This document discusses wheat production in Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA). It notes that wheat is the staple food for around 1 billion people in the region. While wheat covers 54 million hectares in CWANA, most countries import over half their wheat needs due to challenges like drought, disease, and increasing populations. The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) works to develop wheat varieties that are high-yielding, resilient to stresses, and improve farming techniques in the region through partnerships. ICARDA maintains a large gene bank and conducts shuttle breeding across locations in CWANA to develop and disseminate improved wheat technologies.

1. Mahmoud El Solh
Director General
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas
Central & West Asia and North Africa:
Where Wheat Improvement Matters
Borlaug Summit on Wheat for Food Security
Wheat Science, prospects and Perspective
CENEB-CIMMYT, Cd. Obregon, Mexico
27 March, 2014

2. Outline
1. Why Wheat Matters in CWANA?
2. Main drivers of increased Wheat
Productivity in the past;
3. Current challenges facing Wheat
Production in CWANA;
4. The role of ICARDA in generating and
promoting Wheat Technologies in
collaboration with Partners;
5. Bridging the Yield Gap and the Impact of
Improved Wheat Technologies in Selected
Countries;
6. Partnerships, Future Emphasis/Looking
Ahead.

3.  Wheat is the staple food crop of
strategic importance in the region;
 The region is home to almost a
billion people;
 Wheat in CWANA covers about 54
million ha which is ~ 50% of the
wheat production area in the
developing world;
 The highest wheat per capita
consumption is in Morocco (220 kg
per capita per year)
 Lifting wheat subsidies led to
social unrest and riots in Egypt,
Morocco, Jordan and other
countries;
 Except for Kazakhstan, Syria
(before 2011), and Turkey all
CWANA countries are wheat
importers;
 Egypt is the largest wheat importer
(imports up to 10 million tons)
CWANA
1. Why Wheat Matters in CWANA?

4. 0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Population(1000M)
FoodConsumption(Mt)
Year
Barley Maize Rice Wheat CWANA Population
CWANA Population & Consumption of Major Field Crops

5.  Wheat = 37% of total food supply (calories) in MENA
 Average annual per capita consumption:
• North Africa (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) = 174 kg
• Middle East = 158kg
• Total MENA = 166kg
• World average = 66kg
 Currently, the region imports more than half its
wheat needs, at an increasing cost
Wheat: the staple food
in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

6. 0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Yield(t/Ha)
Area(MHa)
Production(Mt)
Year
Area Production Yield
CWANA, with average area of 54 million ha, covers 50% of
the wheat production area in the developing world
CWANA Wheat Area, Production and Yield

7. 0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.7
0.7
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.5
1.6
1.7
2.4
2.4
2.7
3.1
5.7
8.5
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
Averageyearimports(Mt)
Average net wheat imports (million tons)
(2005-2011)
Average net wheat imports (million tons)
in CWANA Countries (2005-2011)

8. 0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
PriceIndex
ANNUAL FOOD PRICE INDICES 1990-2011 (2002-
2004=100)
Food Price Index
Meat Price Index
Dairy Price Index
Cereals Price Index
Oils Price Index
Sugar Price Index
Source: FAO 2011. http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/
Global changes in prices indices of major foods
including wheat

9. Crop Prospects and Food Situation, April 2008 FAO.
Impact of food price increases on balance trade
In CWANA countries

10. Impact of the Food Crisis
Most CWANA countries are moving from food self reliance to self sufficiency

11.  Adoption of input responsive semi-dwarf widely adapted
wheat varieties (Dr Norman Borlaug varieties);
 Adoption and application of inputs (fertilizer, irrigation water,
herbicides, etc.);
 International Wheat Improvement Network and Capacity
Development (CIMMYT and ICARDA);
 Increase in international prices of wheat;
 Favorable policy environment and government subsidies;
 And to a lesser extent change in wheat area;
2. Main Drivers of Increased Wheat Yield in the Past

12.  Water scarcity and more frequent
drought;
 Soil degradation;
 Reduced supply and increasing
cost of inputs e.g. fertilizers, fuel
etc.;
 Climate Change & Global warming;
 Emerging pests and diseases;
 Increasing demand for energy
(biofuel);
Increasing world population:
8 billion in 2030 ; 9.2 billion in 2050
Tends in Wheat Production Area and Yield
in the World & CWANA, 1961-2010
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1961
1966
1971
1976
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
yield(t/ha)
Area(Millha)
CWANA Area (ha) World Area (ha)
CWANA Yield (t/ha) World Yield (t/ha)
3. Current challenges for increasing wheat production
in CWANA

13. Relative change of mean annual precipitation 1980/1999 to 2080/2099, scenario A1b, average of 21 GCMs
(compiled by GIS Unit ICARDA, based on partial maps in Christensen et al., 2007)
Relative change of mean annual precipitation
1980/1999 to 2080/2099

14. Abiotic stresses
• Drought
• Heat
• Cold
• Salinity
• Pre-harvest loses including
sprouting
• Lodging
Biotic stresses
• Yellow rust
• Stem rust
• Leaf rust
• Fusarium
• Septoria
• Tan spot
• Common bunt
• Root rots
• Hessian Fly
• Russian Wheat Aphid
• Sunn Pest
• Weeds
Major Production constraints in CWANA Countries

15. 0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
0
1000000
2000000
3000000
4000000
5000000
6000000
7000000
8000000
9000000
10000000
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
Yield(t/ha)
Area(ha)&production(tons
Year
Production
Area
Yield
Effect of drought on wheat production in Morocco

16.  Production loss of cultivar Achtar : 100,000 ton
Monetary: $ 30 m US dollars
 Estimated Yield loss in Gereck : 40%
Monetary loss : > $52 m US dollars
 Syria: Cham 8, Cham 6 : 30-80 % yield loss
 Ethiopia : Attila (Kubsa): 40-70% yield loss
Recurrence of Stripe/Yellow Rust in CWANA

17. 4. The role of ICARDA in generating and promoting
Wheat Technologies in collaboration with Partners

18.  Conservation and use of genetic diversity of crops and wild relatives of
importance to dry areas;
 Crop genetic improvement: through plant breeding/biotechnology and
improved crop management of winter cereals, food legumes and forage crops;
 Plant protection through resistance/tolerance to biotic stresses and IPM
practices;
 Enhancing water productivity and integrated sustainable water management;
 Diversification and sustainable intensification of production systems;
 Resilience of production systems in marginal lands of dry areas;
 Conservation agriculture: conservations of soil moisture and reducing cost of
production and energy use;
 Social, economic and policy research and institutional innovations and
support;
 Capacity development & networking.
36 Years of Experience in Basic and Applied Research
in Non-Tropical Dry Areas

19. • High yield potential and broad adaptation;
• Durable resistance/tolerance to major diseases and insect pests;
• Tolerance to Drought, heat, cold and salinity;
• Grain quality;
• Capacity building of NARS and Networking
ICARDA Wheat Genetic Improvement Program
Objectives

20. Taxon Number of accessions
Wheat 37,816
Barley 28,999
Wild Cereals/Wheat
wild relatives 8242
Faba bean 12,585
Lentil 10,889
Chickpea 14,544
Wild Lens and Cicer 929
Forage legumes 31,719
Forage and range
species 7611
Total 153,334
ICARDA Gene Bank Holdings

21. • Classification and targeting major environments;
• Shuttle breeding;
• Biotechnological Tools including Marker assisted selection;
• Mining desirable genes and the use of wide crosses involving wild
relatives (Synthetics) for desirable traits;
• Screening for durable resistance/tolerance to diseases and insect
pests in hot spots;
• Multi-location testing;
Approaches to increase wheat breeding efficiency

22. Syria
Tel Hadya*
Lebanon
Terbol
Morocco
Merchouch
Egypt
SidsEthiopia
Kulumsa
Turkey
Ankara
Izmir
Sudan
Wad-
Medani
ICARDA’s Key Locations for Wheat Shuttle Breeding
Terbol (Lebanon): Adaptation, yield
potential, seed multiplication, off-
season rust, international nurseries.
Merchouch (Morocco): Rainfed
wheat, drought tolerance, insect
resistance, virology.
Kulumsa (Ethiopia): Stem
Rust(Ug99), Stripe Rust, Fusarium,
Septoria.
Sids (Egypt): High input irrigated
wheat, yield potential, earliness.
Wad-Medani (Sudan): Heat
tolerance, earliness (short season
wheat).
Ankara (Turkey): International
Winter Wheat Program (IWWP).
Izmir (Turkey): Wheat rusts with
emphasis on stripe/yellow rust,
international Trap Rusts Nurseries. * Activities currently suspended in Tel Hadya, Syria

23. FIGS - Focused Identification of Germplasm Strategy
Link environmental data to collection sites
Adapted from diagram by
D T F Endresen (NGB)
Choose accessions from that
environments that would
impose a selection pressure
for a given trait:
e.g.: for heat tolerance, select
material from environments
where there is a high
selection pressure
Gene Mining Using FIGS

24. Sunn pest – first time in bread wheat
RWA resistance – new genes inditified
Hessian fly - resistance to US bio-type
Powdery mildew – 2 new functional genes
Salinity – 20% of salinity set showed resistance compared to
only 3% of core set
Drought – FIGS accessions performed better than core set
FIGS Results: Success Verified & Impact

25.  About 732 wheat landraces and wild
relatives have been identified through
FIGs approach and were screened for
resistance to Stripe Rust and
Septoria for two years (2011-2012).
 As shown in this Figure: 9 genotypes
of T. monococcum; 12 genotypes of T.
timopheevii; 94 genotypes of T.
turgidum and 15 genotypes of T.
aestivum have been identified with
high level of resistance to both Stripe
Rust and Septoria diseases.
 These genotypes are being used in the
pre-breeding program for gene
pyramiding.
Triticum
aestivum ,
15
Triticum
timophee
vii , 12
Triticum
turgidum,
94
Triticum monococcum 9
Wheat accessions with high of combined resistance
to Stripe Rust and Septoria, 2011-2012.

26. Y irr; Y RF; YR; * < 0.01
Source: Tadesse, 2013
Association mapping for Yield Potential, Drought
Tolerance and Stripe Rust Resistnce

27.  Synthetics have exponentially increased genetic
diversity in wheat
• Increased yield under drought and favorable
irrigated conditions ;
• Multiple disease resistance
• Leaf, stem, and yellow rusts
• Yellow Leaf Spot (= tan spot) resistance
• Nematode resistance
• Septoria leaf blotch resistance
• Insect pests tolerance e.g. Sunn pest,
Russian Wheat apphids
• Tolerance abiotic Stresses
• Drought tolerance
• Heat tolerance
• Salinity tolerance
• Pre-harvest sprouting tolerance
 After introducing a novel DD genome (Ae.
tauschii), now work starting on using novel AABB
genome (T. dicoccoides and T. dicoccum) in new
synthetics.
Contribution of Synthetic Wheat

28. (Syria) (Syria) (Lebanon)
Source: Ogbonnaya et al. 2010
Grain Yield of Synthetic Bread Wheat Genotypes
against recurrent parent , Cham 6.

29. Parent Variety Yield t/ha
% recurrent
parent
Cham 6*2/SW2 1.6 147
Cham 6*2/SW2 1.5 138
Cham-6 1.10 100
Attila-7 1.3 -
Yield of “synthetic derivatives” compared to parents
under drought stress. (Tel Hadya 2008 -- 211 mm)
Wheat crossed with wild relatives:
Synthetic wheat, tolerance to excessive drought

30. T. boeoticum
T. urartu
T. dicoccoides
yellow rust resistance
leaf rust resistance
earliness
high productive tillering
spike productivity
plant productivity
plant height
drought tolerance
Sunn pest resistance
Russian wheat aphid resistance
Septoria tritici resistance
Ae. speltoides
probably different from Yr15
New sources for desirable traits for wheat
through wide crosses with wild relatives

31. Durable Resistance/Tolerance to Insect Pests & Diseases
and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

32. Hessian Fly
Resistant Variety
Hessian fly causes economic damage in
North Africa
Resistant lines
Resistance/Tolerance to Hessian Fly in Wheat

33.  Effects > 15 million ha in West
and Central Asia & Eastern
Europe;
 Sunn pest injects enzyme that
decomposes grain gluten, vital
for bread baking;
 If 2-3% of a grain lot is infested,
entire wheat lot is ruined with
respect to baking quality
IPM: Sunn Pest in wheat

34. • Hand collection of Sunn pest
in overwintering sites
• Use of insect-killing fungi in overwintering
sites
• Enhancement and
conservation of egg
parasitoids/predators
• Genetic resistance
at early vegetative stage
Sunn Pest IPM Options in wheat

35. 0
50
100
150
200
250
2001 2002 2003
Years
127
193
231
300 277
2004
Sprayedareas(1000ha)
282
2005
232
2006
185
117
2007 2008 2009
87
Evolution of area sprayed against Sunn Pest in Syria

36. Heavy yellow
rust infestation
wheat in West
Asia in 2010
Black stem rust
(Ug 99)
infestation in
Ethiopia &
Kenya
Surveillance & Resistance to Rust Diseases

37. ICARDA
Distribution of Regional Rust Trap Nurseries
in 80 locations in 32 countries, 2009/10

38. Released varieties resistances
to black stem and yellow rust
in Ethiopia
Resistances to new races of
yellow rust in West Asia
in 2010
Resistance to Rust Diseases in Wheat

39. ICARDA implemented regional and
bilateral projects with focus to promote
the development and dissemination of
wheat varieties resistant to Stripe and
Black Stem (Ug99) Rusts:
• USAID Famine Fund (Egypt, Ethiopia,
Pakistan)
• Three bilateral projects in Ethiopia
(USAID), Iraq (USAID) and Pakistan
(USDA)
Fast track
testing and
release
Accelerated
seed
multiplication
Popularization
/demonstration
Scaling-out of
technologies
Strengthening
NARS Capacity
Farmers
Fast Track Variety Release and Accelerated Seed Multiplication
and Delivery of Rust Resistant Varieties

40. 1. Wheat rust resistant varieties released by Egypt (2), Ethiopia (8)
and Pakistan (9)
2. Amount of certified seed of rust resistant varieties produced by
NARS (in collaboration with CIMMYT and ICARDA) and
distributed;
• Egypt: 15,725 MT sufficient to plant 9% of wheat area, 2011/12;
• Ethiopia: 27,000 MT sufficient to plant 10% wheat area, 2012/13;
• Pakistan: 42,750 MT sufficient to plant 5% of wheat area,
2011/12
3. Popularization and promotion of rust resistant varieties reaching
close to 5,000 farmers every year
4. Farmer-based seed production in rainfed areas of Pakistan (6
districts planted 17.22 ha of 7 varieties and produced 56.18 MT
at an average profit of $348/ha)
USAID Famine Fund (2009-12):
Egypt, Ethiopia and Pakistan

41. Both formal and informal approaches used in accelerated seed production and
distribution of rust resistant varieties developed by NARS in collaboration both
CIMMYT and ICARDA with public-private partnership:
• NARS (federal and regional) produced about 6,021 MT seed of rust resistant
wheat varieties and successfully distributed for different purposes;
• About 815 MT seed distributed directly to farmers which was planted on
5,660 ha producing 18,718 MT potentially sufficient to plant 127,377 ha;
• About 19,877 farmers (7.3% women) reached benefitting 119,262 HH
members through on-farm seed production, technology scaling-out and
emergency seed relief;
• Farmer seed associations and public and private sector produced a
combined 5526 MT seed for further seed multiplication;
• Public and private sector distributed a combined 85,943 MT seed of rust
resistant varieties sufficient to plant 572,956 ha of wheat area in 2012/13.
Rapid Deployment of Rust Resistant Varieties
(2011/12-): Ethiopia

42. USAID Seed Production Project:
Field Inspection

43. USAID Seed Production Project: Farmers’ Day

44. Wheat Productivity Enhancement Program (2011-): Pakistan
• 2600 MT seed of promising lines/new varieties produced under pre- and post
release seed multiplication (148 MT of exclusively Ug99 resistant lines/varieties)
and provided to public and/or private seed companies;
• 284 MT seed was produced with farmers in dryland areas of Punjab and KPK with
average net returns from seed activities of $337/ha;
• 494 MT seed produced from popularization and demonstration of new rust
resistant (164.8 MT exclusively Ug99 resistant varieties) with net return of
$227/ha.
HSAD strengthening wheat seed system (2013-14): Iraq
• A total of 5904 MT seed of high yielding and stress tolerant wheat
varieties were multiplied by NARS and large-scale seed producers:
• 1.31 MT seed of pre-release (11 promising lines) ;
• 2200 MT breeder and foundation seed (13 varieties) produced by
NARS with resistance to yellow rust;
• 3703 MT registered and certified seed (6 varieties) produced by
seed companies with resistance to yellow rusts.
Enhancing Wheat Productivity in Pakistan and Iraq

45. Varietal Releases,
Yield Potential & Desirable Traits

46. 1977 - 2013 Recent years
Crop
Developing
Countries
Industrialized
Countries
All
Countries
Barley 186 31 11
Durum Wheat 111 14 9
Bread Wheat 230 6 6
Chickpea 110 31 2
Faba Bean 54 6 3
Lentil 101 16 5
Forages 31 2 1
Peas 9 0 0
Sub-Total 814 106 37
Total 920 37
Estimated Net Benefit = about US $850 m / year
Improvement Varieties Released by NARS Partners
Using ICARDA Germplasm
376

47.  High yield potential
 Tolerance to abiotic stresses:
- Drought
- Heat
- Cold
- Salinity
 Resistance/tolerance to biotic stresses
- Diseases
- Insect pests
- Parasitic weeds
Desirable Traits of Varieties Released

48. Variety
Name
Type Cross/Pedigree
Year of
Release
Country
SIDS-13 SBW KAUZ//TSI/SNB 2010 Egypt
HOGGANA SBW PYN/BAU//MILAN (= ETBW 5780 2011 Ethiopia
SHORIMA SBW UTQE96/3/PYN/BAU//MILAN 2011 Ethiopia
HULUKA SBW UTQE96/3/PYN/BAU//MILAN 2011 Ethiopia
KARIM SBW T.AEST/SPRW//CA8055/3/BACANORA86 2011 Iran
GOUMRIA-3 SBW VEE#7/KAUZ 2013 Sudan
GIZIL BUGDA FWW SAULESKU41/SADOVO1 2009 Azerbaijan
CHUMON FWW CADET/6/YUMAI13/5/NAI60/3/14.53/ODIN//CI13441/CANON 2012 Tajikistan
TACICAR FWW OR F1.158/FDL//BLO/3/SHI4414/CROW 2012 Tajikistan
BUNIYODKOR FWW DORADE-5//KS82117/MLT 2012 Uzbekistan
RIJAW FWW
PATO/CAL/3/7C//BB/CNO/5/CAL//CNO/SN64/4/CNO//BAD/C
HR/3/KL../6/SABALAN
2011 Iran
HUMA
FWW PYN/PARUS/3/VPM/MOS83-11-4-8//PEW/4/BLUGIL 2011 Uzbekistan
MUKYE
DW STJ3//BCR/LKS4/3/TER-3 2012
Ethiopia
ACHOURI
DW MRF1/STJ2//GDR2/MGNL1 2012 Algeria
BANI SUEF 4
DW IANZEN 1 2008 Egypt
Recently released wheat cultivars by NARSs
in collaboration with ICARDA

49. HessianFlyResistant
Genotype Yield
(t/ha)
% of
Arrehane
(Check)
KAUZ/PASTOR/3/ALTAR 84/AEGILOPS SQUARROSA (TAUS)//OPATA
6.93 131
TINAMOU-3/BANA-4 6.59 125
NESSER/SERI/3/SHUHA-2//NS732/HER 6.51 123
MUNIA//CHEN/ALTAR 84/3/CHEN/AEGILOPS SQUARROSA
(TAUS)//BCN/4/MARCHOUCH-8 6.37 121
NESSER/SERI//TEVEE-1/SHUHA-6 6.33 120
KAUZ/PASTOR/3/ALTAR 84/AEGILOPS SQUARROSA (TAUS)//OPATA
6.32 120
YEBROUD'S'//DOVE'S'/SERI/3/SAFI-1 6.17 117
SHUHA-4/FLORKWA-4//HUBARA-3 6.07 115
KAUZ/PASTOR/3/ALTAR 84/AEGILOPS SQUARROSA (TAUS)//OPATA
6.05 115
TEVEE-1/SHUHA-6//MASSIRA 5.99 114
CHILERO-1/STAR'S'//SHUHA-2/FOW-2 5.93 112
NESSER/SERI/3/SHUHA-2//NS732/HER 5.92 112
NESSER/SERI//TEVEE-1/SHUHA-6 5.92 112
MUNIA//CHEN/ALTAR 84/3/CHEN/AEGILOPS SQUARROSA
(TAUS)//BCN/4/MARCHOUCH-8 5.87 111
KAUZ/PASTOR/3/ALTAR 84/AEGILOPS SQUARROSA (TAUS)//OPATA
5.70 108
QIMMA-12/PASTOR-6//QIMMA-12 5.65 107
KARAWAN-1/TALLO 3//REGRAG-1 5.64 107
ALTAR 84/AE.SQUARROSA (219)//SERI/3/MASSIRA 5.63 107
ALTAR 84/AE.SQUARROSA (219)//SERI/3/MASSIRA 5.62 107
KARAWAN-1/TALLO 3//JADIDA-2 5.58 106
Arrehane (check) 5.27 100
Potential of Synthetics derived Spring Bread Wheat Genotypes,
Yield, Drought Tolerance and Hessian Fly Resistance
Rianfed, Merchouch, Morocco, 2013

50. NAME PEDIGREE Yield (t/ha)
ATTILA/3*BCN//FLAG-2 ICW06-00784-21AP/0KUL-0DZ/0AP-
0DZ/0AP-5AP-0AP 11.1
FLAG-3/ICARDA-SRRL-5 ICW06-00858-7AP/0KUL-0DZ/0AP-
0DZ/0AP-5AP-0AP 10.6
FLAG-6/ICARDA-SRRL-6 ICW06-00859-19AP/0KUL-0DZ/0AP-
0DZ/0AP-2AP-0AP 10.3
SERI 82/SHUHA'S'//GRU90-
204782/3/MUNIA/CHTO//MILAN
AISBW05-0252-1AP-0AP-0AP-1AP -0SD
10.2
KAUZ'S'/SERI/4/CHEN/AEGILOPS SQUARROSA
(TAUS)//FCT/3/STAR
AISBW05-0259-11AP-0AP-0AP-4AP -0SD
10.0
KATILA-15//MNCH/3*BCN ICW05-0481-2AP-0AP-0AP-1AP -0SD 9.9
SERI 82/SHUHA'S'//GRU90-
204782/3/MUNIA/CHTO//MILAN
AISBW05-0252-1AP-0AP-0AP-3AP-0AP
9.9
SERI.1B*2/3/KAUZ*2/BOW//KAUZ/4/KAUZ/FLORKWA-1 AISBW05-0390-7AP-0AP-0AP-1AP -0SD 9.8
KAUZ'S'/SERI/4/CHEN/AEGILOPS SQUARROSA
(TAUS)//FCT/3/STAR
AISBW05-0259-4AP-0AP-0AP-1AP -0SD
9.8
KAUZ'S'/SERI/3/KAUZ//KAUZ/STAR AISBW05-0088-1AP-0AP-0AP-3AP -0SD 9.6
ATTILA 50Y//ATTILA/BCN/3/STAR*3/MUSK-3 AISBW05-0043-10AP-0AP-0AP-7AP-0AP
9.6
DEBEIRA/4/KAUZ//ALTAR 84/AOS/3/KAUZ ICW05-0597-2AP-0AP-0AP-4AP-0AP 9.5
KASYON/GENARO 81//TEVEE-1/../4/CHEN/AEGILOPS
SQUARROSA (TAUS)//BCN/3/KAUZ
AISBW05-0112-12AP-0AP-0AP-2AP -0SD
9.5
DEBEIRA/4/KAUZ//ALTAR 84/AOS/3/KAUZ ICW05-0597-8AP-0AP-0AP-1AP -0SD 9.5
KAUZ/AA//KAUZ/3/KAPSW/SHUHA-17 AISBW05-0321-4AP-0AP-0AP-1AP -0SD 9.4
BOUSHODA-1/4/SHUHA-2/3/BOW'S'/NKT'S'//TEVEE'S' ICW05-0521-3AP-0AP-0AP-2AP -0SD 9.4
KAUZ//MON/CROW?S?/4/SERI.1B//KAUZ/HEVO/3/AMAD ICW05-0534-22AP-0AP-0AP-1AP -0SD 9.4
ATTILA 50Y//ATTILA/BCN/3/STAR*3/MUSK-3 AISBW05-0043-10AP-0AP-0AP-5AP-0AP
9.3
KAUZ//MON/CROW?S?/3/VEE/PJN//2*KAUZ ICW05-0512-20AP-0AP-0AP-1AP -0SD 9.3
DEBIRA 9.3
MISR-1 9.7
SIDS-12 9.3
Yield Potential of Heat Tolerance Elite Spring Bread Wheat
Genotypes, Sids-Egypt, 2013

51. Yield potential of newly developed durum genotypes
at ICARDA durum breeding program
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
Miki1 OuaserlOuasloukos
Ouaserl
Aghrass2Amedakul1 Haurani (Landrace) Korifla (Impr)
Kg/ha
Yield Potential of recently developed Durum Wheat
genotypes at ICARDA

52. 5. Bridging the Yield Gap
and Impact of Improved Wheat Technologies

53.  Actual farm yields of wheat in the CWANA region are
far below their potential.
 Evidence shows that productivity can be increased
substantially;
 If production of wheat is to exceed population growth
rates, yields must increase further.
 Limited scope for expansion in area
 Future increases in production must come from
sustainable intensification of wheat-based production
system.
Wheat Productivity in CWANA Region

54. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Algeria Egypt Ethiopia Morocco Syria Turkey
Countryyield(tha-1)
Real (Average 2007/2011; FAOSTAT) Experimental
6. Wheat Yield Gap Analysis in Selected Countries

55. 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Experimental
Station Yield
Potential Farm
Yield
Actual Farm
Yield
Yield Gap II
Yield Gap I
Biological constraints
• Variety
• Water
• Weeds
• Diseases and insect pests
• Soil Fertility
• Soil Problems e.g. salinity
Socioeconomic constraints
• Input availability
• Costs and returns
• Credit
• Prices
• Tradition and altitudes
• Knowledge
• Input availability
• Institutions and Policies
Tons/ha
Example, Wheat in Tunisia
Bridging the Yield Gap in Wheat
Progressive
Farmers Yield
Traditional
Farmers Yield
Experimental
Station Yield

56. Morocco
Syria
(rainfed)Gap Analysis
Settat-Berrechid
(rainfed)
Tadla
(irrigated)
Gap 1 (kg/ha) 1028 2115 1655
Gap 2 (kg/ha) 2228 3825 2520
Gap 1 (%) 88% 45% 82%
Gap 2 (%) 192% 82% 125%
Gap 1 = difference between average farmers’ yield and research
station/on-farm demonstration yield
Gap 2 = difference between average farmers’ yield and simulated
potential yield
Wheat yield gap analysis: Morocco and Syria

57. Gaps between national average yields and progressive farmers yields
Wheat Yield Gap in Syria

58.  Formerly a wheat importer, the country (before the
unfortunate developments that started in 2011) was
self-sufficient, and even an exporter of wheat (1-2
million tons) in reasonable good rainy seasons.
 Between 1991 and 2004 wheat production rose
from 2.1 million to 4.5 million tons, with a
combination of new high-yielding varieties (1/3),
supplemental irrigation technology (1/3) and more
inputs (1/3) with supportive government policies.
Impact of Bridging the Yield Gap in Syria

59. 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Production(milliontons)
Wheatarea(millionha)
Precipitation(100mm)
Area Needed
Precipitation
Actual Area
Linear (Area Trend)
Actual Production
Linear (Production Trend)
.
Impact of improved wheat technologies in Syria

60. Socio-economic & policy,
and institutional support
Sustainable
Natural resource
management and
inputs
Crop & livestock
genetic improvement
Integration at field
and farmers levels
The integrated approach involving the three pillars
of sustainable agricultural intensification

61. I R I I R I R I
Participating
Farmers
8.1 2.4 4.9 3.7 2.6 6.3 2.7 6.0
Non
Participating
Farmers
6.3 1.9 4.4 2.4 2.2 5.6 2.1 4.6
Ave. increase (%) 22 21 11 58 20 13 23 30
Max yield 9.1 3.2 6.5 5.6 4.2 8.2 3.7 8.8
Average Yield Increase= 25 %
Maximum Yield Increase= 75 %
Egypt Yemen Morocco Sudan Syria Tunisia
Impact of Bridging Yield Gap in Wheat in Selected
Countries under Rainfed (R) and Irrigated Systems
Food Security Project: 2011/2012

62. Raised-bed Planting

64. Furrows irrigation Flat bed irrigation Raised bed irrigation

65. 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yield (t/ha) Water
consumption(000m3/ha)
WUE(kg/m3)
Raised bed
Flat surface
Egypt
Advantage of raised bed planting
Average of 2011 and 2012
30 % increase in grain yield
25 % saving in irrigation water
72 % increase in WUE

66. Average wheat productivity in 2009/2010 and 2012-
2013 in Al-Sharkia Governorate:
 It was 6.2 t/ha in 2010 and reached 7.2 t/ha in 2013;
 It was less than the national mean by 7% in 2010 and
higher by 4% in 2013;
 National Productivity was 6.5 t/ha in 2010 and it
reached 6.7 t/ha in 2013.
Project on "Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries", March 2014
Impact of Large Scale On-Farm Demonstration in Egypt

67.  Egypt:
Based on the results obtained in Al-Sharkia Governorate,
National Campaign for improvement of wheat followed the Al-
Sharkia approach for the dissemination of technologies: more
than 1000 demonstration fields on improved wheat
production technologies were planted during 2011-2012 and
2012 -2013 seasons in 22 Governorates in addition to the
Governorate of Al-Sharkia which was used a pilot project site
in Egypt. This expansion effort was supported by national
funds amounting to 8.7 million EGP (about 1.300,000USD) in
3 years.
 Tunisia:
The approach is being replicated in other wheat producing
provinces based on the efficient extension methodology
developed by the project in the country.
Spillover of Food Security Project Model

68. Impact of Heat-Tolerant Wheat in Sudan

69. All the work done by ICARDA in wheat is aligned under the
Wheat CRP (CRP3.1) led by CIMMYT and in collaboration with
CIMMYT and
 National Agricultural Research Systems;
 Advanced Research Institutes;
 IFAD, FAO and Other UN Organizations;
 Civil society organizations including NGOs;
 Private Sector;
 Donors.
Partnerships and Institutional Linkages7. Partnerships and Collaborators

70.  Establish/strengthen multi-disciplinary regional & international
cooperation & networking through the Wheat CRP;
 Strengthen the consortium on hybrid wheat and innovative research
to enhance yield potential including C4 wheat, N-fixing wheat;
 Strengthen the use of biotechnological tools including Genomic
Selection (GS) approaches;
 Sustainable intensification of wheat based systems;
 Strengthen and promote IPM options;
 Promote further Conservative Agriculture in dryland systems;
 Enhancing water use efficiency through deficit and supplemental
irrigation and modernization of irrigation systems;
 Improve access to improved seeds through effective seed production
& delivery systems (formal & informer; public and private);
 Capacity development of NARS partners & Networking.
7. Future Emphasis/Looking Ahead

71. ICARDA Site identification team, 1975: Dr Norman Borlaug, Official
from Syrian Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Bob Havner, Dr Jit Srivastiva
and Mr Faek Bahady
History of ICARDA’s birth, 1975

72. THANK YOU