QUESTIONNAIRE on the IMPLEMENTATION of the GLOBAL PLAN of ACTION (GPA) for the CONSERVATION and SUSTAINABLE USE of PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES for FOOD and AGRICULTURE (PGRFA)

2000-2003

COUNTRY: Uzbekistan

The completed questionnaire should be returned, not later than 20 April 2004 to the:

Stefano Diulgheroff, Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service, AGPS, Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. Fax: (+3906- 57056347); E-mail:

In Situ Conservation and Development

Activity Area 1. Surveying and Inventorying Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

A1.1.1. How many PGRFA surveys and/or inventories have been carried out in the country since 2000? -16 surveys and inventories

A1.1.2. How many species/ecotypes/populations under threat have been identified since 2000?

- 301 species (Red Book of Uzbekistan, 1999).

A1.2. Were collaborative linkages between other groups and Ministries (e.g. Ministries of agriculture, forestry or environment, nature conservation groups, botanic gardens, extension, farmer's groups or others) developed in preparing those new surveys/inventories?

(+) Yes ( ) No

A1.3. Are the new surveys/ inventories linked with a National Biodiversity Action Plan, or other initiative? (+) Yes ( ) No

A1.4. Has training been undertaken since 2000 in areas related to surveying and inventorying (taxonomy, population biology, ethnobotany, eco-regional and agro-ecological surveying, and GIS training)? (+) Yes ( ) No

A1.6.1. Has a map with all priority geographical areas of the country which require surveying/inventorying for PGRFA been developed?

(+) Yes ( ) No

Activity Area 2. Supporting On-farm Management and Improvement of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

A2.1.1. Are there on-going programmes or initiatives supporting local farmer communities in on-farm management and improvement of PGRFA in your country?

(+) Yes ( ) No

A2.3.1. Do they include any monetary incentives either directly or indirectly provided to farmers and/or community-based institutions? (+) Yes ( ) No

A2.5. What multidisciplinary research activities were incorporated into any on-going programme/project addressing On-farm Management and Improvement of PGRFA in your country? (please check one or more as appropriate)

(+) Ethnobotanical and socio-economic research / (+) Population and conservation biology
(+) Seed production, marketing and distribution / (+) Crop improvement research
(+) Research and extension studies for under-utilised crops

A2.6. Since 2000, has training in facilitating, improving and catalyzing on-farm plant genetic resources activities been undertaken? (+) Yes ( ) No

Activity Area 3. Assisting Farmers in Disaster Situations to Restore Agricultural Systems

A3.1. Is there any plan in operation in your country for assisting farmers in recovering/restoring germplasm following disaster situations? ( ) Yes (-) No

A3.3. Is there any information system to identify appropriate germplasm for re-introduction after disasters operating in your country? ( ) Yes (-) No

Activity Area 4. Promoting In Situ Conservation of Wild Crop Relatives and Wild Plants for Food Production

A4.1. Please complete Table 4.1. below by checking one box in each column.

Table 4.1. Comparison between 2000 and current situation regarding plans for conservation and use of wild crop relatives and wild plants for food production in protected and/or non-protected areas and their implemetation. Please check one box per column.

2000 / 2003
Planning and Implementation well advanced
Planning and some Implementation / + / +
Planning not yet started

A4.2.1. Have wild relatives of crop plants and wild plants for food production been identified for in situ conservation since 2000? (+) Yes ( ) No

A4.2.2. Were local communities involved in the identification of crop plants and wild plants for food production since 2000? (+) Yes ( ) No

A4.6. Is the planning and implementation of activities to promote conservation of wild crop relatives and wild plants for food included in the national programme? (+)Yes ( )No

A4.8.1. Have arrangements been made to place threatened diversity of wild crop relatives and wild plants for food production into ex situ collections since 2000? (+) Yes ( ) No

Ex Situ Conservation

Activity Area 5. Sustaining Existing Ex Situ Collections

A5.1.1. Please complete the table below by checking one box in each row.

Table 5.1. Annual budget, staff, number of species and accessions of ex-situ holding collection in 2003 compared to 2000.

Reduced / Unchanged / Increased
Annual budget / +
Staff / +
Overall number of species in storage / +
Overall number of accessions in storage / +
Overall number of accessions in storage in need of urgent regeneration / +

A5.4.1. Is the genetic diversity of the collections being monitored on a regular basis in the genebanks of your country? ( ) Yes in all (+) Yes in some ( ) No (please check one as appropriate)

A5.6.1. Is the viability of the collections being monitored on a regular basis in the genebanks of your country? ( ) Yes in all (+) Yes in some ( ) No (please check one as appropriate)

A5.7.1. Are there any co-operation arrangement established through regional, crop networks or international organizations to conserve accessions from your country collections? (+) Yes ( ) No

A5.12.1. Has any training been received by staff of your country genebanks since 2000?

(+) Yes ( ) No

Activity Area 6. Regenerating Threatened Ex Situ Accessions

A6.1.1. Are multi-year plans for regenerating priority accessions in place in your country genebanks? (+) Yes ( ) No

A6.2.1. Have priorities for regeneration been determined in your country genebanks?

(+) Yes ( ) No

A6.4.1. Do regeneration plans include elimination of unnecessary duplicates?

(+) Yes ( ) No

A6.7.1. Are regeneration efforts being assisted/undertaken through your country’s involvement in crop or regional networks, linkages with international organizations, or arrangements with other countries since 2000? (+) Yes ( ) No

A6.10.1. Has any training related to this activity area been received by staff of your country genebanks since 2000? (+) Yes ( ) No

Activity Area 7. Supporting Planned and Targeted Collecting of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

A7.1.1. How many PGRFA collecting missions have been carried out since 2000? - 16 collecting missions

A7.1.2. Have the collected accessions been incorporated in the long-term conservation scheme? (+) Yes ( ) No

A7.2.1. Has any training related to this activity area been received by staff of your country genebanks? (+) Yes ( ) No

Activity Area 8. Expanding Ex Situ Conservation Activities

A8.1.1. How many botanic gardens, arboreta, and field genebanks, have been established since 2000? No (-)

A8.1.2. How many of them are low-cost botanic gardens, arboreta, and field genebanks, established in universities, schools, etc. since 2000? No (-)

A8.2. Since 2000, have innovative management strategies and/or improved methodologies been developed or implemented in your country for ex situ conservation of:

recalcitrant seeded plants? ( ) Yes (-) No

vegetatively propagated plants? ( ) Yes (-) No

previously neglected species? ( ) Yes (-) No

A8.3.1. Has any publication been produced in your country since 2000 on the methodologies mentioned in A8.2? ( ) Yes (-) No

Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources

Activity Area 9. Expanding the Characterization, Evaluation and Number of Core Collections to Facilitate Use

A9.1.1. Please provide estimates of the total number of accessions currently stored in the genebanks of your country.- 70,8 tho. of accessions.

A9.1.1 bis. Out of this accesions, please provide an estimate of the total number of accesions that are currently part of core collections of your country.-55,0 tho of accessions (78%).

A9.1.2. Please provide estimates of the accessions that have been, partially and/or fully, characterised and evaluated, as a percentage of the total number of accessions stored in the genebanks of your country.-38,0 tho of accessions (35%).

A9.1.2 bis. Out of these accesions, please provide estimates of the accessions that have been, partially and/or fully, characterised and evaluated, as a percentage of the total number of accessions in core collections of your country.- 38,0 tho of accessions (35%).

A9.2. Are molecular methods being used to characterize and evaluate accessions by your country genebanks? (+) Yes ( ) No

A9.5. How many core collections have been developed in your country for globally or nationally important crops since 2000? 14 core collections.

A9.5 bis. Please provide a list of the crops or species for which core collections in your country have been established. .- Cotton, wheat, barley, maize, rice, apricot, apple, grape, pistachio, potato, tomato, melon, onion, garlic......

Activity Area 10. Increasing Genetic Enhancement and Base-Broadening Efforts

A10.1. Have the needs and opportunities for base-broadening in your country been assessed and activities initiated? (please check one box in each column)

2000 / 2003
Yes, priorities set and activities underway / + / +
Yes, initial efforts started
No

A10.4. Is your country involved in international crop-related networks which support genetic enhancement and base-broadening efforts? (+) Yes ( ) No

Activity Area 11. Promoting Sustainable Agriculture through Diversification of Crop Production and Broader Diversity in Crops

A11.1. Has an assessment been made of the genetic uniformity and vulnerability of crop production in your country since 2000?

(+) Yes ( ) No ( ) Partially (please check on e)

A11.3.1. Are measures being taken in your country to encourage diversification of crop production and favour broader divestity of crops (e.g. increase the use of mixtures and/or a range of varieties)? (+) Yes ( ) No

Activity Area 12. Promoting Development and Commercialization of Under-utilised Crops and Species

A12.1. Please complete Table 12.1 by checking one box in each column for each of the four activities.

Table 12.1. Status of implementation of activities related to under-utilised crop development in 2000 and at present.

2000 / 2003
Identifying potential under-utilised species / Activities well advanced/completed
Some activities initiated / + / +
Activities not yet started
Developing and implementing sustainable management practices and crop improvement for selected under-utilised species / Activities well advanced/completed
Some activities initiated / + / +
Activities not yet started
Developing post-harvest processing methods / Activities well advanced/completed
Some activities initiated / + / +
Activities are not yet started
Developing marketing methods / Activities well advanced/completed
Some activities initiated / + / +
Activities not yet started

A12.2. Is particular emphasis being given to the role of women in the management of these crops? (+) Yes ( ) No

A12.3. Have efforts to promote under-utilized crops been linked with regional and crop networks, international agricultural research centers, NGO’s and other relevant institutions in the region? ( ) Yes (+) No

A12.5.1. Has training (for female and male scientists, extension workers and farmers) been carried out with the aim of strengthening capacity to implement activities on under-utilized crops since 2000? ( ) Yes ( ) No )

Activity Area 13. Supporting Seed Production and Distribution

A13.1. Have incentives (credit schemes etc) been provided to encourage seed enterprises to meet the needs of the small farming sector, including women and vulnerable or marginalized groups? ( ) Yes ( ) No (-)

A13.2. Have incentives (credit schemes etc) been provided to encourage farmers' organisations to meet their needs and those of women and of vulnerable or marginalized groups? ( ) Yes (+) No

A13.3. Has any training (for female and male scientists, extension workers and farmers) been carried out with the aim of strengthening capacity to implement activities in seed technology since 2000? (+) Yes ( ) No

Activity Area 14. Developing New Markets for Local Varieties and “Diversity-Rich” Products

A14.1. Since 2000, did any change in the range of local crop varieties available in the market occur? (please check one)

( ) The range broadened: a larger number of local crop varieties are currently available in the market compared with what was available in 2000

(+) The range remained basically the same: no major variations in the range of local crop varieties available in the market occurred since 2000

( ) The range shrunk: a reduced number of local crop varieties are currently available in the market compared with what was available in 2000

( ) No information is available

A14.3. Have markets for diverse food crops been promoted and implemented? (please check one box in each column)

2000 / 2003
Yes markets for diverse food crops well established
Yes, initial attempts to develop markets for diverse crops / + / +
No

Institutions and Capacity-Building

Activity Area 15. Building Strong National Programmes

A15.1. Has any institutional entity (e.g. National Committee or other) responsible for the planning and management of PGRFA at national level been established? (+) Yes ( ) No

A15.2. If it applies, what year was it established? –1997 year.

A15.3. If it applies, has it ever been restructured since its establishment? (+) Yes ( ) No

A15.4. If it applies, what year did the restructuring process occur?2001-2003.

A15.6. Please mark as appropriate which of the following categories are part of the institutional entity responsible for the planning and management of PGRFA at national level:

Farmers ( ) / Plant breeders ( ) / Private sector ( )
NGO's (+) / Universities ( )

A15.7. Please indicate the number of meetings of the entity responsible for the planning and management of PGRFA at national level that occurred since 2000 and the date of its last meeting.

Number of meetings since 2000 -9 Last meeting (date): 02/05/2001 (dd/mm/yy)

A15.8. Does a National Strategy/Plan/Programme on Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA exist in your country? (+) Yes ( ) No

A15.9. If it applies, when was it established? 1999

A15.13. Does it incorporate GPA's priority activity areas? (+) Yes ( ) No

A15.16. Please provide the priority setting (if any) of the GPA's activity areas, as set in your National Strategy/Plan/ Programme on Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA in 2000 and in 2003. (Priority setting: 1 - high; 2 - medium; 3 - low).

Table 15.1. Priority setting of GPA's activity areas, as set in the National National Strategy/Plan/ Programme on Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA in 2000 and in 2003.

(please fill out each box)

GPA's priority activity area / Priority (1)
2000 / 2003
1. Surveying and inventorying plant genetic resources for food and agriculture / 1 / 1
2. Supporting on-farm management and improvement of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture / 1 / 1
3. Assisting farmers in disaster situations to restore agricultural systems / 1 / 1
4. Promoting in situ conservation of wild crop relatives and wild plants for food production / 1 / 1
5. Sustaining existing ex situ collections / 1 / 1
6. Regenerating threatened ex situ accessions / 1 / 1
7. Supporting planned and targeted collecting of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture / 1 / 1
8. Expanding ex situ conservation activities / 1 / 1
9. Expanding the characterization, evaluation and number of core collections to facilitate use / 1 / 1
10. Increasing genetic enhancement and base-broadening efforts / 1 / 1
11. Promoting sustainable agriculture through diversification of crop production and broader diversity in crops / 1 / 1
12. Promoting development and commercialization of under-utilized crops and species / 2 / 1
13. Supporting seed production and distribution / 1 / 1
14. Developing new markets for local varieties and "diversity-rich" products / 1 / 1
15. Building strong national programmes / 1 / 1
16. Promoting networks for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture / 1 / 1
17. Constructing comprehensive information systems for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture / 1 / 1
18. Developing monitoring and early warning systems for loss of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture / 1 / 1
19. Expanding and improving education and training / 1 / 1
20. Promoting public awareness of the value of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture conservation and use / 1 / 1

(1) Setting: 1 - high priority; 2 - medium priority; 3 - low priority