The project is implemented in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia and promotes the adaptation of Mediterranean agricultural systems to climate change through a combination of modern and traditional water management and conservation techniques and new and indigenous varieties of cereals and legumes resistant to difficult climatic conditions.

ACLIMAS activities in the months of April-June 2014 mostly focused on organizing field days, training workshops and technical visits in the beneficiary countries. New materials and leaflets have been also uploaded on the project’s website. 

Algeria

Training course on: "Use of remote sensing techniques for improving resource use efficiency in cereals cultivation", Algeria, 14–16 April 2014

The main objective of the training course was to introduce the participants to the use of remote sensing techniques at leaf, plant and canopy level, and to investigate their applicability as a valuable technique to identify spatial patterns of crop performance and crop status, especially towards improving the resources use efficiency in cereals cultivation.  Also, participants learnt how to use remote sensing as a tool to quantify the impact of drought on yield and to optimize inputs to the expected yield.

Technical visit to Algeria, 12 – 26 April 2014

The technical visit had the objective to monitor and discuss on-going demonstration and implementation activities in the target area. The visit was also an important opportunity for establishing a direct interaction with the local stakeholders since it coincided with field days activities. 

Jordan

Training Course on: “Optimizing Resource Use in Cereals: Application of Physiology in Agronomy and Breeding”, Amman-Irbid, Jordan, 14 – 16 April 2014

This course was organized as part of the training program for researchers, farmers and presidents of associations of agricultural development in the region of Irbid who are involved in the implementation of ACLIMAS project activities.

Technical visit to Jordan, 13 – 17 April 2014

The technical visit had the objective of monitoring and discussing the on-going demonstration/implementation activities in the target areas. It coincided with the training course described above, which permitted the direct contact with the local stakeholders and having a close vision on the progress of activities.

Field day at Maru Agricultural Research Station, Irbid, Jordan, 29 April 2014

The field day was organized at the Maru Agricultural Research Station where the demonstration fields of ACLIMAS are established. The main objective of the event was to demonstrate to farmers the best management practices of cereal cultivation under the arid and semi arid conditions which are typical of the region, and to explain the best ways to manage the limited water resources for better water use efficiency of cereals.

Lebanon

Field day in Majdaloun, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 13 May 2014

Within the framework of ACLIMAS project, the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) and the Association of the Friends of Ibrahim Abdel Al (AFIAL) organized a field day that was held in Majdaloun village in the Bekaa plain, on 13 May 2014.

The field day was addressed to farmers living in Majdaloun region and its surroundings. They were called to explore ACLIMAS activities that took place in the field of a farmer from the neighborhood. The main points that were discussed are the following: 1) Drought effect on crop production; 2) frost effect on crop production; 3) new wheat and barley varieties; 4) how to save water in irrigation. In total, 20 farmers had participated. Finally, it should be noted that the field day coincided with the presence of the crew preparing a movie about the outcomes of the overall SWIM Programme, on behalf of SWIM-SM Project.

Field day in El Hamrat, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 15 May 2014

The field day was organized jointly between the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) and the Association of the Friends of Ibrahim Abdel Al (AFIAL) at El Hamrat region (Bekaa Valley). 20 Farmers were introduced to ACLIMAS activities and applied techniques in one of the implementation field. The following points were discussed: 1) Dry year versus normal year; 2) Crop rotation; 3) Soil analysis; 4) No-till practice.

Field day in Rasm El Hadath, Bekaa valley, Lebanon, 23 June 2014

The field day was organized at harvest time and it was addressed to farmers living in Rasm El Hadath region. A total of 15 farmers participated to the field day.

The field day was organized jointly between LARI and AFIAL, and farmers were invited to explore the ongoing harvest activities in the field and to discuss different issues mainly: 1) Effect of drought on wheat yield; 2) New wheat and barley varieties; and 3) How to save water in irrigation.

Field day in Ryaak, Bekaa valley, Lebanon, 26 June 2014

The field day was organized jointly between LARI and AFIAL. Particularly, Pr Musa Nimah and Eng. Marica Abi Nader (AFIAL), Dr Marie Therese Abi Saab and Eng. Salim Fahed (LARI) presented ACLIMAS project to farmers. Farmers were then invited to explore the ongoing harvest activities in the field and to discuss different issues. The following points were discussed: 1) Effect of drought on wheat yield; 2) New wheat and barley varieties; 3) How to save water in irrigation. In total, 16 farmers participated to the field day.

Morocco

Field day on: "Rotation under conservation agriculture", Souaka implementation site, Settat, Morocco, 02 April 2014

As a part of ACLIMAS activities aiming to raise the local farmers awareness about new agricultural techniques to adapt to climate change, a field day has been organized with the objective of explaining the advantages of rotation under direct sowing. The field day was organized in Douar Souakka, 40 km south of Settat, by the Moroccan ACLIMAS team in collaboration with the local Association “Touffaha for agricultural development and direct sowing” and the Association “Agriculture, Development, Environment for the Future (AGENDA)”.

89 farmers’ members of the Associations “Touffaha” and “Addoha” and many other regional agricultural associations, a dozen of researchers from INRA-Settat, agricultural advisors from Office National de Conseil Agricole (ONCA), representatives fromOffice National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires (ONSSA) and local elected officials contributed to the success of the field day.

Field day on "Constraints of adoption of No-TILL package", Ain Nzagh implementation site, Settat, Morocco, 8 Apr 2014.

Thanks to the efforts of ACLIMAS Moroccan partner, INRA-Settat, no tillage technique is starting to expand slowly but surely in the region of Chaouia Ourdigha, Morocco. To evaluate this experience and discuss its strengths and weaknesses a field day was held at Ain Nzagh implementation site, Settat.

Field day on: "Water productivity under conservation agriculture", Demonstration trial at Sidi El Aydi Experimental Station, Settat, Morocco, 29 Apr 2014.

Achieving acceptable benefits with sustained production levels while conserving as much as possible the environment is the key idea behind the conservation agriculture, for this reason producing “more crop per drop” is one important aspect of conservation agriculture. Researchers from INRA-Settat explained to farmers during this field day how they could increase the water use efficiency in their field without negative effect on the production. The event was held at Sidi El Aydi Experimental Station, Settat.

Field day on: "Water productivity under conservation agriculture", Sidi El Aydi experimental station, Settat, Morocco, 22 May 2014

The field day was organized with the objective of explaining the advantages of conservation agriculture (reduced or zero tillage, mulching, crop rotations and cover crops) as a strategy that could offer a possible alternative to intensive agriculture that has proved to be a factor increasing risks of soil erosion by wind and water, and leading to soil compaction.

ACLIMAS local team also explained to beneficiaries how the switch to conservation agriculture systems could result in increased crop water availability and agro-ecosystem productivity, reduced soil erosion, increased soil organic matter and nutrient availability, reduced labor and fuel use, and improved soil water storage capacity and crop yields.

Moreover, the day was an opportunity to present the results of field experiments performed at Sidi El Aidi experimental field. These experiments consist of comparing the behavior of wheat crop with other previous crops: canola, chickpea, vetch and lentil. The objective was also to study the effect of wheat and other studied crops on the water status in the soil, and how rotation could affect the nitrogen content of soil.

Training course on: "Technical aspects of harvest and storage", Settat, Morocco, 10 – 12 June 2014.

As a continuation to the planned activities for the year 2014, INRA-Settat (National Institute for Agricultural Research) jointly with the Association AGENDA (Agriculture, Development, Environment for the Future) organized a training course from 10 to 12 June 2014 with the participation of more than 36 young researchers, agricultural advisors, farmers, growers, PhD students, water managers and local extension agricultural services. The course was animated by Dr. Abdellah El Aissaoui and Dr. Oussama El Gharras from INRA-Settat, and had the objective of supporting the capacity building of local institutions and stakeholders to adapt to climate change in the future by learning the most adapted harvesting and storage techniques in the region.

The lectures covered a wide range of topics that are of actuality in the target area, they treated the different technologies of cereals and legumes storage with special focus on low-cost and locally-tailored techniques that do not require heavy investment. Interventions reported also different sources of losses that could jeopardize either the quality or the quantity of the bio-products (temperature, humidity, water content, insects, fungi...) while proposing the suitable procedures to extend the shelf life of the product.

The second part of lectures was dedicated to enhance the know-how of participants about the agricultural machinery, especially the one used for harvesting and threshing. The course gave a clear idea about technical aspects of the harvesting (equipment, duration, man power...) and also economical aspects (cost and benefit comparison between modern and traditional operations).

The training was closed by a demonstration visit to two traditional and modern storage units to highlight the main differences between them and the advantages of each option. Moreover, the local ACLIMAS team explained to the beneficiaries the way they could optimize the use of their traditional units of storage while keeping the cost at minimum level.

Tunisia

Field day on: “Wheat crop, fertilization, weed and pest control” Menzel Temime, Nabeul, Tunisia, 2 Apr 2014.

A deep discussion took place between local farmers and Tunisian ACLIMAS team about the considerable economic losses due to weed and pest spread in the region. Researchers tried to give adapted advices to each case while explaining the strategies the shall be adopted to reach satisfactory results especially: prevention, monitoring, analyzing and control. Moreover, farmers benefited from further explanation about the best fertilization practices with an emphasis on time, rates, and method of application.

Technical visit to Tunisia, Tunis, 19 – 24 May 2014

The technical visit had the objective to monitor and discuss on-going demonstration and implementation activities in the target area in Tunisia. The visit coincided with scientific days of INAT 2014, the latter gave the ACLIMAS team the chance to meet and discuss with highly qualified professional and researchers from different countries on the subject of climate change: the current situation, mitigation measures and eventual perspectives.

Scientific days of the INAT 2014 on: Climate change and adaptation measures, Tunis, Tunisia, 20 – 21 May 2014

Scientific days of INAT 2014 were dedicated to the problems of climate change and adaptation measures, mainly with a view to evaluate the research works carried out by researchers from INAT, national and international scientific partners working and interested by the same topic. Moreover, this event offered researchers a good opportunity to exchange experiences and to show their results to Tunisian professionals. The main discussions’ topics were: 1) Climate change: current and future situation in the world and especially in the Mediterranean region and Tunisia; 2) Impacts of climate change on environment and natural resources; 3) Adaptation measures to climate change. The Scientific days were not only open to researchers interested in climate change but also to stakeholders working in different bodies and research areas (public bodies and private companies, policy makers...). Prof. Mladen Todorovic, the coordinator of ACLIMAS project, delivered a keynote speech on the impact of climate change and adaptation measures in the Mediterranean.

 Materials and leaflets recently uploaded on the project’s website

·         Training material on: “Technical aspects of harvesting and yield storage"

·         Leaflet on: “Benefits of the rotation under direct sowing”

·         Leaflet on “Awareness day about water”

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