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| Rutgers University/University of Zambia/Stellenbosch University |
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Country: Regional Southern Africa
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Award Date: 2005
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Award Amount: $788,000.00
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Cost Share: $155,980.00
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Other Partners: Agribusiness in Sustainable Natural African Plant Products (ASNAPP)
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The partners – with the assistance of small and resource-poor farmers, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, buyers, seed companies, and trade associations – collaborated to assess the type, range, and diversity of genetic materials available to growers and researchers for specialty and non-traditional crops such as indigenous teas, herbs, medicinal plants, essential oils, vegetables, and paprika. Partners surveyed the food/agriculture industry and users, including producers, collectors, buyers, and marketers of non-traditional crops. Key private sector collaborators included companies working with paprika, seeds, essential oils, spices, specialty vegetables, herbs, and herbal teas. A highlight of the collaboration was the development of strategies to improve farmer access to improved germplasm by working closely with buyers and processors in Southern Africa. The partnership also successfully established a germplasm database and pilot germplasm banks at UZ and SU, with particular focus on non-traditional crops such as the Moringa tree, geranium, lemongrass, rosemary, chili peppers, and paprika. Other notable outcomes of this collaboration included the establishment of a post-graduate program in non-traditional crops at SU, the establishment of a Paprika Association, and the exchange of new genetic materials between grower associations, government researchers, university faculty, NGOs, seed traders, and marketers. It established four community-based commercial nurseries with appropriate germplasm and constructed two greenhouses at UZ.
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