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Tanzania National Plant Genetic Resources Centre Background The National Plant Genetic Resources Centre of Tanzania (NPGRC) is among the four divisions under Technical Services Department of Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI). It is located 12 kilometres west of Arusha along Arusha Namanga main road. The centre was established in 1991. The National Plant Genetic Resources Committee (NPGRCom) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is the governing committee. The committee is composed of members drawn from various National Institutions dealing with Plant Genetic Resources. It is responsible for development of national policies, guidelines, legislation for conservation and exchange of germplasm.
Objectives
The broad objective of the NPGRC is to promote the conservation and sustainable utilization of Plant Genetic Resources.
Specific objectives:
- Plant Genetic Resources Conservation;
- Promotion of Plant Genetic Resources Utilization;
- Co-ordination of activities related to Plant Genetic Resources;
- Training.
Activities
Collaboration
The NPGRC works in collaboration with both local and regional/international institutions such as:
- Government Ministries with activities affecting Plant Genetic Resources;
- Agriculture Research Institutes;
- Forestry Research Institutes;
- Natural Resources Research Institutes;
- NGO’s SADC Plant Genetic Resources Institute (SPGRC);
- Bioversity International (Bioversity);
- Other International Institutions dealing with Plant Genetic Resources.
Achievements - NPGRC has managed to collect a total number of 3909 crop accessions from different parts of the country;
- NPGRC has succeeded to characterize and multiply 3140 crop accessions.;
- A total number of 6 NPGRC and non-NPGRC staff has been trained to master’s level and PhD level as well as 38 staff trained at various short courses both Internationally and Nationally;
- NPGRC has sent 3003 crop accessions to SPGRC for long term storage and distributed 443 crop accessions to different users particularly breeders, research Institutes and farmers;
- NPGRC has managed to secure funds to build 2 screen houses, 1 green house, a tissue culture lab, 3 vehicles, a tractor and a motorbike, 2 driers, 10 freezers as well as various small equipments;
- NPGRC has also secured funds from DANIDA and managed to build water reservoir for irrigation at our farm at Madi ira;
- NPGRC has succeeded to conduct 2 National Workshops on Plant Genetic Resources and Biotechnology. The proceeding for the first is already in circulation. The proceeding for the second workshop will be ready soon;
- NPGRC has written a number of fruitful proposals particularly on Neglected and Underutilized Crops (NUCS), NPGRC staff has won different awards (International Funds for Science: IFS and Abdu salaam Fellowship) and research is taking place at NPGRC;
- NPGRC in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) participated in compiling relevant data and information, which finally enabled Parliament to ratify the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
Currently Running Projects of Interest
- Characterization of germplasm;
- Documentation of PGR;
- In Vitro conservation of cassava (Manihot esculentum);
- Germplasm exploration and collection;
- In situ conservation of PGR.
Material
Collections
The Centre has the responsibility of assessing the plant diversity in the country, conduct botanical surveys and maintain an inventory of plant genetic resources in order to get an indication of which taxa are threatened and therefore require ex-situ or in-situ conservation. Collection of germpalsm for ex-situ conservation is done in collaboration with local scientists where possible international expertise may be consulted.
Organisation
National Plant Genetic Resources Committee (NPGRCom) Members - Dr. M.M. Msabaha - Chairperson
- Dr. A Kullaya
- Dr. J. Kasonta
- Mr. T.H. Msangi
- Prof. S O W M Reuben
- Prof. S. Iddi
- Mr. J.Y. Chambi
- Dr. A.P. Rutabanzibwa
- Mr. H B Akonaay - Secretary
Staff | Herman B. Akonaay | MSc. | Ag. Head NPGRC | | Margaret J Mollel | PhD | Seed Technology | | Wazael H Ntundu | Ph.D. | Documentation | | Hamisy William | MSc. | In Situ/In-Vitro Culture | | Lourance P. Millinga | MSc. | Documentation | | Anna Makundi | BSc. | Seed Technology | | Lilian R. Nyange | Dip. Agric | Laboratory activities | | Lomayani M. Sambai | Cert. Agric. | Field activities | | Odilia Shirima | | Secretarial & Documentation | | Janet Mmari | | Attendant | | Gregory Aloyce | | Attendant | | Muya Sufian | | Driver | | Deogratia Masunga | | Driver | | Abdillah Kinyuma | | Driver |
Other Contacts
Chairman, National Plant Genetic Resources Committee
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
P.O. Box 2066 DAR ES SALAAM
Email:
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Tanzania 
