1-SAFSAW).S15.S32
- Views 48
- Downloads 0
EFFECT OF SAUDI ARABIAN Capparis Cartilaginea FRUIT EXTRACTS ON SERUM PARATHYROID HORMONE AND 1a,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D3 LEVELS IN RATS
Capparis cartilaginea is a shrub plant which used in traditional medicine to cure various diseases. Phytochemical analysis of Capparis cartilaginea plants extracts revealed the presence of isothiocyanates and flavonoids....
Evaluation of resistance to acetolactate synthase inhibiting herbicide in wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.)
To evaluate the mechanism and levels of herbicide resistance in Sinapis arvensis, a series of experiments were performed. Sequencing of ALS gene in S. arvensis sub-populations was carried out and ALS-based resistance (su...
Identification of Salmonella sps. from contaminated meat samples by multiplex pcr-based assay
Poultry and cattle are the principal hosts of pathogenic bacterium Salmonella species. Therefore, development and use of a precise and sensitive method for identifying this pathogen is one of the main concerns for resear...
CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ON NANODELIVERY SYSTEMS AND THEIR BENEFICIAL APPLICATIONS IN ENHANCING THE EFFICACY OF HERBAL DRUGS
Herbal remedies have been extensively used since times immemorial throughout the world. These have wide acceptability due to their time-tested therapeutic values and minimal side effects in contrast to modern allopathic...
Effect of nitrogen and sulfur on the quality of the cotton fiber under mediterranean conditions
Agronomic practices significantly influence the productivity and quality of cotton plant. Present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and sulfur fertilizer application on the fiber quality of cotton,...