The CGIAR Collaborative Research & Capacity Building Program for the Development of Sustainable and Resilient Agricultural Production Systems in Central Asia under the Conditions of Changing Climate_Progress Report 2013 - 2015

Abstract

Highlights of progress made in 2013‐2015 By some estimates, over 70 per cent of the lands in the region are arid and semi‐arid. Salinity, frost, heat, drought, and diseases are major constraints to crop production in Central Asia, severely affecting the livelihoods of rural households. The activity on stress‐tolerant varieties included an evaluation of more than 300 improved germplasm resources and varieties ‐ of wheat, chickpea, mungbean, potato, sorghum, finger millet, alfalfa and perennial shrubs ‐ which have the potential to meet the needs of multiple food crops for human consumption and livestock fodder. The program was successful in identifying stress‐tolerant, improved varieties of some of these crops, which are expected to play an important role in coming years.