Participants

1.
Dr Rezgui Salah
Associate Professor
INAT
43 Av. Charles Nicole
Tunis 1082
TUNISIA
Tel.: +216-71-607531
E-mail: salahrezgui08@yahoo.fr

Background information:
BSc. in Agronomy - INAT (1976)
MSc. In Plant Breeding - INAT (1988)
PhD. In Plant Breeding: Oregon State University, USA. (1992)
1976-1988 Agronomist at office cereals, monitoring and analysis of on farm trials
1988-1989 Deputy Director at office of cereals, Management of Northern Storage Units
1992-2004 Associate Professor at ESA MOGRANE
                - Teaching: sampling methods
                - Research: Cereal Improvement

Current Responsibilities:
1) Teaching Graduate students MS Level advanced plant breeding and biometrics (Experimental     design and multivariate analysis)
2) Supervising PhD & MS thesis dealing with genetic study - cereal breeding
3) Research activities on cereals
4) Germplasm evaluation and characterization for quality traits for durum wheat and barley
5) Selection and line advancing for durum wheat and barley (SP)
6) Participating in IRDEN Project aiming to promote the production of quality seeds of durum wheat     landraces

Lessons Learned:
1) Increasing evidence that farmers' perception of selection criteria are partially different from those     of the breeders
2) Farmers tend to adopt populations instead of pure lines (Greater frequency encountered in     Semi-arid areas)

Expectations:

1) Understanding procedures in assessing the value of PPB
2) Implication of using composites/Mixtures
3) Broadening the genetic base:
4) PPB: Incorporation-Buffering effects
5) Pure lines: Introgression - vulnerability
6) Teaching farmers: time consuming costly, consistency of selection criteria: developing indicators to assessing consistency of farmers' selection
7) Legal issues at National/International issues (UPOV) and relationship with the seed distribution     sector
8) How to implement biotechnology tools when farmers start selecting in F2 populations knowing     that they are inefficient when selecting for disease resistance etc.
2.
Dr Maha Qasim Al Syouf
Vice Director of Medicinal Plant Biodiversity & Genetic Resources Program
National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (NCARTT)
P.O. Box 693
Baqaa 19381
Amman
JORDAN
Tel.: +962 6 472 5411/12 or 4725461
Fax: +962 6 472 60099
E-mail: Syoufmaha@yahoo.com

Background information:
1) Joined NCRTT in 1988, as a researcher in Range Management Section
2) Established a gene bank unit in 1993, through a USAID fund
3) Established a molecular laboratory in 1996. This was through a GTZ fund.
4) Earned a PhD degree in 2001 on T.dicoccoides, studying ecological aspects and introgression     from Triticium durum into Triticum dicoccoides (advisor: Dr. Barakat Abu-Irmaileh; co-advisor: Dr.     Jan Valkoun/ICARDA)

Current Responsibilities:
Deputy Director of plant genetic resources, Medicinal plants and biodiversity program/NCARTT. I am working on 3 major projects.
1) Molecular and morphological characterization of some crops such as Lentil, Crocus and others)
2) Evaluation of natural flora as a honey bee feed source
3) Utilization of natural plant biodiversity in medicine
4) Member of the Jordan Environment Society, also a member of the International Assessment of     Agricultural and Technology (IAA ST) for poverty alleviation.

Expectations:
1) As biodiversity Researcher our major objective is conserving diversity. I would like to know how     participatory approach safeguard this issue and what are the criteria needed regarding     implementing this issue
2) Since participatory approach is recently most applicable in wheat and barley. I want to know     further approaches to implement this approach to other crops such as, vegetables, medicinal or     even fruit trees.
3) I am aware of farmers rights and indigenous knowledge, how can participatory approaches     respond to these issues.
4) Farmers are always the poor sector in any region and hardly can science and technology help     them. How can participatory approach alleviate poverty within this sector?
5) Gene revolution (GMO's): How participatory approach cope with this issue?
3.
Ms Dalila Ramla Yakhou
Research Assistant (Cereal Breeder)
National Institute of Agronomic Research of Algeria (INRAA)
ALGERIA
Tel.: +213 215 21 281
Fax: +213 215 21 287
E-mail: ramlada@yahoo.fr

Background information:
MSc. Research subject
1) Evaluation of relation between parental divergence and heterosis in F2 populations using RAPD,     Biochimical (Hordeins) and morphological markers
2) Fixation of hetrosis through using double haploid

Current Responsibilities:
1) Selection of material in segregation:
2) Breeding of local barley varieties for biotic and abiotic stress using double haploid techniques for     fixation of the genetic variability
3) on fixed material:
4) In vitro selection through selection pressure over embryo cali developed by mature and immature     embryo culture in barley

Expectations:
1) Learn about a new breeding approach
2) Evaluation of PPB possibilities for its use under Algerian conditions to improve cereal production
3) Find out to what extent this PPB approach can integrate in vitro culture techniques for breeding     purposes
4.
Dr Adnan Mohammad Al-Yassin
Barley Breeder and Director Rainfed Agricultural Research
National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (NCARTT)
P.O. Box 693
Baqaa 19381
Amman
JORDAN
Tel.: +962 6 4725071
Fax: +962 6 4726099
E-mail: a.yassin@ncartt.gov.jo
           adnanyas@yahoo.com

Current Responsibilities:
Director of the rainfed Agricultural Research
Program at the National Center for Agricultural and
Technology Transfer, as a. I am a barley breeder in
the same program with an experience started in Deir
Alla as field crop researcher in 1992, and in the dry areas of Jordan since 1995.

Our rainfed national program during the period of my leadership (2002-present) released three new varieties of barley and two of wheat in March 2004. My interest in barley drought tolerance extended to participants in Regional Projects such as MABDE, and PPB Project. These projects have a great impact on my scientific experience.

However I am a member in different committee, such as the variety release committee, seed increase and multiplication committee, and I was external examiner of MSc thesis the University of Jordan in Feb. 2005

Expectations:
The expected outputs from this workshop are of two types:
1) Clarification of technical questions regarding the following:
   a. Farmer's participation in each side of selection would direct the selected material by type and        number of these participants. Thus the farmers who selected a certain genotype from initial
       trail may not be able to "keep" or participate in the second cycle of selection. Which means
       that the final decisions of what genotypes to be produced from the last cycle is the choice of
       the last group of farmers.
   b. Using segregating population in the initial trials would necessary lead to genetic gain, when        selection takes places for those population, for a given trait. However, the sustainability of this        gain depends mainly on the mean value of the "selected population" when performs in different        environment. This should lead to homogeneous population of the new released variety, or "fixed        lines"
   c. Molecular marker should be used when the choice of parents is considered. Preferably, there        from molecular techniques could be applied for the last choice of germplasm

2) Legislation and farmers right
   a. Regarding intellectual right, do farmers have the right to release their own variety, regardless of        participatory results?
   b. Registration of these varieties, when are not DUS in UPOV
   c. Seed increase and multiplication of these varieties, should be treated in different way or not.
   d. What is the proper size of FIT, and appropriate number of farmers in each location
   e. Framework for a new project in participatory approach which could handle drought in        Mediterranean countries and pursue what has been done in phase one.

5.
Dr Bouazza Sakr
Food Legumes Breeder, Head of Genetics Plant Breeding & Genetic Resources Research Unit
National Institute of Agronomical Research (INRA)
B.P. 589, Settat
MOROCCO
Tel.: +212 61 23 50 38
E-mail: sakrbouazza@hotmail.com

Current Responsibilities:
1) Development of lentil and chickpea varieties with the
    release of six varieties of lentil and six varieties of winter
    chickpea
2) National coordinator of lentil and chickpea cultivars development in Morocco
3) Help in the adoption of the released varieties by farmers
4) Development of research projects

Expectations (see under Dr. Saidi):
 
6.
Dr Seddik Saidi
National Barley Breeder
National Institute of Agronomical Research (INRA)
BP 415
Rabat
MOROCCO
Te.l: +212 37 77 02 36
       +212 64 62 04 07
Fax: +212 37 77 14 80
E-mail: saidiseddik1@yahoo.fr

Current Responsibilities:
1) Development of barley varieties for favorable and marginal environments
2) In situ conservation on farm genetic resources of barley
3) Conservation and evaluation of genetic resources of wild and cultivated barley
4) Help in the adoption of the released varieties by farmers
5) Development of research projects

Expectations:
1)  Concept of PPB
2)  Application and limit of PPB
3)  Scope of its application in term of crop and geographic and socio ecologic environment
4)  Evolution process of PPB
5)  How PPB is integrated in the whole process of overcoming constraints prevailing in unfavorable      environment
6)  Integration of PPB in process of agro biodiversity conservation
7)  sustainability of the PPB process
8)  how PPB could be institutionalized to insure its continuation
9)  How organization of local seed sector
10) We expect that after finishing the workshop, we will be able to know a lot about the procedure      and master its conditions of application in order to be in a position decide whether to use it or
     not and under which conditions. Also we will be able to convince decision markers to support
     programs using PPB and other scientists to apply PPB under appropriate conditions.
 
7.
Mr Hamou Mimoun
Head of Agronomic Resaerch Station
Cereal Research (Barley Breeder)
National Institute of Agronomic Research of Algeria (INRAA)
BP 05 Lamtan-Sidi Bel-Abbes 22000
Tel/Fax: +213 48 54 75 74
ALGERIA
Tel: +213 48 54 75 74
Fax: +213 48 54 75 74
E-mail: mimoun-hamou@yahoo.fr

Background information:
Barley breeder since 1988 and Durum Wheat.

Current responsibilities:
My objective is to select high performing barley lines under semi-arid zone in particular (< 400mm). Six rows will be preferred to two rows.

Expectations:
I hope also to collaborate with ICARDA Barley Breeding Program and to include the participation of farmer to progress with breeding work.
 

8.
Dr Amer Fahed Al-Nsour
Director of the Socio-economic Studies Program
National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (NCARTT)
P.O. Box 693
Baqaa 19381
Amman
JORDAN
Tel.: +962-65356495
Fax: +962-64726099
E-mail: amer1jo@yahoo.com
           a.nsour@ncartt.gov.jo

Background information:

Ph.D degree in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness from University of Jordan

Current responsibilities:
Director of the socio-economic studies program since 2000I at the National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (NCARTT).

1) Conducting socio-economic studies that lead to improving the management of agricultural     activities and to maximize farmer's profits and minimize costs.
2) Implementing the socio-economic components in different projects of NCARTT


Expectations:

Increase my knowledge about participatory approach through showing:
1) Advantages of Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB)
2) Costs and benefits of PPB
3) Role of gender in PPB
4) Role of extension in PPB
5) The problems that are facing the farmers when they implement PPB
 
9.
Mr Majeed Aboud
Researcher (Barley Breeder)
The General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR)
Damascus
SYRIA
Tel.: +963-11-6714535
E-mail: majeedab64@yahoo.com

Background information:
1) BS from Damascus University in (1993)
2) Hired by Directorate of Agricultural Scientific Research (1994)

Current responsibilities:
Barley Breeder in the Barley Breeding Program at the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR). Participates in the collaborative Research work between Syrian National Program and ICARDA on BPP and cereal on-farm trials, attended training course on cereal improvement at ICARDA for 4 months (1997) and the Workshop on PPB held in Hama (2003)

Expectations:
1) Develop strong evidence for the importance of PPB as a breeding method to solve farmers
    problems
2) Reach a deep understanding about the best way to develop selected lines to farmers
3) Have an idea about the possible different fa cilities and support which can be offered by PPB to
    reach the objectives wanted.
 
10.
Dr Maher Abdel-Moneim El-Maghraby
Researcher (Wheat Breeder)
Field Crops Research Institute
Agricultural Research Center
38 Korrat El-Eain St., Al-Wadyan 21211,
Alexandria
EGYPT
Tel.: +203 435 0730
Fax: +202 5707291, 2045 2380277
Mob. +2012-7696054
E-mail: mahermaghraby@yahoo.com

Background information:
BSc. and MSc: graduated from Genetic department, Alexandria University, Egypt.
Joined organizations: CIMMYT, Mexico (1998), DSE, Germany (1999), USAID -USA (2001)

Expectations:
First of all PPB is a unique idea to be investigated during this workshop. Mainly, conventional breeding is a common in Egypt and this process represents a long term of releasing new varieties at the end. According to PPB model, I can summarize some important points to expect the benefits from applying this model in our country as follows:
1) Saving the time to release new variety companying to conventional breeding
2) Saving the money in the long term of applying this model
3) Encourage of farmers to share the breeder for selecting their favorites lines
4) Building-up the trust between breeders and farmers through working hand-by-hand and making
    all process from A to Z.
5) Breeders have to introduce more genetic variability to give the selection chance by farmers and
    meet their demands

When to apply the model in Egypt, we have to notice:
1) Short-size of land owners
2) Different in level education among farmers

Most practical model is farmers field school, so, I think that we can do some modification in this methods by distributing the materials for some farmers represent a specific sites which suffers from various problems like lake of water in the end of canals for some villages in new reclaimed land as Nubaria region.

Running this program should be aid to:
1) Selected of several genotypes adapted to the specific site
2) Maximize the farmer benefits.

Researchers, extension and farmers, by integrating the PPB model in the marginal area will represent a team work from both of them.
 
11. Mr Hussein Sheikho
Researcher
The General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR)
Al-Hassakeh
SYRIA
Tel.: +963-52-365452
Fax: +963-52-365452

Background information:
BSc. in Agricultural engineering from Aleppo University in 1985
1) Engineer, extension units (1987-1991)
2) Supervisor and trial executor in the Agricultural Scientific Research Center, Al Hassakeh, 1991
3) Head, Agricultural Scientific Research Center, Al-Hassakeh (1998-2003)
4) Supervisor and trails program executor within the joint research cooperation between the
    national program and ICARDA
5) Supervisor and trials implementation, Mashreq - Maghreb Project, and Head of the sub-
    Committee of this project from 1998 up to the end of the last stage of this project in
    Al-Hassakeh Gov.
6) Head, Sub-Committee, barley production increase and use alternative improvement project,
     AL-Hassakeh

Current responsibilities:
1) Head, Crop Research Department, and Head of the Tel Tair Research Station (2003- up to date)
2) Supervisor and trail implementer, Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB), Al Hassakeh

Expectations:
The workshop is a good opportunity to evaluate work done during the past. Workshop program and topics are selected carefully and that it is a good chance for exchanging views and experiences among the participants.

Required is cooperation of all concerned agencies, so as to ensure the success of this program that is reaching farmers field, easily to help him select high yielding varieties of barley in suitable to condition of farmer's area and living standards.
 
12. Dr Abdullah Youssef Al-Youssef
Researcher
The General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR)
Agricultural Research Center of Aleppo
Cereal Department
P.O. Box 01667
Aleppo
SYRIA
Tel.: +963-21-4603600 / 4605500 / 4647200
Fax: +963-21-4644600
E-mail: abd-youssef@postmaster.co.uk

Background information:
BSc. General Department, University of Aleppo, (1988); MSc. in Filed Crops, University of Aleppo, (1998), Ph.D. in Farming Systems, University of Aleppo, (2005).

Current responsibilities:
Researcher at General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR). Agricultural Scientific Research Center of Aleppo-Field Crops Department

Expectations:
1) Develop strong evidence for the importance of PPB as a breeding method to solve farmer's
     problems.
2) Reach a deep understanding about the best way to develop selected lines to farmers.
3) Have an idea about the possible different facilities and support which can be offered by PPB to
    reach the objectives wanted.
 
13. Ms Hajer Ben Ghanem
Research Assistant (Barley Breeder)
INRAT
Kef
TUNISIA
Tel.: 00216 78238 010
Fax: 00216 78238 010
E-mail: Hajeur-Bg@yahoo.com

Current responsibilities:
1) Improvement of barley in semi-arid region in accordance to farmers needs
2) Conventional Breeding Program.

Expectations:
1) Familiarize with the participatory approach
2) Possible implementation of this technique in Tunisia
3) Possibility of cooperation with ICARDA
 
14. Mr Ahmed Abd El Kader El Kheshin
Assistant Researcher
Agricultural Research Center
Field Crops Research Institute,
Maize Research Section,
9th, Gamma St., Cairo
EGYPT
Tel.: +2023304495
Mob.: +20101783512
Fax: +2025731580
E-mail: ahmedelk@hotmail.com
           ahmedelk2002@yahoo.com

Background information:
B.Sc. 1999 - Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University
Master of Science 2002, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University in "Breeding study for resistance to turcicum leaf blight in maize (zea mays L.)

Current responsibilities:
I am enrolled in Ph.D Program at Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University in Breeding for resistance to corn borer in maize since 2003.

Expectations:
1) How can PPB produce good benefits for farmers in marginal environments?
2) How can PPB change the farmers from the recipients of researches to participants in it?
3) How can PPB help in conservation the biodiversity?
4) In PPB strategy, how can farmers share the breeders in the benefits?
15. Dr Ehab Helmy El-Harty
Researcher (Plant Breeder)
Field Crops Research
Food Legumes Program
Sids Agricultural Research Station
Beni-Sufe
EGYPT
Tel.: +2082/4451521
Fax: +2082/4451528
E-mail: EHABELHARTY@YAHOO.COM
           ELHARTY2005@HOTMAIL.COM

Background information:
BSc. Genetics, Al-Azhar Univ. 1991, M.Sc. Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Cairo Univ. 1999, Ph.D. Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Zagazig Univ. 2005

Expectations:
After this period of discussion about PPB, I believe that the PPB procedure could be useful for food legumes crops improvement. Also, the PPB becomes very important in the newly reclaimed lands. However I need some information about the following:
1) Statistical analysis methods which could be used for the evaluation of early generations.
2) Choice of selection strategy for biotic stresses using the PPB
3) Ability of using the PPB for the development of different kinds of cultivars (synthetic)
   composite, …)