Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Grants ICARDA $2.56 Million - Sarmad

The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed a grant agreement today, Wednesday, with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), valued at $2.56 million, to help finance a project aimed at developing and disseminating genetically improved crop varieties using smart solutions.

In a statement, the Fund said the grant agreement aligns with its efforts to support food security and promote sustainable agricultural development in Arab countries.

It added that the project aims to modernize and accelerate crop breeding programs by developing improved varieties capable of adapting to climate change and environmental conditions in dry and semi-arid regions of Arab countries, thereby contributing to enhanced food security, increased agricultural production efficiency, and addressing challenges related to climate change.

The Fund clarified that the project, which will be implemented over approximately 24 months, is based on an integrated approach combining the development of improved crop varieties, capacity building in technical and research fields, and the implementation of applied trials. This approach aims to accelerate the development and dissemination of improved crop varieties and enhance their adoption in target environments.

It noted that this grant extends the longstanding cooperation between the Fund and ICARDA since 2011, and that the total value of grants provided by the Fund to the Center has now reached $6.16 million, supporting efforts to strengthen food security and develop agricultural production in Arab countries.

The agreement was signed by Acting Director General of the Fund, Rashid Al-Bader, and ICARDA Director General, Dr. Nizar Haddad.