Key Researchable Issues in the WANA Region, Progress and Synthesis of E-Consultation Dr. M. Majdalawi

The participants of E-consultation The total Participants were 200 from: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab of Emirates and Yemen in addition to some guests out of WANNA region. The total Participants were 200 from: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab of Emirates and Yemen in addition to some guests out of WANNA region.

E-Consultation of WANA Region

The participants of E- consultation 150 messages have been received from about 85 participants. 150 messages have been received from about 85 participants. The participants from different organizations, institutions working on agricultural research for development in WANA region mainly ICARDA, FAO, ACSAD, AOAD, IDRC, USAID, universities, ministries, research centers, NGOs and the private sector from different countries. The participants from different organizations, institutions working on agricultural research for development in WANA region mainly ICARDA, FAO, ACSAD, AOAD, IDRC, USAID, universities, ministries, research centers, NGOs and the private sector from different countries.

The main fields of specialization of the participants were: Livestock and animal breeding. Livestock and animal breeding. Plant Protection (Integrated Pest Management, Pesticides, Cereal Rusts resistance and management). Plant Protection (Integrated Pest Management, Pesticides, Cereal Rusts resistance and management). Field Crops, Agronomist, Crop Physiologist, Vegetable and Ornamental Plants. Field Crops, Agronomist, Crop Physiologist, Vegetable and Ornamental Plants. Plant breeding. Plant breeding. Microbiology. Microbiology.

The main fields of specialization of the participants were: Resource and Agricultural Economics. Resource and Agricultural Economics. Soil, Irrigation, Water Management and Environment. Soil, Irrigation, Water Management and Environment. Land use management (GIS. RS). Land use management (GIS. RS). Extension Extension Geo-informatics. Geo-informatics. Computer Science and Information and Communication Technologies. Computer Science and Information and Communication Technologies.

Challenges facing WANA Region: Water shortage and Water poverty, there are also still inefficient use and misuse of this resource. Water shortage and Water poverty, there are also still inefficient use and misuse of this resource. Agriculture production is characterized by low efficiency in the use of all production inputs. Agriculture production is characterized by low efficiency in the use of all production inputs. Disparity of living conditions between urban and rural areas is quite obvious. Disparity of living conditions between urban and rural areas is quite obvious.

Challenges facing WANA Region: The region suffers from shortage of food. The region suffers from shortage of food. Poverty levels increasing through time. Poverty levels increasing through time. Increasing desertification. Increasing desertification. Losing more and more land due to soil and water salinization. Losing more and more land due to soil and water salinization.

Challenges facing WANA Region: In many livestock activities, research is not integrated with other disciplines of agriculture, i.e. crops, water, soils, energy etc. In many livestock activities, research is not integrated with other disciplines of agriculture, i.e. crops, water, soils, energy etc. The negative impact of the spread of peri-urban area and commercialization /industrialization on livestock. The negative impact of the spread of peri-urban area and commercialization /industrialization on livestock. Lack of Sharing information about animal and plant diseases. Lack of Sharing information about animal and plant diseases.

Challenges facing WANA Region: The research in most countries is still repeating the same ideas. The research in most countries is still repeating the same ideas. The missing link between the different stakeholders. The missing link between the different stakeholders. Market and policy research is overlooked in the research priorities. Market and policy research is overlooked in the research priorities.

Challenges facing WANA Region: The climate change will affect agricultural production and food security. The climate change will affect agricultural production and food security. Agricultural extension has not effective and efficient service role. Agricultural extension has not effective and efficient service role. Conservation of biodiversity and plant genetic resources and utilize them in a good manner. Conservation of biodiversity and plant genetic resources and utilize them in a good manner.

Challenges facing WANA Region: Agricultural research agenda is not based on commodity chain approach. Agricultural research agenda is not based on commodity chain approach. The research on the natural resources management is carried out without adequate attention to the socio-economic constraints and to the environmental conditions. The research on the natural resources management is carried out without adequate attention to the socio-economic constraints and to the environmental conditions. The negative impact of political conflicts, like war, on the availability and sustainability of land and water resources. The negative impact of political conflicts, like war, on the availability and sustainability of land and water resources.

Challenges facing WANA Region: Soil and water pollution. Soil and water pollution. The feedstuff shortage is a serious problem facing livestock producers, The feedstuff shortage is a serious problem facing livestock producers, The significant increase in the costs of production inputs. The significant increase in the costs of production inputs.

Energy Energy Market and marketing Market and marketing Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Market and marketing Market and marketing Energy Energy Agricultural Researchable Issues Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations

Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Need to introduce crop varieties and management practices that result in better water use efficiency. Need to introduce crop varieties and management practices that result in better water use efficiency. Improve on-farm water-use efficiency. Improve on-farm water-use efficiency. To rationalize use of ground water and decrease the expansion of withdrawal from shallow aquifers. To rationalize use of ground water and decrease the expansion of withdrawal from shallow aquifers. Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new)

Energy Energy Market and marketing Market and marketing Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Market and marketing Market and marketing Energy Energy Agricultural Researchable Issues Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty

Need to emphasis on environmental poverty and to enhance local food production. Need to emphasis on environmental poverty and to enhance local food production. Need to develop accurate, efficient and economic monitoring systems and sharing information. Need to develop accurate, efficient and economic monitoring systems and sharing information. Need to improve high yielding high quality crop varieties and utilize the good traits in the local breeds. Need to improve high yielding high quality crop varieties and utilize the good traits in the local breeds.

Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty There is a need to find the best ways to use the medicinal, herbal and aromatic plants in agro- industries producing medicines, cosmetics, and food additives, etc. There is a need to find the best ways to use the medicinal, herbal and aromatic plants in agro- industries producing medicines, cosmetics, and food additives, etc. To analyze the impact of political conflicts, especially war, on the availability and sustainability of land and water resources. To analyze the impact of political conflicts, especially war, on the availability and sustainability of land and water resources.

Energy Energy Market and marketing Market and marketing Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Market and marketing Market and marketing Energy Energy Agricultural Researchable Issues Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment

Finding suitable alternative environment friendly crops that tolerate drought and salinity. Finding suitable alternative environment friendly crops that tolerate drought and salinity. To protect the land from Salinization and to pay attention to the soil degradation. To protect the land from Salinization and to pay attention to the soil degradation. Utilization of indigenous rangeland grass species to grow commercially for replacing high water consuming exotic grass species. Utilization of indigenous rangeland grass species to grow commercially for replacing high water consuming exotic grass species. Conservation of local plant and animal genetic resources and developing mechanisms to preserve genetic resources and establishing" Gene Banks ”. Conservation of local plant and animal genetic resources and developing mechanisms to preserve genetic resources and establishing" Gene Banks ”.

Energy Energy Market and marketing Market and marketing Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Market and marketing Market and marketing Energy Energy Agricultural Researchable Issues Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges

Over grazing is another large contributor to our desertification problem. Over grazing is another large contributor to our desertification problem.

Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Market and marketing Market and marketing Energy Energy Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Market and marketing Market and marketing Energy Energy Agricultural Researchable Issues policy and institutional research policy and institutional research

Need to support research and development in all nationally needed fields of agriculture. Need to support research and development in all nationally needed fields of agriculture. Need to Link research to development projects, especially for natural resources management research. Need to Link research to development projects, especially for natural resources management research. Need to strengthen the linkages between NARS and International R&D Centers and local extension services and between extension services and farmers. Need to strengthen the linkages between NARS and International R&D Centers and local extension services and between extension services and farmers.

policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Need to identify policies and improve decision makers and politician awareness on the importance and role of agricultural research and innovation. Need to identify policies and improve decision makers and politician awareness on the importance and role of agricultural research and innovation. Building Impact-oriented Research, Knowledge and Development Institutions. Building Impact-oriented Research, Knowledge and Development Institutions.

Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Energy Energy Market and marketing Market and marketing policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Market and marketing Market and marketing Energy Energy Agricultural Researchable Issues Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations

Search for a mechanism to link all the centers in the region with a viable communication network. Search for a mechanism to link all the centers in the region with a viable communication network. Participatory approach should take priority. Participatory approach should take priority. Need to enhance the monitoring and evaluation system and developing their researches. Need to enhance the monitoring and evaluation system and developing their researches. Need to adopt methods for disseminating and scaling out improved technologies under rainfed conditions. Need to adopt methods for disseminating and scaling out improved technologies under rainfed conditions. Need for "Knowledge Management" experts and implementing science in research for development. Need for "Knowledge Management" experts and implementing science in research for development.

Energy Energy Market and marketing Market and marketing Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Market and marketing Market and marketing Energy Energy Agricultural Researchable Issues Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers

The need for agricultural research that benefits the resource poor farmers and producers. The need for agricultural research that benefits the resource poor farmers and producers.

Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Energy Energy Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Market and marketing Market and marketing Energy Energy Agricultural Researchable Issues Market and marketing Market and marketing

Enhancing socially based economic agri-enterprises through empowering the farmers' cooperatives economical and marketing activities. Enhancing socially based economic agri-enterprises through empowering the farmers' cooperatives economical and marketing activities. Long-term relationships, planning, technical cooperation and transparency are necessary throughout the supply chain. Long-term relationships, planning, technical cooperation and transparency are necessary throughout the supply chain.

Market and marketing Market and marketing Organizing a regional project that aims to document specifications and the definition of taste and smell to those favorable for WANA consumers. Organizing a regional project that aims to document specifications and the definition of taste and smell to those favorable for WANA consumers. Developing a Geographic Identification system (GIS) for agri- food produced. Developing a Geographic Identification system (GIS) for agri- food produced.

Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Market and marketing Market and marketing Water Scarcity. (new) Water Scarcity. (new) Food Security and Poverty Food Security and Poverty Protection of the Environment Protection of the Environment Meeting the special challenges Meeting the special challenges policy and institutional research policy and institutional research Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Technology, information, knowledge and innovations Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Improvement of the Declining Living Standards of Farmers Market and marketing Market and marketing Energy Energy Agricultural Researchable Issues Energy Energy

Enhance the utilization of renewable energy resources for agricultural practices to reduce the utilization of chemicals and reduce polluting practices. Enhance the utilization of renewable energy resources for agricultural practices to reduce the utilization of chemicals and reduce polluting practices.

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