Dear Abdul Ghafor,

High among the challenges among arid regions are 1) issue of salinity 2) alkalinity limitations 3) erosion 4)micronutrient and macronutrient availability 5) water quality and quantity issues are salient issues. These issues would best be addressed by long term systems research, education and application done by multidisciplinary teams with a systems approach.

Among the broader focus approaches we would propose be the goal of increasing Water Use Efficiency and employing multiple component synergies in the problem solving efforts. The of participation of farming communities would be essential in having these be most effective.

While ICARDA in Aleppo Syria has an International mandate on dry region cropping I fear that the National hosting situation has compromised their ability to provide the type of leadership which would be required.

Besides the focus on Water Use Efficiency I believe that measuring system results are well served when soil carbon is a principle barometer since the ability of the soil to capture and retain water beneficially is well related to this factor and that correlates well with productivity and stability parameters.

Looking forward to others and their vision on this area.

Dr.Ghafoor the question is important in the present context.Earlier several international organisations like IRRI,ICRISAT,ICARDA etc have been working on their mandated crops or agro-climatic conditions with their own resources with limited participation of national institutions. Germplasm exchanges and scientist participation are there.They have given good/suitable crop varieties and water harvesting and using technologies to different countries.But now they are increasingly interacting ,collaborating and working with even state governments in some key research areas and development programmes .This approach helps to share resources ,avoid duplication and help in transfer of new technology.Apart from success achieved in crops through new crop varieties introduction,institutions like ICRISAT are participating in water shed management ,organic farming, use of organic sources of nutrients  micronutrients and biofertilizers.However competition can not be avoided on some similar programmes and collaboration may not be smooth or ideal as we expect.But international collaborations will definitely help to strengthen national programmes in some new and emerging  areas.

Dr.Ghafoor the question is important in the present context.Earlier several international organisations like IRRI,ICRISAT,ICARDA etc have been working on their mandated crops or agro-climatic conditions with their own resources with limited participation of national institutions. Germplasm exchanges and scientist participation are there.They have given good/suitable crop varieties and water harvesting and using technologies to different countries.But now they are increasingly interacting ,collaborating and working with even state governments in some key research areas and development programmes .This approach helps to share resources ,avoid duplication and help in transfer of new technology.Apart from success achieved in crops through new crop varieties introduction,institutions like ICRISAT are participating in water shed management ,organic farming, use of organic sources of nutrients  micronutrients and biofertilizers.However competition can not be avoided on some similar programmes and collaboration may not be smooth or ideal as we expect.But international collaborations will definitely help to strengthen national programmes in some new and emerging  areas.

Dr.Ghafoor the question is important in the present context.Earlier several international organisations like IRRI,ICRISAT,ICARDA etc have been working on their mandated crops or agro-climatic conditions with their own resources with limited participation of national institutions. Germplasm exchanges and scientist participation are there.They have given good/suitable crop varieties and water harvesting and using technologies to different countries.But now they are increasingly interacting ,collaborating and working with even state governments in some key research areas and development programmes .This approach helps to share resources ,avoid duplication and help in transfer of new technology.Apart from success achieved in crops through new crop varieties introduction,institutions like ICRISAT are participating in water shed management ,organic farming, use of organic sources of nutrients  micronutrients and biofertilizers.However competition can not be avoided on some similar programmes and collaboration may not be smooth or ideal as we expect.But international collaborations will definitely help to strengthen national programmes in some new and emerging  areas.

Thanks dear Dr. Hepperly and Rao for good contributions. I hope some one from  ILRI, I RRI, ICRISAT, ICARDA, CSSRI and FAO etc to share their experiences.