[BENIN][BURKINA FASO][GAMBIA][GHANA][COTE D'IVOIRE][MALI][NIGER][NIGERIA][SENEGAL][TOGO]

NATIONAL VARIETY RELEASE MECHANISMS IN THE WASNET REGION

COTE D'VOIRE

This is an important Network Information activity, as it is the basic mechanism by which improved varieties available to farmers. If this mechanism can be made uniform, it will greatly benefit West Africa’s farmers, as varieties from one country may then be moved to zones in other countries where they are well-adapted. Thus, farmers can benefit more and more quickly, and with less cost to their individual country. National research programs will benefit and make faster progress, by being able to benefit from work done in other countries, and to move their developments to other countries. This is a precursor of breeders rights, in which a country program can benefit more widely from its efforts.

The long-term objective of this activity is to harmonize and possibly simplify variety release procedures in member countries. The short-term objective is to collect information on the different variety release mechanisms that are operating in the West African sub-region.

WASNET will study the different variety release mechanism in the region and prepare a proposal aiming at harmonization of the procedures for the release of varieties.

SUGGESTED APPROACHES:

Step 1:

Collect all possible information from all participating (and other countries) in the region, concerning the variety release procedure/mechanism. Provide brief description of (attach copies of relevant documents):

• complete procedure;
• agencies involved;
• the committee(s) or other mechanism for releasing varieties;
• crops covered;
• relative lifespan of major varieties;
• system and requirements for release of a variety;
• who releases/recommends varieties;
• how varieties are discontinued after they become obsolete;
• etc

Step 2:

Compile this information per country, as well as per topic.

Step 3:

Summarize the situation in the region. Point out the differences and the similarities.

Step 4:

Prepare the information summarized in Steps 2 and 3 as a regional WASNET Information Publication.

Step 5:

With the assistance of the Secretariat, make the information available to all participating countries and others.

Step 6:

With the assistance of the Secretariat prepare a draft for a uniform variety release procedure.