Plant Genetic Resources in Africa: Opportunities, Challenges and Priorities
| dc.contributor.author | Kiambi, D K | |
| dc.contributor.author | Attere, F. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mgonja, M. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-03-11T06:38:12Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-11-14T07:40:34Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-03-11T06:38:12Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2010-07-19 | |
| dc.description | 5TH AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE WEEK AND FARA GENERAL ASSEMBLY | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Africa’s strength lies in its natural resources, including the genetic resources that are the foundation for growth and stability in agriculture, forestry, adaptation to climate change and environmental conservation in its entirety. Africa’s economies, cultures and political systems are primarily dependent, albeit precariously, on how well plant genetic resources are conserved and utilized. In the light of this, the continent’s economic transformation and its ability to integrate itself into the evolving global system, to a large measure, depends on agricultural transformation that is based on plant genetic resources (PGR). Plant genetic resources are a key component of global biodiversity and it lends itself as a resource to be tapped as human needs and economic demands change. Humanity derives most of its food, many medicines and industrial products from both wild and domesticated components of plant genetic resources. However, the reduction of this biodiversity has been an inevitable consequence of human development as species-rich forests and wetlands are converted to relatively species-poor farmlands and plantations. It is now believed that 17 million hectares of tropical forests are being cleared annually and scientists estimate that at this rate roughly 5-10% of the tropical forest species may face extinction within the next 30 years (IUCN, 1990). Overall, scientists believe that about 60,000 of the world’s 240,000 plant species that have been described could be lost within the same time unless deforestation is slowed. This may lead to the loss of vital genetic resources especially wild relatives of crops and other economically important species. The many values of plant genetic resources and its importance for agricultural and economic development are sufficient incentives for development of articulate conservation measures. Their conservation entails a shift from protection to efforts that seek to meet people’s needs and economic development from biological resources while ensuring the long-term sustainability of this important biotic wealth and heritage. This involves not only the conservation of natural habitats and wild plants but also safeguarding the genetic diversity of economically important plants. Plant genetic resources are the biological basis of the world’s food security and directly or indirectly support the livelihoods of every person on earth. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGR) defines plant genetic resources as “any genetic material of plant origin that is of actual or potential economic value”. They consist of the diversity of genetic material contained in traditional varieties and modern cultivars grown by farmers as well as crop wild relatives and other wild plant species that can be used as food, medicines, essential oils, gums and resins, fodder and forages, fibres, shelter, wood, timber and fuel wood among others. The conservation and utilization of this vital component of biodiversity is therefore imperative for people’s sustainable livelihood, agricultural productivity and economic development. Today, access to food around the world is not secure Eight hundred million people are undernourished and 200 million children under five years of age are underweight. In the next 30 years, the world’s population is expected to grow by over 2,500 million to reach 8,500 million. Reliable and sustainable improvements in yield will be needed to meet the demands of this growing population. The conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources are the keys to improving agricultural productivity and sustainability, thereby contributing to national development, food security and the alleviation of poverty. As the worldwide loss of plant genetic resources accelerates, awareness has grown of the potentially disastrous consequences of this trend for the earth’s ecological functions and the fulfillment of basic human development needs. This trend is especially important in sub-Saharan Africa where people depend on plant genetic resources to a far greater extent than most other parts of the world. However, ways must be found to raise production and incomes while at the same time developing better biological resources management options. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repo.pacuniversity.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1703.2 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | AGRA | en_US |
| dc.subject | Plant Genetics | en_US |
| dc.subject | Plant Genetic resources | en_US |
| dc.subject | Africa | en_US |
| dc.subject | Economic opportunities | en_US |
| dc.subject | Food security | en_US |
| dc.title | Plant Genetic Resources in Africa: Opportunities, Challenges and Priorities | en_US |
| dc.type | Article | en_US |
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