The National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) has continued its grassroots engagement on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Plant Treaty), with a sensitisation visit to farmers at Akufo Farm Settlement in Oyo State.
The NACGRAB team, led by Dr. Ibidun Adetiloye, met with farmers to raise awareness about the Plant Treaty’s Multilateral System (MLS) of Access and Benefit-Sharing and its relevance to farmers, plant genetic resources and agricultural development.
Farmers Learn About Access and Benefit-Sharing
During the engagement, Dr. Adetiloye explained how the Multilateral System operates, including the benefits associated with the voluntary inclusion of eligible plant genetic resources.
The farmers were also informed about how genetic materials can be accessed and shared under the system. The discussions provided an opportunity for participants to better understand the role of farmers in the conservation, management and sustainable use of plant genetic resources.
The engagement encouraged an open exchange between the NACGRAB team and the farming community, allowing farmers to ask questions and share their experiences.
Climate Change and Resilient Planting Materials
Climate change emerged as one of the key concerns raised by the farmers during the discussion.
Farmers shared concerns about changing climatic conditions and their effects on agricultural production. The discussion subsequently focused on the importance of having access to planting materials with traits that can help farmers cope with changing environmental conditions.
The conservation and availability of diverse indigenous and farmer varieties can provide valuable resources for research and crop improvement, particularly in developing crops that are better suited to local and changing production conditions.
Farmers Support Conservation Through the National Genebank
A significant outcome of the engagement was the willingness expressed by many of the farmers to donate their indigenous and farmer varieties to the National Genebank and, where appropriate, make them available through the Multilateral System.
This willingness represents an important contribution to the conservation of Nigeria’s agricultural diversity. Farmer-maintained varieties often contain valuable genetic characteristics developed through years of cultivation and selection under local conditions.
By supporting their conservation within the National Genebank, farmers can help ensure that these resources remain available for future research, crop improvement and agricultural development.
Strengthening Seed Conservation and Climate Resilience
The Akufo Farm Settlement engagement demonstrates the importance of connecting national genebank activities with the farming communities that maintain much of the country’s agricultural diversity.
NACGRAB’s continued engagement with farmers will help strengthen awareness of the Plant Treaty, encourage participation in the conservation of plant genetic resources and promote greater understanding of access and benefit-sharing.
The willingness of farmers at Akufo to contribute their indigenous and farmer varieties is an encouraging step towards strengthening Nigeria’s seed conservation efforts and supporting agricultural systems that can better respond to future climate challenges.
#PlantTreaty #AccessAndBenefitSharing #SeedSovereignty #ClimateSmartAg #Genebank #AllianceBiodiversity #ITPGRFA
