| Abstract |
Ever since beginning operations, CI:t-1MYT- Afghanistan has not just been liaisoning with Agricultural Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA), the Afghan NARS and the Afghanistan government but has also been functioning as a research coordination centre. CIMMYT- Afghanistan undertakes jointly with ARIA the planning part including varietal promotions, trial constJtution, dispatch of trials and nurseries, coordination with other stake holders, monitoring, res'ults compilation and reporting. The salient results of 2010-11 season are: Release proposals for two new barley varieties have been submitted to the ministry. The two genotypes, in addition to being resistant to prevalent diseases, have yielded 34 to 40% higher than the best check in multilocation yield evaluation trials over three to four years of testing. A total of 2671 genotypes were tested in 102 experiments belonging to 43 different national and international trials and nurseries. 520 of these genotypes have been promoted to nex:t stage of testing. UG99 resistant varieties accounted for 8.3% of total certified seed produced in the country in 2011. The current season plans to increase this share to 17.8%. Post 2000 CIMMYT genotypes account for over 54% of total certified seed planned in this season. Off season seed production at Bamyan has been undertaken successfully for two years now. In 2011, more than two tons of pre-release and released varieties' seed was produced during off season. Six plot threshers, 25 sprayers and a large number of small field equipments were distributed to various research stations and other departments of the ministry. More than 150 field demonstrations of wheat and 16 of maize were conducted during 2010-11 to disseminate the information about new varieties among farmers in severaJ provinces. National phenology nursery categorized country into four distinct wheat zones. More locations would be included in future for wider applicability. A total of six Afghan researchers were supported for training abroad in Mexico, India and Nepal. More than 100 NARS researchers benefitted from in country training programmes organized on various topics viz., wheat breeding, agronomy, chemical control of rusts and management of Kamal bunt in wheat etc. National level meetings were organized on topics covering weed management in wheat, research & development imperatives in rainfed wheat in Afghanistan and a national level workshop with participation by all Afghan· wheat researchers. The workshop aimed at taking stock of wheat research in country and to charter the course of future wheat research in the country. |
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