Tunisia-USDA-ICARDA Collaboration Annual Report 2004

Abstract

This annual report presents the main achievements of the USDA-Tunisia-ICARDA collaboration during the cropping season 2003-2004. The tripartite collaboration between Tunisia NARIS, USDA, and ICARDA is highly appreciated. This collaboration aims to improve rural communities' livelihoods, build human capacities, and exchange experiences in arid and semi-arid regions of Tunisia. Six projects are implemented and involve more than 10 research institutes and universities in Tunisia and the USA (IRESA, IRA, INAT, INRAT, ARS, Purdue University, Mississippi University, and the University of Minnesota) in fruitful partnership with ICARDA. Within this framework, important issues were tackled as "the sustainable water management in the arid regions of Tunisia", the "biological diversity, the cultural and economic value of medicinal, herbal and aromatic plants in southern Tunisia", "Improvement of oats productivity", "Improvement of the rural livelihood in North Africa and West Asia through strengthened teaching and research on sheep and goat production", "biological control of weeds with plant pathogens". In addition, ICARDA in collaboration with USAD launched an initiative to develop Maghreb's biotechnology capability. ICARDA would like to express its high appreciation to USDA-FAS for its continuous support.