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

WASNET REGIONAL VARIETY CATALOGUE OF FIELD CROPS VARIETIES

NIGERIA

One of the first and most important Network Information activities is to identify what has been done, where it has been done, and what is available. This is a pre-condition to widespread use of widely-adapted varieties, making country breeding programs more effective, initiating region-wide seed commerce, and saving national research funds while providing better genetic materials to farmers.

A variety developed in one country can be of major importance for a neighbouring country with similar ecological zones. However, at present regional exchange usually does not take place. National regulations require that varieties are evaluated in each individual country before they can be released to farmers. Such procedures hamper the fast release of varieties and availability of superior ones to farmers.

WASNET will initiate a regional variety evaluation system that allows commercialisation of varieties in different countries, once they have been evaluated. The regional variety evaluation system will also include varieties from abroad that have adaptability in countries of the region. Results of evaluation trials will be published and widely distributed in the region

WASNET will also compile and publish a Catalogue of Crop Varieties recommended and grown in the Region. The regional Variety Catalogue will be compiled along lines similar to OECD variety lists.

SUGGESTED APPROACHES:

Step 1:

Request from each country a complete list of field crop varieties currently recommended and/or in common use. Information provided should include (a) the variety name (please indicate if you are aware of the synonyms which are used in other countries for the same variety), (b) pedigree, (c) Breeder/maintainer, and (d) year of release. Where possible, information should include (a) area of adaptation, (b) few important agronomic characteristics of the variety, (c) relative importance of the variety (for example by stating the area which is cropped with the variety or ranking the varieties).

It is proposed to collect information on cereal and legume crops, as well as on root and tuber crops (cassava and yam).

Step 2:

Compile this information per country, as well as per crop species.

Step 3:

Prepare the information summarised in Steps 2 as a regional WASNET Information Publication (West Africa Catalogue of Crop Varieties).