Jordan Daily - Kuwait Fund for Development (KFAED) signed a grant agreement with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), valued at US$2.56 million, to contribute to financing a project for the development and dissemination of genetically improved crop varieties using smart solutions.
The agreement comes as part of the Fund’s efforts to support food security and promote sustainable agricultural development in Arab countries.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Kuwait Fund by its Acting Director-General, Mr. Rashed Al-Bader, and on behalf of ICARDA by its Director-General, Dr. Nizar Haddad.
The project aims to modernize and accelerate crop breeding programmes through the development of improved crop varieties capable of adapting to climate change and environmental conditions in arid and semi-arid regions of Arab countries. These efforts will contribute to enhancing food security, improving agricultural productivity, and addressing climate-related challenges.
The project, which will be implemented over approximately 24 months, adopts an integrated approach combining the development of improved crop lines, technical and research capacity building, and applied field trials. This approach aims to accelerate the development and dissemination of improved crop varieties and promote their adoption in targeted environments.
The grant builds on the longstanding cooperation between Kuwait Fund and ICARDA since 2011, bringing the total value of grants provided by the Fund to ICARDA to US$6.16 million. This continued partnership reflects their shared commitment to strengthening food security, advancing agricultural development, and enhancing the resilience of the agricultural sector to climate-related challenges in Arab countries
