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5. When a new variety appears, it is disributed to farmers as before. The
previous steps are followed; it is then distributed to replace the old seeds.
The Agricultural Extension Department may play a role through organizing
several demonstrations to explain the characteristics of winter chickpea planting
and transfer the information obtained from the rebearch. The areas to be planted
with winter chickpeas cannot be estimated until the farmer is convinced of the
benefits he will receive irom this planting, since this is new to him.
Summary and Recommendations
In general, for improving chickpea cultivation in Syria we suggest the following:
1. Mechanize chickpea cultivation (use of drill and combine harvester).
2. Identify herbicides and method of their application for the control of weeds
of chickpea fields.
3. Make high-yielding cultivars available to the farmer.
4. Disseminate information relevant to winter chickpea, its characteri3tics and
agricultural methods, through extension workers.
5. Disseminate results of agricultural research work.