National Drought Mitigation Center

News

Knutson Co-Hosts Drought Workshop in Turkey

August 4, 2010

Workshop participants, sponsors, and trainers

Dr. Cody Knutson of the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), School of Natural Resources, co-hosted a week-long training workshop on drought preparedness and management near Menemen, Turkey, from July 12-16, 2010. The workshop was held in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ Sub-Region Office for Central Asia, FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East, and Turkey’s International Agricultural Research and Training Center. The workshop provided training on drought monitoring, risk assessment, management, and planning to senior-level representatives from 12 countries in the Near East Region (i.e., Morocco, Egypt, Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey). It also included field trips to learn about the local culture and innovative water development projects in the region.

Learning about irrigation practices near Deliktas Village, Turkey
An FAO representative describing Turkish agricultural and irrigation practices to Dr. Knutson
A family harvesting okra near Deliktas Village
Common solar-powered hot water heating on the roofs of rural households
Growing olive trees near Deliktas Village with drip irrigation provided by a new reservoir managed by a local irrigation cooperative