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Since
1995, inventory activities have been carried out on plant
genetic resources for food and agriculture. Wild relatives
are at ultimate stage of extension from their natural habitats.
Regeneration and conservation of this "heritage" is of great
scientific- practical importance for purposeful breeding activities.
Much
work has been carried out in collecting of cereals, vegetable
crops, fruit-berry crops and grape. Cereals and vegetable
crops were collected, multiplied and conserved. Fruit-berry
crops and grapes were also collected and planted in established
field genebanks in various agroecological zones of the country
where they were formed.
Despite
that our Republic is rich in genetic resources of agricultural
crops, wild relatives, ancient varieties of folk selection
and their natural habitats have not sufficiently been provided
with proper preservation and have not been included in breeding
activities.
At present,
activities are carried out on organizing to meet the minimum
requirements for short-term conservation of genetic resources
of cereals, grain legumes, vegetable-melon crops and cotton.
Only working collections are conserved in relevant institutes
in paper packages, bags, in glass vessels, etc. Conservation
conditions in the country do not meet international standards,
not even the minimum conservation conditions. The country
is lacking short-term and long-term conservation facilities.
Therefore, financial and technical assistance is needed, especially
for long-term conservation of PGR. The main cultivated crops
in the Republic are: cereals (wheat, barley, oat, maize, rice),
grain-legumes (chick-pea, lentil, bean, etc.), vegetable-melon,
fruit-berry crops, grape, sugar beet, potato, tea, etc.
At present,
reform is going on in all sphere including agriculture. More
than 70% of lands were given to farmers and other private
sectors. In connection with market demand, fixed cooperative
and private farmers are even obliged to cultivate those plants
which are profitable for commerce, but local people, farmers,
peasant families pay special importance to traditional crops,
and cultivate them to meet their food needs. Among these indigenous,
aboriginal varieties of food crops, legumes, vegetable-melon,
fruit-berry crops and grape occupy a special place. As a rule,
markets in our republic is provided with harvest all-the-year-round
and in a large range of goods.
There
is specialized private and State seed growing farms, which
meet the need of the Republic for seed. They provide farmers
and other producers with seed and planting materials in case
of need. New varieties or promising varieties are cultivated
in zoned areas with various ecological conditions. This experience
helps agricultural managers in choosing suitable crops and
best varieties.
The State
Committee on Plant Genetic Resources (SCPGR), attached to
Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan Republic, was established
in 1996. SCPGR coordinates the activities through working
groups in research institutes on corresponding crop headed
by chairman of Commission. Private sectors, farmers, non-government
organizations keep close relations with relevant research
institutes and departments. The State Program on PGR has been
prepared in close cooperation with SCPGR, this has been approved
by Scientific-Practical Council attached to Ministry of Agriculture,
but has not been ratified by parliament of the republic yet.
Professor J. A. Aliev (chairman of SCPGR) and the Ministry
of Agriculture were appointed for coordinating activities
related to the implementation of the Global Plan of Action
on PGR adopted in Leipzig Conference.
At present,
genetic resources of cereals, food legumes, tobacco, cotton,
vegetable-melon crops, fruit-berry crops, grape, mulberry,
fodder and pasture crops are conserved and activities are
carried out by relevant research institutes.
These
materials are of real importance as working collections in
purposeful breeding activities for creation of new high-yielding
varieties, in conservation and improvement of existing ones.
Taking into account diversity of soil-climatic condition and
cultures there is a system of relevant research institutes
in each zone.
In the
Republic, selection and breeding programmes are completely
financed by the government from State budget. However, funds
are insufficient to undertake PGR activities such as: collecting
expeditions, evaluation, characterization and management of
in situ and ex situ conservation.
Furthermore,
the funding of PGR activities near (approx. for 5 years) is
not secure due to the lack of financial means. Meanwhile,
the republic got financial support from international organizations.
During the transition period, there is also lack of funds
for the purchase of small-sized machinery, necessary equipment,
apparatus, chemicals, pesticides etc. Therefore we are in
need of urgent financial support to be rendered both by donor
countries and organizations.
Concerning
legislation on PGR preservation, conservation and utilization,
the following laws were adopted since 1995 by Milli Mej'lis
(the parliament):
- The
law of Azerbaijan republic "on plant quarantine", 23.04.
1996, N70, ch. 1.
- The
law of Azerbaijan republic "on plant protection", 03.12.1996,
N20, ch. 1.
- The
law of Azerbaijan republic "on selective achievements" 15.11.
1996, N96.
- The
law of Azerbaijan republic "on seed growing" 07.04.1997,
N66.
- An
addition to the law "on peasant and farmer production" 25.04.1997,
N285-160
- An
addition to the law "on plant quarantine" 19.12.1997, N415-1,
GO.
- Code
of Azerbaijan republic "on forests" 30.12.1997, N427 ch.
1
The laws
adopted by Milli Mej'lls has, at a certain degree, promoted
the production, use and trade of seed in the country and among
countries.
Since
the law "on preservation of biodiversity" has not been adopted,
and due to financial difficulties and other reasons, the control
over preservation of Plant Genetic Resources is still complicated.
At the same time, there is no clear mechanism to apply the
adopted laws.
As known,
farmers are the main producers of products of traditional
crops and indigenous varieties, and are the main concerned
with the conservation of these crops. However, farmers' rights
are not clearly provided and supported by law. We hope that
farmers' rights in the sphere of conservation genetic resources
will be supported.
A communication
system was established in the republic as part of INTERNET
network. It aims to facilitate the exchange of scientific
information, collection materials, research results, etc.
A preparation is going on computerizing the PGR documentation,
but there are difficulties in professionally mastering this
activity.
Although,
training of personnel is conducted in relevant Universities
and research institutions of the country, it is required that
high level training, post-graduate and short term courses
should be organized in collaboration with international centers.
After 1995, one of our research workers has attended a training
course organized by IPGRI with Birmingham University on "Darwinian
evolution" in Hungary. Also, another research worker attended
the training course on "selection of cereal crops" in Turkey
organized by CIMMYT and ICARDA.
In the
country mutually beneficial cooperation is carried out in
the sphere of exchange, study and use of gene resources of
cultivated plants and their wild relatives in breeding programs.
Activities
undertaken by working groups, relevant institutes, Committees,
Ministries are coordinated by national scientific-practical
council with farmers and other private sectors directly through
cooperation, which includes realization of introductionary
measures (varieties, technology, seed, conference, workshop,
etc.). NGOs also cooperate in some issues.
Scientific-practical
Council and SCPGR attached to the Ministry of Agriculture
directed by Academician, is a good example of cooperation
of Research Institutes of the Ministry of Agriculture with
Research Institutes of the Academy of Sciences. The Coordinator
of the "National Program on breeding and on PGR", Professor
J. A. Allev holds his activities in Academy of Sciences and
in Research Institute of Agriculture. This enabled him to
establish a good collaboration with all stakeholders engaged
in collecting, studying, conserving and utilizing PGR. Thanks
to his initiative and efforts that close cooperation were
established between our republic and relevant research institutes
in Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Moldavia, Georgia.
After
the collapse of former Soviet Union, much efforts have been
done in the republic for establishing collaboration with international
centers, namely IPGRI, ICARDA, CIMMYT as well as with scientists
in Turkey, Iran, Germany, Hungary and positive results are
already seen.
For breeding
purpose and for developing high-yielding varieties, exchange
of germplasm is conducted on mutually beneficial basis. It
considerably facilitates the possibility of the freely use
of selected materials. Therefore it is necessary to increase
the knowledge and effective activities on conservation and
use of Plant Genetic Resources, to expand international and
regional cooperation in this sphere.
Since
1995 by establishing relations with International centers
(CIMMYT, ICARDA etc.) and with regional organizations and
genebanks (Germany, Hungary, Turkey, Iran, Russia etc.), our
collections were appreciably enriched (Table 1). Therefore
we attach a special importance to the mutually beneficial
cooperation in the field of PGR.
For the
implementation of the Global Plan of Action on PGR adopted
in Leipzig Conference, the chairman of SCPGR Prof. J.A. Allev
and the Ministry of A 'culture of the Republic were appointed
to coordinate all the related activities. It should also be
noted that Azerbaijan is not a member of European Cooperation
Program in the sphere of PGR. Therefore inclusion our republic
to this program would support our activities in this direction.
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