Germplasm collection in ‘gap areas’ of the West and Central African region

In 2013, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), together with national agricultural research organizations of the respective countries, initiated a project aiming to fill gaps in the ICRISAT genebank collections and enhancing utilization of germplasm for food and agriculture. Core components were collection missions targeting pearl millet, sorghum and groundnut. In addition to these crops, national partners collected also other crops that are not part of ICRISAT’s mandate crops, such as cowpea, okra, sesame, Bambara groundnut, maize, etc. Trainings were offered to participating staff on collection and conservation techniques; these trainings also addressed Farmers Rights and traditional knowledge. Key outcomes include the collection of 5,057 germplasm accessions; seed samples were distributed across African, USA and European countries, including to researchers, breeders, farmers organizations, agro-dealers, processors and students. Key lessons learned include the awareness of the need for communication with and consent from local communities; building trust with local partners: and getting the necessary agreement from local authorities.