PROJECT OVERVIEW
Southern African region is rich in crop wild relatives (CWR) with over 1,900 species related to crops that are cultivated for food, beverages, ornamental, forage/fodder, forestry, medicinal, environmental and other uses. The availability and use of these CWR species are fundamental to the food security and lives for 130 million poor people in the region. Yet these CWR are poorly conserved, are threatened and barely accessible to breeders and farmers for their use. This three-year project (April 2019 - March 2022) is a collaborative endeavour to tackle these issues and enhance the conservation of CWR, both in their wild habitats in southern Africa and representation in gene banks, so facilitating their use.
Project deliverables
- Establishment of regional CWR network of in situ conservation sites in southern African region
- Identification of priority CWR conservation taxa and hotspot sites and develop National Strategic Action Plans for in situ conservation of CWR in each partner country (Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia)
- Designed mechanisms to enhance the benefits to farmers from conserving CWR
- Access and Benefit Sharing mechanisms for increased access to CWR germplasm (Nagoya Protocol and International Treaty on PGRFA)
- Build gendered capacity in southern Africa on in situ conservation and use of CWR.