Practical training provided to farmers on fighting wheat rust diseases
11 June 2024, Ankara, Türkiye – Efforts continue to combat rust diseases that threaten wheat, a crucial agricultural crop essential for global food security. Within the framework of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture (FTPP II), practical training was given to farmers on recognition and integrated management of wheat rust diseases at the Ikizce Research and Production Farm of the Field Crops Central Research Institute Directorate in Gölbaşı, Ankara.
As part of the project “Strengthening regional collaboration and national capacities for management of wheat rust diseases and resistance breeding in Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC-Rust)”, farmers from the Polatlı, Haymana, Gölbaşı, Keçiören, Mamak and Altındağ districts of Ankara, and the Yeniçağa and Seben districts of Bolu, participated in practical training on combating wheat rust disease in the field. The training involved officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, FAO experts, engineers and academicians.
At the opening of the training programme, Hümeyra Yaman, Director of the Institute, summarized the institute’s work, expressing satisfaction with the cooperation with FAO and the importance of this joint effort. He was joined by Ömer Arslan, Plant Production and Health Division Director representing the Ankara Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, who highlighted the importance of wheat rust diseases for Central Anatolia and emphasized the significance of the farmer training.
In his opening remarks, FAO Agricultural Officer Fazıl Düşünceli emphasized the growing collaborations between FAO and institutions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, coordinated by the General Directorate of the European Union and Foreign Relations, pointing to recent projects and activities developed with the General Directorates of Food and Control, Agricultural Reform, Plant Production and Agricultural Research and Policies. Düşünceli also underscored the threat posed by wheat rust diseases to Central Asia and the Caucasus, and provided an overview of the project on wheat rust diseases conducted jointly with FAO and the Ministry. He noted the importance of the Regional Cereal Rust Disease Research Center (RCRRC) in Izmir, which operates with contributions from the Ministry and ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas), stressing that cooperation between countries is essential due to the fact that rust diseases can spread easily via air and produce frequently new strains.
Dr. Şerafettin Çakal, Deputy Director-General representing the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, highlighted the importance of wheat for food security both globally and in Türkiye. He stated: “Research efforts to develop disease-resistant varieties and integrated management are crucial, and we highly value and support cooperation with FAO towards these goals.”
During the practical training conducted at the wheat rust disease research plots of the Field Crops Central Research Institute`s research farm, experts Dr. Emine Burcu Tugay from the institute and Dr. Nilüfer Akci from the Plant Protection Central Research Institute demonstrated the formation, progression and symptoms of the disease in the field. The experts also answered farmers’ questions, providing detailed information on developing resistant varieties and integrated management methods against rust diseases. Farmers were also introduced to the varieties developed by the Institute being tolerant or resistant to wheat rust diseases. This training approach is considered a model for replication in other countries affected by wheat rust diseases.
The project, carried out in collaboration with the FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, ICARDA and CIMMYT, aims to enhance cooperation and capacities for monitoring and effective management of the disease among Central Asian and Caucasian countries.
About the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes
The objectives of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes are to provide support to ensure food security, rural poverty reduction and sustainable forest management; combat desertification; and preserve ecosystems in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and other countries of mutual interest.
Established in 2007, the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture (FTPP) has benefited from trust fund contributions totalling USD 10 million, financed by the Government of Türkiye and represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. During the first phase of the programme, 28 projects were implemented in 16 countries between 2009 and 2015.
In 2014, Türkiye and FAO commenced the second phase of the FTPP along with the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Forestry Partnership Programme (FTFP) with additional funding of USD 20 million, bringing Türkiye’s total contribution to USD 30 million.
LINKS:
· CAC-Rust project workshop discusses recent approaches in breeding rust-resistant wheat
· CAC-Rust workshop addresses prevention and management of wheat rust diseases in Turkmenistan
· Wheat rust diseases do not respect borders - YouTube
· ICARDA
· CIMMYT