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15.
Assistance was provided to Thailand in coastal land development which resulted in the design of a pilot project for peatland reclamation. Assistance to China and Indonesia resulted in the introduction of watershed management and related soil conservation measures, while Pakistan received assistance in the development of a soil conservation research programme. Technical assistance to the UNDP-funded project on improved utilization of land and biological resources of China's northwest Loess Plateau was completed and resulted in the adoption of comprehensive erosion control and land management measures.
16.
Assistance continued to the International Research and Training Centre on Erosion and Sedimentation, in China. On-going research on effects of erosion on soil productivity is being supported in Indonesia and Thailand. The proceedings of a symposium on Environmental Problems Affecting Agriculture in the Region were published. They outlined the present status and future strategies to combat deforestation, land degradation, irrigation- induced soil salinity, erosion of genetic resources, and pesticide misuse.
Farming Systems Development
17.
Four national training programmes on farm survey planning and data analysis were conducted in China, Indonesia, Philippines, and Viet Nam. Farming system/farm management workshops for agricultural extension workers were organized in Bangkok for Chinese technicians, and in Yogyakarta for government and university officers. A Netherlands-funded project providing training support to strengthen China's extension centres is ongoing, and TCP projects to promote the farming system approach and farm management surveys are operational in China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, and the Philippines.
18.
Regional FARMAP training continued at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) where it has been incorporated into AIT's regular programme for Computer Application Development (PCAD). Case studies documenting successful experiences of using farming systems households were published in "Farm Management Notes" and a regional expert consultation on Farm Programming for Rural Households was organized by RAPA in 1989. FAO also published "Guidelines for Farming Systems Development Programmes".
19.
Case studies were conducted in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand to identify major farming systems by agro-ecological zones.
II.
CROPS
Genetic Resources
20.
Range of maize production was extended in Pakistan and Nepal through introduction of cold-tolerant varieties from the Republic of Korea under a TCDC project. Promising lines of safflower were identified from germplasm introduced from Spain into China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Thailand, and from India into Thailand. Germplasm of cotton from India, Sudan and the United States was made available to Bangladesh, China and Viet Nam, which is being field tested. Exchange of information on promising
lines of coarse grains and legumes was facilitated among Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.