This document discusses the in situ and on-farm conservation of agricultural biodiversity in Central Asia. It notes that Central Asia contains over 8,100 plant species and is a center of origin for many globally important crops. However, the replacement of local varieties and land degradation threaten biodiversity. The project worked in 5 Central Asian countries to conserve diversity of 10 fruit crops on farms and in nature. It established 58 nurseries and 72 demonstration plots conserving over 1,500 local varieties. The project increased knowledge of crop diversity and developed guidelines to protect farmers' rights and access and benefit sharing. Case studies showed how using local drought-resistant fruit varieties helped restore degraded lands and improve livelihoods in the region.

1. In situ/On farm Conservation and Use of
Agricultural Biodiversity
(Horticultural Crops and Wild Fruit Species)
in Central Asia
Muhabbat Turdieva,
Bioversity International
m.turdieva@cgiar.org

2. Central Asia
Total area – 3,990,800 sq.km. Population – 65,6 mln.
people

3. Centre of Agrobiodiversity
The Region by N.I. Vavilov is
one of centres of origin and
domestication of globally
important crops and is a home
for more than 8,100 plants:
- Cereals
- Vegetables
- Forages
- Fruit trees

4. On farm:
•Replacement of local
varieties with uniform
commercial ones;
•Large mechanization
and production system
intensification;
•Poor seed production
and supply systems.
Threats
In situ:
•Deforestation
-Over-exploitation of
forest resources;
-Over grazing;
-Transformation of forest
to agricultural lands;
-Construction of roads,
urbanization, etc.

5. Partner CountriesPartner Countries
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
National partner institutionsNational partner institutions
• Kazakhstan – Academy of Agricultural
Sciences
• Kyrgyzstan – Innovation Centre of
Phytotechnologies of Academy of Sciences
• Tajikistan – Research Institute of
Horticulture
• Turkmenistan – Academy of Sciences
• Uzbekistan – Institute of Genetics and
Plant Experimental Biology
Bioversity International/GEF Regional Project “In situ/On farm
Conservation and Use of Agricultural Biodiversity (Horticultural Crops
and Wild Fruit Species) in Central Asia” (2006-2013)

6. Target Fruit Crops
• Apple
• Apricot
• Almond
• Grapevine
• Pear
• Pistachio
• Pomegranate
• Fig
• Walnut
• Mulberry
• Sea-buckthorn & Currant

8. Distribution and Diversity Level
• Walnut (Juglans regia) – 22
• Pistachio (Pistacia vera) – 44
• Apple (Malus spp.) – 17
Diversity level (in situ) – 132
promising forms

9. Diversity level
(on farm):
• Apple – 239
• Apricot – 103
• Grapevine - 158
• Pear – 59
• Pomegranate –35
Distribution and Diversity Level

10. Аk pishar
Аk shirpayvandi Bodomak Yaltirok
Hasaki Childona
Shirin jaupazak
Yupkapuchak
PahpahaКормовой
поздний
Karsildok
Local diversity of apricot
ShoftolisimonBodomcha

11. Local fruit trees diversity in North Uzbekistan
Crop Number
of
varietie
s
Salinit
y
toleran
t
Heat
toleran
t
Drought
resistan
t
Salinity
and
drought
resistan
t
Winter
toleran
t
Long
shelf
life of
fruits
Resistant
to late
spring
frosts
Apricot 36 13 20 13 7 15 12
Apple 21 7 4 6 6 8 4
Pear 11 4 3 5 3
Pomegranate 6 1 0 1
Grape 9 4 0 4 2
Total 83 29 27 23 13 28 10 12

12. Richness (number) of Fruit tree varieties in Central Asia (5 countries)

13. Log (average no. of trees grown at
household)
Log(varietyrichness)

14. Kazakhstan – 14 Kyrgyzstan -7
Tajikistan – 11 Turkmenistan – 10
Uzbekistan - 16
Conserved diversity (on farm)
58 nurseries (1,500, 000 saplings annually)

15. 72 demonstration plots in farmers’ orchards
(430 local varieties)
• Kazakhstan – 14 Kyrgyzstan -7
• Tajikistan -18 Turkmenistan – 11
• Uzbekistan - 22
Conserved diversity (on farm)

16. • Government Programme on
Horticulture and Viticulture
Development in Uzbekistan
• Government’s subsidies for
establishment of orchards and fruit
tree nurseries development in
Kazakhstan
Conserved on farm
• National Law “Conservation and
sustainable use of crop genetic
resources” in Tajikistan

17. Conserved diversity (in situ)
• Proposals on establishment of
new and extension of existing
protected areas to cover wild
relatives of fruit and nut-bearing
crops by in situ conservation
actions (Jongar-Alatau State
National Nature Park, Surmatash
State Reserve)
• Wild fruit and nut-bearing species
are included in the List of
Valuable Wood Species of
National Forest Codes

18. Crop DL No. Socio-Econ DL No.
Apple 168 Household 9
Apricot 131 HR 29
Grape 145 Environment 17
Pear 151 Economic 51
Pistachio 115 Social 27
Walnut 132 Management 125
Almond 126 Total 258
Pomegranate 115
Currant 106
Mulberry 62
Peach 126
Plum 109
Seabuckthorn 85
Total 1571
->Half a million records
- 2,943 crop morphology
and characterization
records

19. Increased knowledge
• More than 60 Guidelines and Manuals are produced
• Over 100 research papers are published

20. Farmers’ Rights:
• Register of local varieties of fruit and
nut-bearing crops and farmers-
custodians of these varieties in all five
countries to protect Farmers’ Rights
• Proposal on patenting farmers’ varieties
of fruit crops in Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan
• Farmers’ varieties of grapevine
Shohona and apricot Nishoni have
been submitted to the State Committee
of Crop Varieties Testing in Tajikistan
for certification
Increased knowledge

21. Model Agreements:
•MTA on planting material and
germplasm of local varieties of
fruit crops maintained in
demonstration plots and
nurseries
•Prior Informed Consent (PIC)
•Agreement on Information
Access and Exchange
Guidelines: Access and sharing benefits in research
projects
Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)

22. 66% of the land area of Kazakhstan, 97% of Tajikistan, and 80%
of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and 90% in Kyrgyzstan is
degradated (Central Asia – Atlas of Natural Resources)
Mainstreaming fruit trees diversity

23. Shifting from livestock to horticulture using local drought and
frost resistant apple varieties (Farmer Norkushakov,
Uzbekistan)
Some examples of using locally adapted traditional
temperate fruit tree varieties to restore degraded lands

24. Farmer Hasanova applies management practices in her wild
pistachio plot and gets sustainable yield of pistachio nuts.
This allowed her to build a new house.
Some examples of using locally adapted traditional
temperate fruit tree varieties to restore degraded lands

25. Before
AfterPhoto: Bioversity International/P. Quek
Local varieties of apple adapted to drought and frost are
used by farmer Sharsheeva in Kyrgyzstan
Some examples of using locally adapted traditional
temperate fruit tree varieties to restore degraded lands

27. www.bioversityinternational.org
Thank you
Muhabbat Turdieva, Bioversity International
m.turdieva@cgiar.org