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The advantages of winter sowing must be weighed against the problems arising
with its introduction, such as the need for weed control and the possibility of
losses from ascochyta blight. Agronomic practices such as row spacing and plant
population might have to-be readjusted to suit the new practice. Finally, an
overall economic analysis and comparison of winter and spring sowing will be
necessary.
Rn..R'rch and Extension
The Seed Production Centre of the Department of Agriculture is well organized
and efficient. New cultivars with desirable characteristics, e.g. high yield and
resistance to Ascochyta, can be multiplied and sold to the farmers without delay.
In Cyprus there are good links between research and extension services. Research
on practical farming isssues is carried out at the Agricultural Rese, rch
Institute (ARI). This work includes :'sting of new cultivars, methods of conducting
farming operations, ph.nt protection and studies on agricultural economics.
With regard to chickpea research work, the following findings were obtained
in recent trials: (a) tall varieties exist that can be easily combine-harvested; (b) it
is impossible to harvest the short variety now grown, by a combine harvester,
without modifying the pick-up; (c) harvesting in stages, i.e. mowing and baling
when the crop is approaching maturity and then threshing with a stationary
thresher can be successfully practised; (d) sowing at about 10 cm depth in the
spring gave better results than sowing at 0-5 cm depth; (e) sowing can be done
with a conventional drill, but higher rates must be used to allow for seed
breakages.
The work carried out at the ARI has direct application in practice. The
extension service personnel are involved in the identification of the problems.
The results of ressearch are both communicated and demonstrated to the extension
service personnel who then inform and help farmers with the application of
new findings.
References
ANONYMOUS. 1981. Time Stries Data on Vegetable and Field Crops of Cyprus 1960-1980.
Agricultural Economics Section of the Cyprus Agricultural Research Institute.
AR!. Annual Reports. Agricultural Research Institute, Cyprus.
GEORGIOU, G.P. and PAPADOPOULOS, C. 1957. A second list of Cyprus fungi. Technical
Bulletin "18-5.