Launching of a global effort in support of neglected and underutilized species   Word file

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has approved on May 2001 a Global Project to promote the use of neglected and underutilized species (NUS). The Project's goal is to contribute to increased incomes and strengthen the food security of small farmers and rural communities around the world through securing and better exploiting the full potential embodied in the genetic diversity of these species. This Project, which will be implemented by IPGRI, was developed in close cooperation with National Programmes from the Central & West Asia and North Africa Region -CWANA (Egypt, Turkey and Yemen), the Asia, Pacific and Oceania Region-APO (Bangladesh, India and Nepal) and the Latin America Region -LAM (Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru) through consultative meetings, including three Stakeholder workshops organized in January 2001 in El Arish (Egypt), La Paz (Bolivia) and Chennai (India) where project log frame and work plans were developed. The three-year Project will concentrate its activities in Egypt, Yemen, India, Nepal, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. Possible complementary funding for broadening the coverage of this effort so as to include also Turkey, Bangladesh and other Sub-Saharan Africa countries is being sought.

A major feature of this project is its participatory, bottom-up approach. Farmers and researchers will work together in collaborative networks to secure the genetic resource base of the target species, and improve the quality and availability of planting materials to all users. The Project will devote special attention to identifying options for strengthening marketing and income generation. Key players in the processing and marketing chains will be involved in the networks. Research activities will be action-oriented and aim to develop lessons that can be generalised to other species and regions. Public awareness will also be a key element of the Project, as will be protecting the rights of farmers and local communities. The species that will be covered include medicinal and aromatic plants such argel (Solenostemma arghel), caper (Capparis spp.), oregano (Origanum syriacum), mint (Mentha piperita), liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), aloe (Aloe spp.), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and henna (Lawsonia inermis) - all target species for Egypt and Yemen. Andean grains, s.a. quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), canihua (C. pallidicaule) and amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) have been selected by Equador, Peru and Bolivia. Nutritious minor cereals s.a. finger millet (Eleusine coracana), Italian millet (Setaria italica) and little millet (Panicum miliare) will represent the Indian and Nepalese component.

Other organizational and technical outputs of the Project will include:
* operational alliances among selected network partners to implement actions that overcome production and marketing constraints (e.g. seed supply systems, processing groups, distribution cooperatives);
* increased capacity of marketing associations and producer groups to use improved materials of neglected and underutilized crops and more stable demand;
* integrated conservation of selected crop genetic resources;
* seed and other planting materials for use by local communities and strengthened local seed production systems;
* improved crop materials with enhanced competitiveness for rural communities through participatory variety selection and participatory plant breeding;
* improved processing and marketing opportunities, leading to specific investment and income generation opportunities through greater demand for the selected crops and their products;

Global outputs expected within the time frame of the Project (three years) will include the following:
* a secure resource base for the selected crops for use in global development initiatives, including deployment in marginal areas in other regions;
* knowledge of effective procedures to integrate neglected and underutilized crops into development actions;
* publications, including technical guidelines, information on specific crops, their properties and nutritional value, and an overall synthesis;
* global experience linking plant genetic resources research with local institutions for managing crop resources.

By the end of December 2001 a National Implementation Meeting will be organized in each of the seven participating countries. The global coordinator of this major initiative is Dr. Stefano Padulosi, IPGRI's focal point for NUS, based at the CWANA Regional Office of Aleppo, Syria. He will be working in close collaboration with Mr. Luigi Guarino (IPGRI-Americas Regional Office, Cali, Colombia) and Dr. Bhag Mal (South Asia Office, New Delhi, India), who will be responsible for the coordination of their respective regional components. Dr. Padulosi will directly coordinate also the activities in Egypt and Yemen.   top