Dr. Ibrahim Hamdan Dr. Mohammad Samir El-Habbab Regional Reviews, Towards the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development

AARINENA SubRegions Morocco Algeria Libya Mauritania Malta Tunisia Maghreb Sub-Region Iraq Syria Palestinian Auth. Jordan Cyprus Lebanon Mashreq Sub-Region Kuwait Oman UAE Bahrain S. Arabia Qatar Arabian Peninsula Sub-Region Egypt Yemen Sudan Somalia Nile Valley & Red Sea Sub-Region Djibouti Iran Pakistan Turkey Western Asia Sub- Region Afghanistan

Methodology The research methodology was conducted according to the following steps: Emphasizing on the lessons learnt from the previous related studies Analyzing the information received from the sub-regions, and key researchable issues were identified. Key researchable issues identified were discussed in the E- Consultation. The key researchable Issues and cross cutting research were finalized in the Face-to- Face workshop for WANA

1-Water scarcity: The region is already one of the most water scarce in the world. 2- Population growth rates: The region is characterized by the second highest population growth rates 3- Land degradation: 45% of agriculture and rangeland is experiencing degradation. 4- Global climate change: climate change of the region is projected to become warmer and drier with reduced crop productivity. Status of Agriculture Sector in WANA Region

1- Drivers: Food Insecurity Major Challenges: 1 ) The region suffers from shortage of food, 2) Malnutrition, and drainage in hard currencies due to imports. 3) Regional and internal conflicts How Can Research Face These Challenges : 1.Finding suitable alternative environment friendly crops tolerant to drought and salinity 2.Evaluate the comparative and competitive advantage in each country 3.Effective financing to support small-scale farmers in the region 4.Enhancing the sustainable productivity of agriculture in the irrigated or rainfed and marginal land 5.Research on fisheries and aquatic production systems 6.Implementing high technology to increase productivity of land and livestock Drivers, Challenges and the Methods to Meet the Challenges

2- Drivers: Water Scarcity Major Challenges: 1)Water use Inefficiency in and off-farms, 2) Water pollution How Can Research Face These Challenges: 1.Improving management of water resources and conserving the quantity of this resource 2.Improving on-farm water-use efficiency 3.Rationalizing use of ground water, especially in Shallow Aquifers 4.Protecting water resources from all types of pollution Drivers, Challenges and the Methods to Meet the Challenges

3- Drivers: Climate change Major Challenges: climate change-induced vulnerability and risks How Can Research Face These Challenge : 1.Developing climate resilient crops and associated technologies 2.Policies and mitigation of climate change Drivers, Challenges and the Methods to Meet the Challenges

4- Drivers: Lack of Specialized Researchers in some countries in the Region Major Challenges: The research in most countries in the region is still based on a routine of repeating the same types of research rather than following a more creative and demand driven research priorities. How Can Research Face These Challenges: 1.Strengthening the human resources and institutional capacity of the NARS 2.- Building Impact-oriented Research, Knowledge and Development Institutions 3.-Improving quality of agricultural education and employability of agricultural graduates Drivers, Challenges and the Methods to Meet the Challenges

5- Drivers: Linking farmers to Research and extension Major Challenges: The low adoption rates of improved technologies by farmers How Can Research Face These Challenges: 1.Implement Participatory approach which involves researchers, farmers and extension agents in the transfer of technology 2.Revitalizing, strengthening and reorienting agricultural extension system Drivers, Challenges and the Methods to Meet the Challenges

6- Drivers: Environment Protection Major Challenges: Natural resources management are carried out without adequate attention to the socio-economic constraints and environmental conditions. How Can Research Face These Challenges: 1.Finding suitable alternative environment friendly crops that tolerate drought and saltiness/salinity. 2.Protect the land from Salinization and sustain it for the coming generations Drivers, Challenges and the Methods to Meet the Challenges

7- Drivers: Research, knowledge and Development of Institutions Major Challenges: Institutional arrangements are weak How Can Research Face These Challenges : 1.Build Impact-oriented Research, Knowledge and Development Institutions 2.Identify polices and Improve Decision makers and politician awareness 3.Support research and development in all nationally needed fields of agriculture by local, regional and international funding agencies. Drivers, Challenges and the Methods to Meet the Challenges

8- Drivers: Markets and marketing Systems Major Challenges: Globalization affects the small farmers in the region How Can Research Face These Challenges : 1.Enhance socially based economic agro-enterprises through enhancing and empowering the farmers' cooperatives 2.Establish long-term relationships, planning, technical cooperation and transparency throughout the supply chain between all the market participants Drivers, Challenges and the Methods to Meet the Challenges

 Prioritize research and its programming  Undertake specific research on technology generated by farmers themselves and adapt conventional research to the specific conditions of small farms. Advocacy to policy makers on the merits of common research/ network. Recommendations

increase financial support for knowledge transfer, enhancing the attraction of agricultural education in the region and helping farmers be better represented, Providing incentives for innovation in rural areas including vocational training, supporting professionals involved in knowledge transfer, and fully exploiting existing knowledge. Recommendations