BP Singh

230 RK. AroraObjectivesThe major mandate is to promote and strengthen plantgenetic resources activities in the region with emphasis on theirconservation and use. Emphasis is on the folowing activities:a) . Assist the national plant genetic resources programmesin the region in strengthening their PGR activitiesthro~g~ advice, small projects, etc., as per r~quest.b) 'Coordinate and support PGR activities on a regionallevel wherever desired by the countries and whenevermeaningful (South Asian PGR national coordinatorsmeeting~ workshops on crop networks, training coursese1c,r'-c) Create awareness on national and regional level andpromote the conservation and utilization of PGRd) Coordinate/undertake information synthesis anddocumentation of data on plant genetic resources heldby national programmes.e) Liaise with lARes and other regional, globalorganizations/FAD and the NGOs; andf) Disseminate 1?GR information/literature etc.Activities undertakenExplorationThe primary focus on exploration activity has been to :i) Facilitate joint explorations in the region and to provideguidelines/logistics. Crops/national programmesinvolved in this activity are : egg plant & okra­Bangladesh (NBPGR-BARI), Nepal (NBPGR-NARC),Sri Lanka (NBPGR-PGRC); Sesame-Bangladesh (NBPGR­BARI); Buckwheat-Bhutan (proposed).ii)iii)iv)Support within-country explorations on priority i.e.,okra, eggplant, maize, sesame undertaken by NBPGRAssess gaps in collecting, including wild relatives,genetic erosion, national priorities.Assist in preparing project-proposals, country-reportsto prioritize germplasm collecting activities.