Fast-track Variety Testing and Release of Rust-resistant Wheat Varieties

In Ethiopia, ICARDA in partnership with CIMMYT and EIAR formulated and implemented two successive projects with focus on stem and yellow rust, which complimented and reinforced each other in order to avert the risks and losses associated with the cultivation of susceptible bread wheat cultivars. The paper presents the achievement made in fast-track variety testing and release of rust-resistant varieties under national wheat research program to ensure the availability of new high yielding resistant varieties for replacement of existing susceptible commercial varieties.