The Food and Agriculture Organization, Regional Office for the Near East, in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation is organizing an expert consultation workshop on “forage production potential of Berseem (Egyptian clover) and its role in sustainable intensification in the Near East countries,” in Cairo, Egypt from 6-7 November 2012.

Egyptian clover or berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) is a vital component of the agricultural system of the Nile Valley and Delta. It helps, in crop rotations, to improve soil fertility, prevents wind /water erosion and increases the organic matter content of the soil, especially in newly reclaimed lands as well as improving soil structure and physical and chemical properties.

Due to the importance of Egyptian clover to the Egyptian agriculture and its special role in agriculture development in many countries throughout the world and mainly the countries of Near East Region, the workshop will provide a useful forum for the experts from several countries to share and exchange valuable experiences and knowledge to address the challenges and problems involved in the sustainable production of Egyptian clover in Egypt and other member countries. It will also provide an opportunity to review integrated crop-livestock farming systems; intercropping of Egyptian clover with horticultural crops; managing of scarce water, soil and biodiversity for enhancing productivity through sequential cultivation of Egyptian clover and wheat, barley, vegetables and fruit crops.