The Genebank of Zimbabwe (GBZ), also known as the National Plant Genetic Resources Centre (NPGRC) is a center for research and conservation of plant genetic resources in Zimbabwe. The NPGRC is under the auspices of the National Plant Genetic Resources Committee (NPGRCom.), a board that coordinates and oversees the promotion of activities associated with plant genetic resources in the country.

• To undertake collection missions for indigenous plant genetic resources important for food and agriculture;
• To document indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) on plant genetic resources important for food and agriculture
• To multiply and regenerate plant genetic resources;
• To characterize and evaluate plant genetic resources;
• To undertake awareness campaigns and farmer trainings on the value of plant genetic resources conservation and sustainable utilisation;
• To conserve germplasm in the National ex-situ genebank;
• To undertake on-farm/in-situ research and promote onfarm conservation;
• To facilitate dissemination of information and the distribution of material for different utilisation purposes.

Collaboration with other institutions is largely based on the implementation of national programmes on plant genetic resources important for food and agriculture. Some of the institutional arrangements involved the following:

• Collaboration with Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT) on the implementation of the project on Evaluation of best practices for landrace conservation: farmer evaluation in Tsholotsho and Murehwa Districts, Bioversity SSA as the regional coordinator, and GEF-UNDP as the financing organizations;
• Collaboration with Bioversity Rome on the project Role of Community Seed Bank in securing diversity on farm- experiences from Zimbabwe on research matters and funding mechanism;
• Collaboration with ICRAF and University of Zimbabwe, Tropical Resource Ecology Unit on the project Evaluation of best practices for indigenous fruit trees conservation in Murehwa District;
• Collaboration with CIMMYT on Morphological and Molecular Characterisation of maize landraces in Zimbabwe.

• Facilitated the ratification of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) on 24^th March 2004;
• Public awareness campaigns inform of both radio and Television programmes on agrobiodiversity conservation organized under the National Biodiversity Forum;
• Contributed to a number of publications.

• Evaluation of best practices for landrace conservation: farmer evaluation in Tsholotsho and Murehwa Districts;
• Evaluation of best practices for vegetatively propagated plants conservation on farm in Makoni District;
• Role of Community Seed Bank in securing diversity on farm- experiences from Zimbabwe;
• Evaluation of best practices for indigenous fruit trees conservation in Murehwa District;
• Multiplication and Morphological Characterisation of maize landraces.

Most collected germplasm has been conserved ex-situ in the Genebank. Ex-situ conservation is the conservation of germplasm outside the original or natural habitat. This involves collection, processing and storage of plant germplasm in the Genebank, usually in the form of seeds in tightly sealed containers at controlled temperature and humidity.

Seed storage is the most convenient way of maintaining plant germplasm in terms of static conservation. This activity aims at averting genetic erosion and making genetic material readily available for use by researchers, plant breeders and farmers.

If the seed collected from the farmers is below the GBZ desired quantities, the final seed sample is planted out in suit able environmental conditions. The desired quantities of seed obtained is then harvested, processed and stored for use in research.

Although seed maintained at the GBZ under long-term conditions is expected to be viable for a long period of time, it still has limited life span. At intervals of 5-10 years, the accessions are regenerated by testing for viability using germinatio tests. If the seed viability goes below the accepted standards of 85%, then seeds from this particular accession are planted out to obtain higher percentage of viable seeds. Maximum care is taken during these multiplication and regeneration processes to ensure that the sample maintain its genetic integrity and identity.

A wide array of traditional crop varieties grown by and collected from farmers, private, non-governmental and governmental organizations throughout Zimbabwe is represented in the GBZ. In order to distinguish between lines and to give further phenotypic identity to each variety, samples are planted out and the agronomic and morpho-physiological characters recorded. These include such attributes as plant height, grain colour and size; shape of leaves and so on.

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