FAO/IAEA Technical Co-operation Projects

The Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Subprogramme of the Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture transfers nuclear and related technologies to Member States by providing technical and scientific support through Technical Co-operation Projects (TCPs) that are managed by IAEA's Department of Technical Co-operation and FAO's Technical Co-operation Department.

The transfer of these technologies assists Member States in improving the management practices of soil, water and nutrients to improve soil quality, soil fertility, land productivity and ultimately food security and sustainable agriculture while ensure the conservation of natural (soil and water) resources.

The following areas in soil-water-nutrient management are requested for technical support by the Member States: (i) soil management and conservation for sustainable agriculture and environment. This includes combating desertification, soil erosion assessment, soil fertility enhancement, fertiliser evaluation and soil conservation measures; (ii) technologies and practices for sustainable use and management of water in agriculture. This includes optimising irrigation systems and enhancing crop water productivity and water use efficiency under rainfed and irrigated agro-ecosystems); and (iii) integrated soil-plant management packages to increase crop productivity in harsh environments. This includes an integrated skills and expertise between soil-plant scientists and plant breeding scientists to optimise productivity and quality of crop varieties developed for growing under harsh conditions brought about by climate change and variability.

Technical Co-Operation Projects are the mechanism to provide policy advice and technology support to Member States. This is achieved through the provision of training, expert services and equipment. These projects assist in developing the necessary human capacity and physical infrastructure, and in improving the operational processes and regulatory frameworks to establish sustainable technology packages in recipient countries.

Application forms for the formulation of IAEA and FAO projects can be respectively obtained at http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/default.asp and http://www.fao.org/tc/tcp/index_en.asp.

Ongoing Technical Co-operation Projects which are currently being supported by the Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Subprogramme are listed below.

Active TC Projects in Soil and Water Management & Crop Nutrition
Country Project No. 1st
Year		 Project Title Technical Officer
Afghanistan AFG5003 2007 Sustainable increase in crop production in Afghanistan Nguyen, Minh-Long and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Algeria ALG5021 2005 Optimising irrigation systems and surface water management Heng, Lee Kheng
Algeria ALG5022 2007 Nuclear techniques for sustainable use of saline groundwater and wastelands for plant production Heng, Lee Kheng
Angola ANG5005 2007 Effect of biofertilizer and inorganic fertilizer uses on the growth and yield of maize and bean in Ferralitic soils of Huambo Hardarson, Gudni
Benin BEN5005 2009 Improving Maize and Yam-Based Cropping Systems and Soil Fertility Adu-Gyamfi, Joseph
Bangladesh BGD5026 2007 Increasing agricultural production in the costal area through improved crop, water and soil management Adu-Gyamfi, Joseph and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Burkina Faso BKF5007 2007 Improving Voandzou and Sesame Based Cropping Systems Through the Use of Integrated Isotopic and Nuclear Techniques Sakadevan, Karuppan and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Chile CHI5048 2005 Integrated Watershed Management for the Sustainability of Agricultural Lands Mabit, Lionel and Food and Environment
Cameroon CMR5016 2007 Development of N and P fertilizer management for Sustainable Intensification of agricultural production in Cameroon Heng, Lee Kheng
Ecuador ECU5026 2009 Improving Productivity of the African Palm through Better Fertilization and Water Management Practices Dercon, Gerd
El Salvador ELS8009 2007 Study of sedimentation in the reservoirs of four CEL hydroelectric power stations Dercon, Gerd and Isotope Hydrology
Eritrea ERI5004 2007 Improving crop productivity and combating desertification Adu-Gyamfi, Joseph and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Haiti HAI5003 2005 Enhancing crop productivity through the application of isotope nuclear techniques Sakadevan, Karuppan and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Indonesia INS5035 2007 Application of Nuclear Techniques for Screening and Improving Cash Crop Plants in Coastal Saline Lands Dercon, Gerd and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Indonesia INS5037 2009 Applying Nuclear Techniques for Screening and Improving Cash Crop Plants in Coastal Saline Lands Sakadevan, Karuppan and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Irak IRQ5017 2007 Optimization of Land Productivity through the Application of Nuclear Techniques and Combined Technologies Nguyen, Minh-Long and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Ivory Coast IVC5031 2009 Improving Plantain and Cassava Yields through the Use of Legume Cover Crops Hardarson, Gudni and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Kenya KEN5030 2009 Assessing Nutrient and Moisture Use in Major Cropping Systems Heng, Lee Kheng
Madagascar MAG5014 2007 Use of environmental radioisotopes for the assessment of soil erosion and sedimentation in the province of Antananarivo, Madagascar Mabit, Lionel
Madagascar MAG5015 2007 Optimization of phosphate fertilization of Ferralsols (classically deeply weathered red or yellow soils found in humid east Madagascar) in the highlands of Madagascar Nguyen, Minh-Long Dercon, Gerd
Mauritius MAR5017 2007 Investigating the N dynamics in the crop-soil system of a multiple cropping system to optimize fertilizer use Nguyen, Minh-Long
Mali MLI5021 2007 Sustainable intensification and diversification of sorghum production systems in the southern zone of Mali, Phase I Heng, Lee Kheng
Mali MLI5022 2007 Assessment of soil erosion and sedimentation in the Niger watershed with the use of radioisotopes, Phase I Mabit, Lionel
Mongolia MON5014 2005 Application of Isotopes in Soil and Plant Studies Hardarson, Gudni
Mongolia MON5015 2007 Implementation of the fallout radionuclide technique for erosion measurement Dercon, Gerd
Mozambique MOZ5003 2009 Sustaining the Management of Soil Fertility Dercon, Gerd
Namibia NAM5009 2009 Using Mutation Breeding and Integrated Soil Plant Management Techniques to Develop Sustainable, High Yielding and Drought Resistant Crops Heng, Lee Kheng and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Niger NER5012 2009 Improvement of the productivity and sustainability of cowpea with finger millet Dercon, Gerd and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Nicaragua NIC8012 2009 Applying Nuclear Techniques for the Development of a Management Plan for the Watershed of the Great Lakes Dercon, Gerd
Philippines PHI5031 2005 Assessment of Erosion and Sedimentation Processes for Effective Formulation of Soil Conservation and Water Quality Protection Measures Dercon, Gerd
Qatar QAT5002 2007 Developing Biosaline Agriculture in Salt-affected Areas in Qatar Nguyen, Minh-Long and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Regional Africa RAF5058 2009 Enhancing the Productivity of High Value Crops and Income Generation with Small-Scale Irrigation Technologies Heng, Lee Kheng
Regional Asia RAS5043 2005 Sustainable land use and management strategies for controlling soil erosion and improving soil and water quality Dercon, Gerd
Regional Latin America RLA5051 2009 Using Environmental Radionuclides as Indicators of Land Degradation in Latin American, Caribbean and Antarctic Ecosystems (ARCAL C) Dercon, Gerd and Food and Environment
Regional Latin America RLA5053 2009 Implementing a Diagnosis System to Assess the Impact of Pesticide Contamination in Food and Environmental Compartments at a Catchment Scale in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Region (ARCAL CII) Dercon, Gerd and Food and Environment
Saudi Arabia SAU5003 2007 Improving Fertilization under Saline Conditions for Sustainable Crop Production Nguyen, Minh-Long and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Senegal SEN5030 2007 Integrated approach to develop sustainable agriculture in Senegal Dercon, Gerd  and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Seychelles SEY5004 2009 Developing Improved Nutrient Management Practices Using Nuclear and Related Techniques for Enhancing Sustainable Agricultural Productivity Heng, Lee Kheng
Sierra Leone SIL5008 2005 Contribution of nitrogen fixing legumes to soil fertility in rice-based cropping systems Hardarson, Gudni
Sierra Leone SIL5012 2009 Managing Irrigation Water for a Dry Season Sorghum/Legume Intercropping System for Income Generation and Soil Health Adu-Gyamfi, Joseph
Sri Lanka SRL5038 2005 Application of isotopes for soil erosion studies Dercon, Gerd
Sri Lanka SRL5040 2007 Study on Nitrogen Balance in Coconut-Based Agroforestry Systems Using Nitrogen-15 Isotope Dilution Technique Hardarson, Gudni
Sudan SUD5030 2007 Increasing productivity of selected crops using nuclear related techniques Adu-Gyamfi, Joseph  and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Tajikistan TAD5002 2005 Assessment of Soil Erosion and Sedimentation for Land Use Dercon, Gerd
Tajikistan TAD5005 2009 Developing Soil Conservation Strategies for Improved Soil Health Dercon, Gerd
Turkey TUR5024 2005 Improving Crop Productivity through Nuclear and Related Techniques Nguyen, Minh-Long
Uganda UGA5029 2007 Developing soil conservation strategies Dercon, Gerd
Zaire ZAI5017 2007 Use of isotope techniques in relation with the nitrogen dynamics and the quality of organic plant material in agricultural soil management Nguyen, Minh-Long and Dercon, Gerd
Zambia ZAM5026 2009 Improving Crop Varieties Through Use of Nuclear Techniques Heng, Lee Kheng and Plant Breeding and Genetics
Zimbabwe ZIM5014 2009 Developing and Promoting Strategies for Improved Crop Production Heng, Lee Kheng