Working in partnership to enhance the conservation and use of the genetic resources of ILVs in Ghana
Introduction
The plant genetic resources of ILVs are the sum total of all the hereditary material available for this group of plants containing useful characters of actual or potential value. They are the basic raw materials for the improvement of ILVs. The PGR of ILVs can be found in wild relatives, ILV landraces of pre-scientific agriculture, bred varieties which are no longer being used and advanced varieties in current. In Ghana, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (PGRRI), which is the National Genebank, has the mandate to collect, conserve and promote the utilization of plant genetic resources from Ghana and abroad. Since its inception in 1964, the genebank has collected and conserved over 14,000 accessions of both local and foreign plant species including legumes, cereals, vegetables (including leafy vegetables), roots and tubers, tree crops, spices, medicinal plants and their crop wild relative types. With regard to ILV,the genebank has in its collection, more than 500 accessions of ILVs.
Need to promote the Utilisation of Genetic Resources
Given the triple crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental degradation as well as changes in food consumption patterns, the genebank, which holds accessions of ILVs that are no longer commonly available but which embodies the culinary heritage bequeathed to us through the considered knowledge of our forefathers, has the responsibility to reintroduce the diversity of such ILVs for sustainable use for food and agriculture.
In line with this, the genebank, working with the Global Crop Diversity Trust formulated the ILV Germplasm User Group concept as an entry point to explore ways of making the diversity of key crop collections of the Ghana genebank available for use by farmers to build resilience to climate change and other stresses within their farming contexts.
Objectives
The objective is to enhance holistic discussions and decision making to enable the selection of ILV genotypes with user preferred characteristics for cultivation, processing, consumption and crop improvement to address constraints such as diseases, pests, drought and low soil nutrient status.
Methodology
The GUG uses a bottom-up approach to facilitate direct engagements between germplasm users and key stakeholders in the value chain of ILV.
The process for germplasm user engagement has involved participatory rural appraisals to identify ILV value chain actors for inclusion in user groups, facilitated discussions among value chain actors, feedback sessions, establishment and maintenance of ILV germplasm evaluation plots, participatory varietal selection of ILV germplasm with user preferred characteristics, multiplication and distribution of seeds of selected accessions to end users, as well as acquisition and conservation of germplasm not represented in the national seed collection.
Results Achieved So Far
In line with this, the CSIR-PGRRI, together with the CSIR-CRI and the CSIR-SARI, the project implementing partners in the Ashanti and Northern regions have since 2021 engaged farmers, marketers/ traders, researchers, extension officers, seed producers and Farmer Based Organisations (FBOs) within the ILV value chain to establish Amaranthus spp. (Aleefu/Aleefi), Hibiscus sabdariffa (Suule/Biti/Bra) and Corchorus (Ayoyo) spp. germplasm user groups in the Ashanti and Northern regions
Way Forward
Ultimately, this partnership approach is expected to enhance the availability of the seeds of these crops for direct use by farmers and the development of climate-resilient crop varieties for improved livelihoods and food and nutrition security at the household and community levels.
Today’s workshop provides a platform for all the actors in the implementation of the GUG to reflect on the journey so far, exchange ideas and strategise to upscale the achievements of the process using the lessons learned and the effective partnerships developed as a leverage. It is hoped that in the end, this process will contribute to sustainable food and nutrition security as well as rural livelihood upliftment.
Acknowledgement
The GUG, which is being implemented with funding support from the Federal Government of Germany (BMZ), through the German Development Bank (KfW)