1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

ICARDA Institutional Knowledge Management Initiative

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) - Lebanon

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Jawahir, an improved durum wheat variety, serves as a resilient solution to the challenges of climate change in dry areas by offering disease and pest resistance, drought tolerance, higher grain and straw yields, as well as cost savings, thereby enhancing farmers' income and sustainability.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Climate change exacerbates the difficulties faced by farmers in dry areas by amplifying drought conditions. Limited water availability and higher temperatures disrupt crop growth and heighten the vulnerability of plants to pests such as the Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor). This leads to increased risks of crop damage, reduced yields, and economic losses in these regions.
Genetically improving crop varieties can help overcome these issues by making crops more resilient. An international collaboration led by the International Center of Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA-Morocco) has delivered six ground-breaking new durum wheat and barley varieties tolerant to increasingly severe droughts ravaging the region. Improvement is performed through Molecular Breeding which consists of markers to select specific traits and conventional phenotypic.
This case study revolves around an improved durum wheat variety named Jawahir. The main advantages of this variety are:
•Cost savings: Jawahir's suitability for zero tillage helps to eliminate the need for ploughing, reducing the associated costs for farmers.
•Disease and pest resistance: Jawahir's resistance to diseases and pests, including the Hessian fly, minimizes the expenses related to fungicides and insecticides.
•Higher grain yield: Compared to competing varieties (like Karim and Kanakis), Jawahir can yield an additional 700 kilograms per hectare under dry conditions, increasing farmers' productivity and potential income.
•Enhanced straw yield: Jawahir also produces an additional 500 kilograms of straw compared to competing varieties during drought, providing additional feed for fodder and for mulching under conservation agriculture systems.

Jawahir was introduced in the Settat-Safi region (Morocco) where annual precipitation is between 300 and 400 mm. While cultivation practices may vary, it is recommended to include Jawahir in a conservation agriculture (zero/ minimum till) system. Crop management includes machine seeding in November at a rate of 200 kg per hectare corresponding to approximately 300 plants per square meter. Fertilizer application consists of manually applying 200 kg of NPK (15:20:15) in November and 100 kg of urea in February. Herbicide application of 1 litre is suggested in February. Harvesting takes place in June using a combine harvester, and during July and August, the stubble is left for grazing. Following this crop management system, the costs per hectare are estimated to be around 2610 Moroccan Dirham (about 261 USD) per hectare.
The direct gross income from Jawahir, based on grain yield, is approximately 1,120 USD per hectare, based on a yield of 3,200 kilograms and a selling price of 35 USD per 100 kilograms. The additional gross income from straw yield is around 1,100 USD per hectare, assuming a yield of 5,500 kilograms and a price of 20 USD per 100 kilograms. This results in a total direct gross income of 2,220 USD per hectare.
However, if processed into couscous for human consumption, Jawahir's higher semolina yield (i.e. more kilograms of semolina per kilogram of grain milled) and better semolina color means an extra gross income of 4,560 USD per hectare. Additionally, when the straw is used for animal fattening, the extra output per hectare is around 900 kilograms of lamb meat (based on a conversion rate of 6 kilograms of feed to 1 kilogram of meat). Then the total extra gross income from production of meat is 5,500 USD per hectare.
Including both direct and indirect income, Jawahir provides a total gross income of approximately 12,280 USD per hectare from grain, straw, couscous, and animal fattening.

In conclusion, enhanced crop varieties like Jawahir offer increased resilience to the challenges posed by climate change in dry areas. These varieties provide benefits such as cost savings, disease and pest resistance, and improved yields. By adopting these varieties, farmers can enhance their agricultural productivity and mitigate the impacts of climate change on their livelihoods.

Acknowledgement: ICARDA’s work on breeding is supported by the Accelerated Breeding Initiative of the CGIAR and The Crop Trust. The variety release was through INRA Morocco.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2022

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research
• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved plant varieties/ animal breeds

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation
• adapt to land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Morrocan Dirham

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

10.0

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Seeding	November
2.	First fertilizer application (NPK)	November
3.	Second fertilizer application (Urea)	Ferbruary
4.	Herbicide application	February
5.	Harvesting	June
6.	Stubble left for grazing	June - August

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Seeding	Person-day	2.0	80.0	160.0
Labour	Fertilizer application	Person-day	4.0	80.0	320.0
Labour	Herbicide application	Person-day	2.0	80.0	160.0
Labour	Harvesting	Person-day	2.0	80.0	160.0
Equipment	Seeder	Machine-hour	2.0	100.0	200.0
Equipment	Combine	Machine-hour	2.0	200.0	400.0
Plant material	Jawahir seed	100 Kilogram	2.0	130.0	260.0
Fertilizers and biocides	First fertilizer: NPK (15:20:15)	100 Kilogram	2.0	250.0	500.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Second fertilizer: Urea	100 Kilogram	1.0	200.0	200.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Herbicide	Liter	1.0	250.0	250.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					2610.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					261.0

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

Data was retrieved from field trials and expert (also farmer) estimation.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

Not applicable/relevant

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	very well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	well
drought	well

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
insect/ worm infestation	well

Comments:

Very well again Hesian fly

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

4 farms have adopted for seed production

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

Four farms do not receive subsidies, but do receive technical support.

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Drought tolerant
Resistant to pests and diseases
Higher yield than other varieties

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Although it is recommended to cultivate within Conservation Agriculture, it can be easily incorporated in conventional systems

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Primary risk is the potential failure of seed production in the early stages.	To support the production process to the fullest extent possible.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Primary risk is the potential failure of seed production in the early stages, which could prevent Jawahir from reaching its full market potential.	To support the production process to the fullest extent possible.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Filippo Bassi, Hajar Brahmi, Abdelhadi Sabraoui, Ahmed Amri, Nasserlehaq Nsarellah, Nachit Miloudi, Ayed Al-Abdallat, Ming-Shun Chen, Abderrahim Lazraq, Mustapha El Bouhssini. (8/2/2019). Genetic identification of loci for Hessian fly resistance in durum wheat. Molecular Breeding, 39 (2).

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/10902

Title/ description:

Noureddine El Haddad, Miguel Sanchez-Garcia, Andrea Visioni, Jilal Abderrazek, Rola El Amil, Amadou T. Sall, Wasihun Lagesse, Shiv Kumar Agrawal, Filippo Bassi. (11/11/2021). Crop Wild Relatives Crosses: Multi-Location Assessment in Durum Wheat, Barley, and Lentil. Agronomy, 11 (11).

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/66379

Title/ description:

Noureddine El Haddad, Hafssa Kabbaj, Meryem Zaim, Khaoula El Hassouni, Amadou T. Sall, Mounira Azouz, Rodomiro Ortiz, Michael Baum, Ahmed Amri, Fernanda M. Gamba, Filippo Bassi. (1/2/2021). Crop wild relatives use in durum wheat breeding: drift or thrift. Crop Science, 61 (1), pp. 37-54.

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/11254