Dissemination of elite cactus pear accessions to farmers in Jordan

Abstract

Within the collaboration program between the National Center for Agricultural Research (NARC) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), more than 100 accessions of cactus pear were introduced and planted in Muchaqqer station. 50 fruiting type cactus pear accessions were selected to be distributed to the farmers, these accessions showed good performance, Cactus pear accessions present an opportunity to help farmers in Jordan diversify their products and increase their income based on the fact that the market for cactus fruits is very promising in Jordan. The diversity of these accession creates the interest of many farmers to start growing cactus pear. The cactus germplasm collection at Mushaqqar research station has been playing an important role for the high adoption rate of farmers request to introduce cactus pear in their farms. It is considered as a successful collaboration program between NARC and ICARDA. However, there is a need to make sure this germplasm is well maintained and with no risk of being contaminated by the Cochineal which is already found in the northern part of Jordan.