Improving wheat production in the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region

Publication date: 31/07/2016
Extent: 22 pages

Contributions by: W. Tadesse, A. Amri, M. Sanchez-Garcia, M. El-Bouhssini, M. Karrou, S. Patil, F. Bassi and M. Baum, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Morocco; and T. Oweis, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Jordan

Chapter synopsis: Wheat is the principal staple food in most countries of the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, accounting for 45% of the region’s per capita calorie intake with an average wheat consumption of about 200 kg/capita/year. Wheat production in the region has increased both horizontally and vertically from 1961 through 2013. However, most of the countries in the region are still unable to meet their national demand. This chapter reviews the major challenges of wheat production, the available wheat production technologies and the ways forward to improve wheat production while conserving the natural base in the region.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2016.0004.39