Gathering Wisdom from the Field: Participatory Technology Development in Upper Karkheh River Basin, Iran

Abstract

CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food The project combined a large-scale analysis of the Karkheh River Basin, Iran, by GIS and rapid assessments, with detailed natural resources assessments, gender and livelihood analyses and participatory development of agricultural technologies in two upstream watersheds. These two contrasting benchmark research watersheds were Merek Watershed (242 km2) in Kermanshah Province and Honam Watershed (142 km2) in Lorestan Province. The project operated through the active involvement of researchers and staff of five research institutes under the umbrella of the Agricultural Extension, Education and Research Organization (AEERO) and the Forest, Range and Watershed Management Organization (FRWO), all based in Tehran. At the provincial level, the main players were the Natural Resource and Agricultural Research Centers in the Provinces, which house researchers of these same institutes, the Jihad-e-Agriculture Organization, and the Agricultural Extension Offices. The project is managed by ICARDA and benefited from additional scientific support provided by the Catholic University of Leuven.