| Abstract |
After the end of the most destructive and fierce war of the history in 1945, the humankind faced the new threat - hunger. In the beginning of the second half of the 20'h century, the threat of hunger became especially serious for the population of the vast territories of the planet, Asia and Africa. High yielding wheat varieties bred by CIMMYT in the 1960-ies saved millions of lives from hunger. This achievement, called "the Green Revolution", was duly recognized by awarding of Nobel prize to the founder of CIMMYT and the father of "Green Revolution", Dr. Norman Borlaug. The threat of hunger was eliminated for the majority. However, humanity was facing new problems. In order to develop normally and maintain its vital functions, human body needs quality and nutritious food. There are many people on Earth, especially children, suffering from lack of important nutrients - proteins, amino acids, etc., in their rations. It took over 30 years for the two CIMMYT scientists, Ors. Surinder Vasal and Evangeline Villegas, to breed the Quality Protein Maize (QPM), which has balanced content and composition of indispensable amino acids. Introduction of this maize into production systems allowed millions of African children to have food with sufficient protein content for normal development. In 2000, Surinder Vasal and Evangeline Villegas were awarded the World Food Prize, one of the most prestigious prizes of the world, for this achievement. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), established by the World Bank and the UN, is a non-commercial scientific and educational organization aiding the developing countries in improving production of the main agricultural crops, wheat and maize. Activities for wheat and maize improvement were started by CIMMYT in 1943 under the collaborative program of Mexico and the Rockefeller Foundation, and in 1966 CIMMYT was officially established as an international research center. CIMMYT is one of the 15 centers of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). CIMMYT headquarters are located in near Mexico City, and it has regional representatives in 16 countries, collaborating with the total of 100 countries of the world. Credit for CIMMYT's success in the area of wheat and maize improvement and its worldwide recognition as the leading training center should be given to its close cooperation with national agricultural research, education and production systems, its responsiveness to the farmers' most urgent needs and its commitment to participatory approach in practical activities. The tight integration of CIMMYT into the global agricultural scientific and production processes is implemented through its regional offices located in different parts of the world. In 1998, CIMMYT opened a regional office in Central Asia and the Caucasus. In 1999, the Agreement on Collaboration in the Field of Agricultural Research was signed between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and CIMMYT. In October, 2000, the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan ratified this Agreement. Starting from 13 November, 2000, the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on ratification of the Agreement on Collaboration in the Field of Agricultural Research between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and CIMMYT came into force (N° 103-11 3PK, 13 November 2000, signed by Mr. N.Nazarbayev, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan,). This decree has officially approved the establishment of the Regional representative office of CIMMYT in Central Asia and the Caucasus, based in Kazakhstan. |
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