the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

8 _Appendix IComments on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong>o. de Sousa Rosa, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Trigo, PassoFundo, Rio Grande do Sui, BrazilThe importance of <strong>the</strong> United NationsDevelopment Programme's project on<strong>the</strong> development of wheat production fumore tropical environments is fullyrecognized. In Brazil, technologiesdeveloped for <strong>the</strong> production of wheatunder tropical and subtropicalconditions have also been of value forstimulating <strong>the</strong> growth of soybeanproduction and have led toexperimentation with o<strong>the</strong>r crops inareas that were never before consideredappropriate for agriculture. Thus,valuable results can be expected from<strong>the</strong> project, not only in <strong>the</strong> developmentof wheat production. but also in itssecondary effects on <strong>the</strong> cultivation ofo<strong>the</strong>r crops that may be of equal or evengreater importance.UNDP's choice of CIMMYT to head <strong>the</strong>project was a good one. The resultsalready obtained by CIMMYT in <strong>the</strong>improvement of wheat production in <strong>the</strong>world are a proof of this, as are thosewhich can be expected in <strong>the</strong> future.Many countries which produce wheat intropical and subtropical environmentshave already invested great amounts in<strong>the</strong> development of technology. Theseexisting technologies can be ofimportance in <strong>the</strong> CIMMYT program andcan be rapidly adopted by o<strong>the</strong>rcountries with similar problems. It isimportant that researchers in thosecountries participate in <strong>the</strong> efforts thatUNDP and CIMMYT are exerting toincrease <strong>the</strong> production of tropicalwheat, not only as cooperators but withspecific responsibilities for portions of<strong>the</strong> total research program. This can beaccomplished through collaborativeresearch with institutions in <strong>the</strong> variouscountries. The participation of <strong>the</strong>senational institutions in research projectsof international scope could stimulate<strong>the</strong>m to a broader participation; it wouldalso be an important factor for insuring<strong>the</strong> continuity and growth of <strong>the</strong>programs in which <strong>the</strong>y have alreadyinvested.Possibly <strong>the</strong> defmition of <strong>the</strong> tropicalwheat area should be revised to permit<strong>the</strong> inclusiop of subtropical productionareas outside <strong>the</strong> limits of 23°N and23°8 latitudes, areas which, because ofecological characteristics. are as limitedor even more limited for <strong>the</strong> grOwing ofwheat than are many of <strong>the</strong> tropicalareas.Within <strong>the</strong> program for <strong>the</strong> developmentof tropical wheat, <strong>the</strong> difference betweentechnologies appropriate for rainfed andfor irrigated farming systems is verygreat. The compleXities of <strong>the</strong> minfedsystems are much greater and,<strong>the</strong>refore, <strong>the</strong> two areas might beconsidered separately, with differentcourses of action being followed for eachof <strong>the</strong>m.This symposium has been of great valuefor <strong>the</strong> future development of tropicalwheat. and <strong>the</strong> program has beenefficiently planned and carried out. Itsrepetition in three or four years willfur<strong>the</strong>r benefit <strong>the</strong> development of wheatfor <strong>the</strong> mor:e tropical environments.