ACIAR Research Seminar

Dr Colin Piggin who is presenting a seminar on his work with scientists and farmers in Syria and northern Iraq

Dr Colin Piggin will give an update on development of conservation cropping systems in the drylands of northern Iraq at ACIAR House on 29 January. The initiative is testing whether hardier varieties and conservation farming techniques can do in the Middle East what they did for Australian grain growers when first introduced 30 years ago: to increase yields in a dry climate by eliminating the need to plough or till soil, which causes soil moisture to evaporate.

Dr Piggin is based at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Syria, where he is supporting scientists and farmers to overcome constraints to crop production through this ACIAR/AusAID-funded project. He reports that the trials to date are showing consistent yield advantages from this technique, in part due to the ability to sow the crops early.

Sixty kilometres from the Iraqi border, in the environs of Kamishley in Syria, 40 farmers involved in the project are amongst the early adopters of ‘conservation cropping’. When a group of 15 Iraqi farmers recently toured some of these farms they were amazed to see row upon row of plants setting seed, when across the border, on cultivated fields, dry conditions were again stunting crop development.

The seminar is being held on Friday 29 January at 11am at ACIAR House, 38 Thynne St Fern Hill Park, Bruce ACT. Bookings are essential. If you wish to attend please contact Mandy Gyles on 6217 0500 by Wednesday 27th January 2010.

Transcript of an interview with Dr Piggin on ABC Radio National's Connect Asia: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/201001/s2803709.htm