Protocol on in situ on-farm conservation of traditional crops

In 2013, the Department of Agriculture developed a protocol for in situ on-farm conservation of traditional varieties of crops, which focuses on traditional varieties, farmer varieties and landraces. The protocol was formulated based on the experience and lessons gained from a previous project on in situ on-farm conservation of local crops (rice, yam, taro and sweet potato) funded under the Benefit Sharing Fund of FAO-ITPGRFA, executed by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and implemented by the Institute of Crop Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños. The Protocol aims to provide guidance to stakeholders and institutionalize in situ on-farm conservation of traditional crops. The Protocol covers two main areas, technical (e.g. capacity development) and institutional (e.g. mainstreaming conservation and sustainability of traditional crop varieties in development plans at different administrative levels), and was agreed upon and adopted during a national stakeholders’ consultation attended by relevant national government agencies, including local government units, NGOs, civil society organizations and private companies. As a result, local government units expressed their willingness to conserve traditional varieties, continue the practice and provision of funds.