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

2.17. ZAMBIA presentation
Zambia National Plant Genetic Resources Centre
Mr Frank Sichone
Supporting On-Farm management & improvement of PGRFA (question 2.1)
There are some activities relating to the promotion of on-farm conservation that have been initiated
in the programme. These activities involve farmer participation to managing their genetic resources
with a pilot site in Rufunsa, Chongwe district.
There are approximately 100 plant species that are cultivated in Zambia (MENR, 1998). Out of
these, about 15% are indigenous and include Sorghum sp., Eleusine sp., Pennisetum sp., Vigna
unguiculata, Vigna subterranea, Sesamum indicum and a number of vegetable species. About 75%
of these are exotic out of which 7% are naturalised and include Zea mays, Phaseolus sp., Arachis
hypogaea, Manihot esculentum, Ipomoea batatas, Mangifera indica and Persea americana. These
crops have undergone adaptation that has led to the generation of unique and valuable crop genetic
diversity that has played and continues to play an important role in agricultural productivity and
contributing to household food security. Wild relatives of crops found in Zambia include those of
Oryza sp, Vigna sp, Sorghum sp, a range of cucurbits, Hibiscus cannabinus and Sesamum sp. A
wide range of indigenous vegetable species and fruit trees that may be semi-cultivated or gathered
from the wild are also found throughout the country.
Germplasm distribution
More than 1226 accessions of germplasm have been distributed to stakeholders (farmers, breeders,
institutions of learning, etc) from 1991 to 2005. Users have requested conserved genetic resources
for the purposes of crop improvement, research and training. The following categories of users have
accessed the genetic resources conserved in the genebank, including breeders, researchers, teachers
and students at national, regional and global levels. The other category of users is the farmers who
freely access germplasm materials especially in the restoration of the traditional farming systems.
On-farm germplasm conservation
The in-situ method as a strategy for conservation of plant genetic resources (PGR) has not been
used by NPGRC. This method is most suitable for conservation of wild plant species including wild
relatives of cultivated crops. However, in-situ conservation may also cover maintenance of farmers’
varieties within the farming systems in which they have evolved. This has been referred to as onfarm
germplasm conservation or management. NPGRC has initiated work in the area of on-farm
conservation aimed at gathering data and information that would assist to develop methodologies
for on-farm conservation.
The main focus of this activity was to create awareness at the farm level on the importance of the
conservation of local crop genetic diversity as well as make the farmers and the farming
communities appreciate the value of their own local crop germplasm in relation to introduced
germplasm including improved crop varieties. The other long-term objective was to broaden the
genetic diversity of important food local crops.
This activity is aimed at gathering preliminary information on the interactions between the different
players on the farmer’s field and gain some experience for further work regarding on-farm
conservation in general and participatory characterisation in particular. More specifically the
activity aimed to achieve the following:
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Characterise the local traditional sorghum varieties.
Evaluate the agronomic attributes of traditional local sorghum varieties in comparison to other
varieties.