Zimbabwe validates new strategy to conserve local seeds

Stakeholder validation meeting of the second draft of the Zimbabwe National Strategy and Action Plan on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Among other responsibilities, the National Gene Bank of Zimbabwe is responsible for germplasm collection, germplasm inventory and carrying out eco-geographical surveys of crops and wild relatives especially in areas where crop production is done. Currently it maintains 6 333 accessions of local seed varieties sourced from farmers. Photo: Theophilus Mudzindiko/PELUM Zimbabwe

Approximately 36 representatives from the Government of Zimbabwe, civil society organisations and farmers gathered at Manna Safari Lodge, Harare on 19 September 2019 to validate the second version of the National Strategy and Action Plan for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA). The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement facilitated the meeting in order to gather feedback and comments which will be used to develop the final version of the National Strategy and Action Plan.

Theophilus Mudzindiko (27), the Programmes Officer for PELUM Zimbabwe says the validation meeting is a critical milestone in the advancement of farmers’ rights which are enshrined in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. “Civil Society Organisations and farmer representatives are pleased that Government has taken a participatory approach to the development of the National Strategy and Action Plant on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This will create an enabling legal and institutional environment that promotes research and capacity development for conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in Zimbabwe,” says Theophilus.

The process of developing the National Strategy and Action Plan for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture began last September. The parent Ministry, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement first held an inception meeting. This was followed by multiple stakeholder engagements which led to the development of a first draft. Draft one of the Strategy was circulated to stakeholders for their comments and a second draft was developed. PELUM Zimbabwe has been actively participating in all processes.

Zimbabwe’s Strategy and Action Plan for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture objectives are to promote conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; establish a legal and institutional framework for management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in line with the provisions of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture; promote research and development of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture with special emphasis on neglected and underutilized species; develop capacity, coordination and communication mechanisms for all national plant genetic resources for food and agriculture conservation and sustainable use; and develop mechanisms for resource mobilization for plant genetic resources conservation and sustainable use.