The National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) has commenced its field collecting mission under the Crop Trust Funding Facility Initiative, marking another step in the Centre’s efforts to conserve Nigeria’s valuable plant genetic resources.
As part of the initiative, NACGRAB field teams have been deployed to designated locations across Nigeria to collect genetic resources of pigeon pea and fonio. These crops are important sources of food and nutrition and are also valuable genetic resources for future agricultural research and crop improvement.
Protecting Pigeon Pea and Fonio Diversity
The collecting mission is focused on capturing genetic diversity that may be at risk due to changing agricultural practices, declining traditional knowledge and insecurity in some farming communities.
Many farmers continue to maintain locally adapted varieties that have been cultivated and selected over generations. These varieties may possess useful traits that can support future crop improvement, including adaptation to local environmental conditions and changing production challenges.
Through systematic collection and conservation, NACGRAB is working to ensure that these genetic resources are preserved within the National Genebank and remain available for future research, breeding and agricultural development.
Digital Technology Transforms Field Data Collection
A notable feature of the current mission is the introduction of digital tools to improve the collection and management of field information.
NACGRAB field teams are using Android tablets and KoboCollect to capture collection data digitally. This approach improves the accuracy and consistency of information recorded during field activities while reducing reliance on traditional paper-based data collection.
The digital system also makes it easier for the teams to monitor collecting activities and manage field information efficiently. By adopting these tools, NACGRAB is strengthening the connection between field collection and genebank data management.
Conserving Diversity for Future Food Security
The current collecting mission reflects NACGRAB’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s agricultural biodiversity and strengthening the National Genebank.
Every germplasm sample collected from the field represents a genetic resource that could have value for future food and agricultural research. Conserving these resources today provides researchers and breeders with access to a wider range of genetic materials when developing crops that can meet future production and nutritional needs.
With support from the Crop Trust Funding Facility, NACGRAB will continue its field activities across designated regions, working with farming communities to identify, document and collect valuable pigeon pea and fonio diversity.
The mission reinforces a simple but important objective: protect Nigeria’s crop diversity today to support food and nutrition security tomorrow.
#NACGRAB #CropTrust #FundingFacility #PlantGeneticResources #BiodiversityConservation #OpportunityCrops #Fonio #PigeonPea #FoodSecurity
