Jalili S, Fathi G, Fathi Y, Ahmed W, Al-Ghulami M, Kashmoula M.Corresponding author: sinanjalili@hotmail.com

Presented by: Dr. Stephen Loss, ICARDA/ACIAR, Amman Jordan

mailto:sinanjalili@hotmail.com

Promotion of Conservation Cropping in the Drylands of Northern Iraq: ICARDA/ACIAR

Four pivotal strategies were :1. Focus on adaptive research and development2. Availability of low cost zero-tillage seeders3. Participatory extension – farmer testing4. Capacity development

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Nineva: Agriculture on both sides of Tigris River, 40km north, east, south, & 150km west of Mosul. Total cropping area – 1.0 million ha. Farms vary from 25 - 1,000 ha.

Weather: 250-350mm p.a. rain, Nov-April. One drought every 8 years. Some irrigation.

Conventional Cropping: Wheat, barley & fallow with few legumes. Residues heavily grazed or burnt. Farmers plough one or two times before seeding.

Machinery: Locally made chisel & disc ploughs with mounted seed boxes. Mostly3.6m tine seeders - John Shearer (Australia), Rama (Jordan), Nardi (Italy) and some disc seeders - John Deere (US).

First encounter benefits of ZT & early sowing (↓ costs, yields) in Syria with ACIAR-ICARDA project in 2006.

Seeder modification make & fit narrow points & press wheels to John Shearer seeders for a few big farmers.

Farmer & research trials showed better yields for ZT plots through two droughts in 07/08 & 08/09.

More modifications for another 20 farmers totaling 5,000 ha in 09/10 (JS, Rama, Nardi).

Assembly of a small ZT seeder (2.0m) for small farmers, suitable for 75 hp tractors.

With technical input from Australian experts, local manufacture of key components :Knife points -Tines – about 75kg breakout Press wheels - gang & walking beam. Some difficulties in sourcing high quality materials in Iraq.

Eventually led to design & construction of a whole ZT seeder in 2012.

Features:

• 2.2m width for 75 hp tractors

• three ranks for residue management

• flexible row spacing

• ten spring-loaded tines at 25cm

• simple but strong

• walking beam press wheels

Sowed 200 ha with good feed back from farmers.

Named “Ras Al-Rumuh” = Spearhead

The ICARDA/ACIAR project ordered 8 seeders using seed boxes & metering systems from Turkey in 2013.

New tine/presswheel contour-following seeding system developed.

Field tests provided good results & 14 more seeders were ordered in 2014.

Traditional row spacing for cereals is 18cm & seed rates 140kg/ha or more.

In 2012/2013 (high rainfall) yield for the 27cm rows + 100kg/ha was best, and 36cm rows + 60kg/ha yielded 25% less.

In 2013/14 (more typical) 30cm rows + 80kg/ha were performing well.

We recognize the lack of sustainable & profitable rotation crops, especially in rain fed areas.

In pursuit of better rotations, trigonella, rye, safflower, & field peas were tried.

Crop residues cannot be protected due to uncontrolled grazing by shepherds and lack of fences.

http://www.google.jo/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=mz5jdbecvtnwDM&tbnid=Wh6rNHSCnGoYwM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.precisenu.com/herbal-gallery/trigonella-foenum-graecum-methi&ei=b56VU4r9D6qK0AWP6oHICQ&bvm=bv.68445247,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNGhOfxDiwARrPHkle2NPSTVyAZjlQ&ust=1402400380572510http://www.google.jo/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=mz5jdbecvtnwDM&tbnid=Wh6rNHSCnGoYwM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.precisenu.com/herbal-gallery/trigonella-foenum-graecum-methi&ei=b56VU4r9D6qK0AWP6oHICQ&bvm=bv.68445247,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNGhOfxDiwARrPHkle2NPSTVyAZjlQ&ust=1402400380572510http://www.google.jo/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=F4NN-4T6M5rsGM&tbnid=D9S5RnXfTpyM0M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://extension.usu.edu/boxelder/htm/agriculture/safflowertrial&ei=wJ6VU-S7BoT60gXt74G4Bg&bvm=bv.68445247,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNG1mLefS8OonOYP0l5Rub1hQAqIPg&ust=1402400784638666http://www.google.jo/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=F4NN-4T6M5rsGM&tbnid=D9S5RnXfTpyM0M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://extension.usu.edu/boxelder/htm/agriculture/safflowertrial&ei=wJ6VU-S7BoT60gXt74G4Bg&bvm=bv.68445247,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNG1mLefS8OonOYP0l5Rub1hQAqIPg&ust=1402400784638666

Due to the very hot dry summer, weeds usually start growing once the rains come.

Most crops receive a broad-leaf selective, post- emergent herbicide.

Chemical weed control before sowing was tried using glyphosate with good success.

Most sprayers are old and capital investment is needed.

Plowing cost per hectare equals $8/ha, while glyphosate costs $16/ha.

http://www.google.jo/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=WS_RPpDUEs4LCM&tbnid=bVOu7zvvMBHJQM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/glen-innes-area/heavy-farming-agriculture-equipment/boom-spray-pinto-croplands-12m-trailing-excellent-new-marker/1042109555&ei=saGVU9WVKOnG0QWsgoDIDg&psig=AFQjCNGFRwjaep2xhGZqOARsybdaZXUWNA&ust=1402401425443147http://www.google.jo/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=WS_RPpDUEs4LCM&tbnid=bVOu7zvvMBHJQM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/glen-innes-area/heavy-farming-agriculture-equipment/boom-spray-pinto-croplands-12m-trailing-excellent-new-marker/1042109555&ei=saGVU9WVKOnG0QWsgoDIDg&psig=AFQjCNGFRwjaep2xhGZqOARsybdaZXUWNA&ust=1402401425443147

In collaboration with Mosul Uni. & Ministry of Ag. many famers conducted on farm testing & demonstration of ZT (2008-14), including many field days & publicity.

In 2013 a Syrian ZT seeder was lent to farmers in Hamdaniya community & 100 ha sown.

Excellent germination and growth with ZT at reduced seeding rate made a big impression among local community.

ZT produced 25% more yield than conventional.

Through ZT and better crop management farmers in Mosul are considering ways to use inputs more efficiently - seeds, fertilizer, fuel, labor, and irrigation.

Elimination of fallow and new crops will increase productivity and help diversify agricultural production.

For the first time in 30-40 years new imporved seeders are being introduced or made locally for northern Iraq.

Farmers interested in improving agriculture through on-farm testing are starting to form groups independent from government authorities.

Local manufacturing of ZT seeders and parts will establish a sustainable industry to help promote CA in northern Iraq.

Helping farmers invest in new seeders and working with them (not limited to field days) will be required in the coming years.

Finding and helping innovative farmers happy to work for themselves and for their neighbors proved to be the key for ZT promotion in Mosul.

Chemical weed control, crop rotations, and stubble retention are key aspects of CA that need further research & development.

In early June militia of the Islamic State for Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS ) took control of Mosul or other parts of Iraq.

At present the situation is highly uncertain.

“I am writing to you on the echoes of machine guns and artillery. My heart is bleeding for my daughters and my wife and my mother, seeing them going through this terrible ordeal.”Sinan Jalili, 9 June 2014

Adoption of zero-tillage in conflict zones of Syria – session 12.

Activity Pre conflict During conflict

Research Two types of agronomic research

were conducted near Aleppo:

Conservation agriculture

verification and basic agronomy.

Long-term rotation trials under

ZT.

Established new research in Erbil

Iraq, and Jordan, including basic

and long-term trials.

Continuation of the long-term

trials in Syria by local staff.

ZT

seeders

Project staff provided technical

support to seven Syrian workshops to

produce simple 2-4m ZT seeders at

affordable prices.

Most workshops shut down due

to a shortage of raw materials

and the lack of security.

This prompted farmers to convert

conventional seeders into ZT.

Extension 14 participatory extension groups

were operating where farmers could

test ZT seeders, including training,

field days and other publicity.

The participatory structure of the

groups allowed many to continue,

but insecurity limited training and

public activities.

Adoption of zero-tillage in conflict zones of Syria

Area of ZT adoption & number of farmers

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DiscussionA summary of the major changes in activities before and during the conflict

is presented in the table. The area of adoption of ZT and early sowing in 2011/12 increased to about 30,000 ha (537 farmers), but reliable data were not available after this (see figure). Anecdotal evidence suggests the area continued to increase due to the increasing cost and shortages of fuel, and the reduced personal risk associated with less time in the fields and moving tillage equipment on public roads.

The production of wheat in 2013/14 is estimated to be one third of the area 5-6 years ago. However, the area of ZT could be as high as 50,000 ha.

Public meetings like this ZT farmer group field day at Jarjanaz near Idleb in 2010 were not possible after the outbreak of unrest in Syria.

Mr. Ali Alewi, Qamishley: “I was able to sow four times the area of crop because of the fuel savings with ZT.” (January 2013).

Key MessagesEffective participatory research, development and extension in Syria

encouraged 500+ farmers to adopt zero-tillage (ZT) and early sowing over 30,000 ha by 2011/12.

Although the crop area in Syria has declined since the conflict started, ZT is proving popular because of the shortage and high cost of fuel, and the reduced risk with the elimination of ploughing operations and transport of tillage equipment.

Mrs. Rehab Khateeb, agronomist with the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, Salamiyah, worked with local farmers to convert seeders to ZT (November 2013).

Atef Haddad, Stephen Loss*, Yaseen Khalil and Colin Piggin International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, Amman, Jordan

* s.loss@cgiar.org

IntroductionExperimental data from northern Syria show that ZT combined with early

sowing can increase crop yields by 12-20% with lower fuel and labour costs. After affordable and locally manufactured ZT seeders were developed by working with small workshops, Syrian farmers were keen to test the technology. Fourteen participatory extension groups involving farmers, manufacturers, extensionists, researchers and other stakeholders were established whereby farmers could borrow a ZT seeder to test in their fields. These proved successful and by 2010/11, ZT had been adopted by about 350 farmers over an area of 15,000 ha in Syria. This poster explores what happened after the Syrian conflict erupted and most ICARDA staff left Syria in early 2012.

Key MessagesBy 2011/12, there were seven

manufacturers of ZT seeders in Syria and adoption had spread to 30,000 ha.

After two years of civil unrest very few of the manufacturers are still operating.

But ZT is proving popular because of the:1) shortage & high cost of fuel, 2) reduced risk with the elimination of

ploughing operations and transport of tillage equipment.

We are hopeful seeder manufacturing and adoption of ZT will continue when peace returns to Syria and Iraq.