(NISM) on the Implementation of the Global Plan of Action - World ...

The number of scientists/technicians was significantly increased in related areas. Each year, the
government staff are sent to the other countries in term of capacity building in PGRFA conservation
and sustainable utilization. Case in point, CARDI has a strong collaboration in both regional and
international level to strengthen the capacity of staffs to improve the skills of gene bank
management, germplasm collection, characterization and evaluation, have been improved during
the last 10 years.
There are no courses specifically on PGR conservation and utilization in universities and colleges in
Cambodia. Nevertheless, due to inadequate budget and training facilities, both training/education
quality and quantity remain insufficient to meet the actual requirements for well educated and
trained staff in PGRFA. To partly overcome this problem, staffs have been encouraged to take
opportunities to study abroad. However, as already mentioned, there is an important shortage of
well-trained staff for implementing successfully all the activities necessary for the country's
PGRFA conservation and sustainable use.
Activity Area 20: Promoting Public Awareness of the Value of Plant Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture Conservation and Use
Increasing public awareness is conservation imperative, particularly in countries with rapid and
large-scale genetic erosion. The public in general is not always aware of the effects of PGRFA on
the economy and the environment, and on the urgent and critical need for their conservation. This
can be alleviated by popular audio-visual presentation, as well as education. Communications and
consultations are the dual means of increasing public awareness and appreciation of the needs and
benefits of conservation of PGRFA.
Under the project “Capacity Building and Enhanced Regional Collaboration for the
Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resource in Asia” (GCP/RAS/240/JPN),
workshops and training course were organized and significantly contributed to promoting public
awareness in the country for PGRFA conservation and sustainable use. Also, 3 000 copies of
brochures have been published for distribution and dissemination to all stakeholders.
Nevertheless, limited public awareness remains a great constraint to most PGRFA activities. The
main cause for this is the limited effort and concern spent for community trainings and awareness
rising. Very limited number of forums have been organized on the related issues, and no trainings at
all offered to farmers and communities; up to now most of the awareness raising activities was
carried out under projects funded by foreign donors, there is no sustainable and strong national
projects for this aspect. Also, very few information, education and communication (IEC) materials
were produced and introduced/distributed to the public. Moreover, the PGR issues have rarely been
mentioned on both the central and local governmental mass communication channels.
Inadequate study and use of indigenous knowledge for PGRFA conservation is another important
issue. This is not only problematic for public awareness rising, but in many cases also an obstacle
for implementation of many other activities, as already mentioned before.
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