Improving the identification, handling and storage of “difficult” seeds ...

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being trained as genebank manager – scheme will allow them to stay in job with pay
rises, so will stay in job. Genebank trained staff can easily diversify and are in demand
and hence rapid staff turnover.
Ethiopia – technicians trained in Germany.
Botswana – policy makers need idea of what is expected of genebank, need to involve
people from outside region.
Seychelles – same people are doing different jobs. Small population and limited
resources, lack of specialisation.
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Database management
▪ Ethiopia – Highlighted their strong need and they already have service personnel for
databases, but not specifically in genebank data.
▪ South Africa – IT specialists, but do not have specialists in genebank data, techncians
already have training in doing this.
▪ SPGRC – already covered in database training. Gaps exist between SPGRC and
national institutions as data not matching; the documentation system is still under
construction. Need on-line updating of database, need to make sure database is updated
directly from genebanks.
▪ Need to train national institutions. Need to be able to analyse, summarise data and make
it useable.
▪ SADC – modules for database management training to be released soon.
▪ Sudan – technician trained in Zurich, more training needed, for documentation.
▪ Seychelles – not trained in data management, data is recorded on simple spread sheets.
Equipment technicians
▪ SPGRC – have been contracting outside companies to address equipment problems, not
sure if effective
▪ Botswana – No training for maintenance and repairing of Genebank equipment.
Equipment failure has been a chronic problem. Need specialised technicians to address
these problems
Gaps identified:
▪ Ethiopia - Burning problem regarding training of seed physiologists, specialists in storage
behaviour
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Short term courses for personnel needed for maintaining equipment
Short term training should be given to director general, section leaders, so they all understand
process undertaken and be able to carry out rationale decisions concerning plant genetic
resources management
Botswana- Networking with other institutions capacities will strengthen expertise, e.g.
characterisation in form of university student projects
Need to network with universities to address needs in taxonomy
Being able to identify at least family level will be useful, gives genebank staff at least an idea
how to approach taxonomy and how to access information.
Managers should be trained to collect sufficient data to aid taxonomist to identify help towards
final identification.
Need to develop strategy for fixing equipment, working permanently with companies from
where equipment was bought. Work with manufacturers, and be able to report problems
immediately, rather that wait for two years for SADC planning meeting. Problems are not
reported immediately within network, so other institutions are not aware of problems that may
occur. Need strategy for reporting problems
Sudan – Training for seed taxonomists needed
Have specialists in plant breeding but not enough seed physiologists