| Exploration plans for 1977 20. Following a discussion of past collection activities in the priority regions (para 14), the following programmes are endorsed : Priority 1: S.W. Asia. The plans of the 6 national programmes should be known by January 1977. So far for wheat, these have only considered primitive cultivars. The Committee aggreed that; (i) they should be asked to take into account wild species and be informed of the seminar to be held in 1977, (ii) they should be asked to deposit duplicates in one of the 4 designated centres in para 8 above, and (iii) collaborative efforts should be organised wherever possible. The proposed GRSU will play a major role in coordinating such tasks and in keeping the Wheat Advisory Committee informed in advance. It was noted that the DDR is planning an expedition in 1977 in Afghanistan and that the Vavilov Institute may well collaborate in this. Greece (see also Priority 2). Negotiations are in the preparatory stage as part of the IBPGR Mediterranean programme. In 1977 two of the 4 priority areas of Creece will be explored by 2 teams from Italy with the participation of a Greek colleague. These areas are Epirus and Evvoia. Ethiopia. The bilaterally funded genetic ressources centre is now operational and collecting should commence in 1977. Priority 2 : Tunisia, Algeria, Spain and Portugal. Planning and action is under way as part of the IBPGR Mediterranean programme. Missions have been arranged as follows for 1977 : Feb.-March, southern Tunisia and Algeria, especially oases ; June-July, Spain and Portugal and lowland Greece, followed later by exploration in the Greek mountainous area. Personnel will include scientists from the host countries in each mission plus the Bari personnel and FAO component or personnel recruited through the Secretariat. In addition, the Greek scientist will participate in Spain and Portugal and Dr. Fedin of VIR has been invited to participate. A planning mission to Spain and Portugal will take place during a maize collecting expedition in October 1976. Yugoslavia and Albania. No action is envisaged by the Board until 1978, but the Committee notes a US project centred on Skopje to collect wheat and other small grain cereals and maize in the Yugoslavian state of Macedonia in 1976-1979. South Asian Sub-continent. The Committee notes that the expedition, supported by IBPGR in 1976, by the Institut de Haaff, Netherlands, recommends further collecting is necessary in Pakistan. It was agreed that the national programme should be asked to continue the collection of wheat in these areas in 1977. No action is envisaged by the Board in India until 1978, but the Board might wish to request the Indian authorities for estimates of financial requirements well in advance (see para 25). Emergency operations 21. The Committee agreed that whilst the Board's S. W. Asia project is being negotiated it recommends to the Board that some emergency action should be initiated in 1977. This action is necessary in view of the extremely low number of wheat samples available from three critical areas - S.E. Turkey, N. Syria and N.E. and N. Iraq. It is recommended that the Board consider the support of an IBPGR/FAO emergency mission in 1977. A team of 3 people for 6 weeks would cost approximately $ 15,500. In addition, it is recommended that the Board requests the Afghanistan national programme to concentrate action on wheat collection in N.W. and S.E. Afghanistan and N. Badakhshan. |
| <-- Back | | | --> Next |