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 INGER-Africa
 The
basic principles of the INGER-Africa mechanism are:
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To provide diversity and variability
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To supply valuable germplasm to target
ecosystems and stresses
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To avoid overloading the NARS, since
nurseries are constituted on the basis of NARS' specific requests.
The objectives of INGER-Africa nurseries are as
follows:
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To provide NARS with improved germplasm from
a wide range of sources to broaden the genetic base of their breeding
materials and identify varieties for direct introduction.
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To provide NARS scientists with a mechanism
to screen their genetic materials for resistance/tolerance to specific
stresses at reliable hot-spot locations in the region; each nursery consists
of nominations from NARS and WARDA.
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To provide NARS scientists with the means to
test the stability and adaptability of their elite varieties in
multilocational trials. Promising lines nominated by NARS are used for
composing regional yield-stability and adaptability trials. Several
countries evaluate the same varieties. These trials provide information on
the genotype x environment interactions and wide adaptability of the
promising lines.
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To handle segregating populations (from F3
to more advanced generations) nominated by breeders. These are grown and
harvested in bulk for distribution to NARS on request for in situ
selection and advancement in national trials.
The approach is more flexible and responsive to
the needs of national programs than former approaches. Whereas formally the same
nurseries were sent to all participants, nurseries are now tailored to meet the
specific needs of each national program. Nurseries are provided at NARS'
request, while taking into account the plant characteristics best suited to
their particular environmental conditions. The earlier top-down approach has
been completely reversed.
History of INGER-Africa
In 1975, the
International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) launched the International Rice Testing Program (IRTP) as a
systematic global program for the collection, distribution and testing of rice
genetic materials. This program was later re-designated the International
Network for Genetic Evaluation of Rice (INGER).
The overall objectives of INGER have been to link national rice-improvement
programs and international centers, and to promote genetic diversity for
different ecosystems through global exchange, evaluation and utilization of
improved breeding materials originating from sources world-wide.
The African
wing of INGER was created in 1985 and located at the International Institute for
Tropical Agriculture (IITA). In 1990, the mandate for all rice research in West
and Central Africa was given to the West Africa Rice Development Association
(WARDA) and in 1991, WARDA and partners in the national agricultural research
systems (NARS) established varietal-improvement Task Forces (mini networks)
comprising Upland, Lowland, Irrigated and Mangrove Swamp rice breeding
activities.
A review of WARDA in 1993 by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
recommended that INGER-Africa be relocated to WARDA, to bring together the
effective NARS linkages established by the WARDA Task Forces and the broader
coverage of the INGER network. Between 1994 and 1996, the UK Overseas
Development Administration funded a project to transfer INGER-Africa activities
to WARDA, and to establish a new germplasm exchange mechanism using Task Force
approaches. The transfer of INGER-Africa operations to WARDA became effective in
April 1997.
MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT
(MTA) (pdf version)
The following publications are available
on-line.
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