National Genebank (National Agriculture Genetic Resources Center)

BK Joshi, Genebank, NARC, Nepal; 2024
1/13
National Genebank
(National Agriculture Genetic Resources Center)
Bal Krishna Joshi, PhD
National Genebank, NARC
Kathmandu, Nepal
Mbl: 9863 020 222
joshibalak@yahoo.com
• Ensuring the availability of all agricultural genetic resources (AGRs) forever
• SMART (Scientifically managed agricultural research and technology) Center: NAGRC
Visit of DG, FAO
12 Jan 2024, Khumaltar
Satbeej (100 different
seeds)

2/13
Agrobiodiversity, Components and Sub-components 49th, 31st, 10th
• Among the total 24,300 species in Nepal, 28%
(6,618) are agricultural genetic resources
(AGRs) with around 1,00,000 landraces
• About 40% agricultural diversity had been lost
from Nepal
• 95% of germplasm in research and
development are from outside the country
• About 25,297 accessions of different native
agricultural species are conserved in foreign
countries
• Many globally significant agricultural genetic
resources are available in Nepal
Source: Joshi et al 2019
• AGRs within 60-5000 masl
• 30,000 crop landraces
Agro Insect
Agro microbe
Bio, flow/ wrl/asa

3/13
Red Zoning and Red Listing for Priority Conservation
 Red zoning of agricultural land
 Red listing of agricultural genetic resources
 Agricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) before
implementing the project
Source: Joshi and Gauchan 2017
Germplasm rescue and repatriation
921 accessions rescued from
2015 Mega earthquake areas

4/13
Tissue
Bank, 2 (120)
Aqua pond genebank, 5 (30)
Livestock farm genebank
10 (38)
Some Conservation Banks: 101 good practices (Total 18000 accessions)
Field genebank
20 (750)
School field genebank, 7 (122)
DNA bank
1 (550)
Seed bank
1 (14500)
Crop specific park, 6 (450)
Joshi et al 2020a

5/13
Good Practices…
Agro Gene Sanctuary 4
Bringing wilderness to
domesticated crops
Forage field
genebank 4 (150)
Agro Plantation
Agro-insect field genebank 6
Agro-microbial field genebank
(Muoshroom mini park)
Herbal conservation garden
For tea and distribution
School agro insect field genebank

6/13
Communities based (on-farm)Conservation
G. Community aqua pond
genebank
B. Community field
genebank, 8 (113)
A. Community seed bank
40 (2045)
C. Household insect field genebank
F. Community Genebank H. Gaushaalaa (manure factory)
गौशाला (मल कारखाना)
D. Home stay, farm stay
Community Genebank
E. Agro biodiversity trail?
Source: Joshi et al 2020a
I. Diversity blocks and Diversity Fair

7/13
Conservation through use (with farmers): On-farm conservation
 Proso millet in Humla district, Foxtail in Lamjung
and Bean in Dolakha
 Participatory plant breeding
 Chino Kutak developed and distributed
 More than 50 elite lines identified and
distributed
 Lost landraces directly to farmers (100)
 More than 500 accessions repatriated
 Promotion of पन्च गुणीय क
ृ षि उपज (PQTHN)
 Product diversification
Source: Joshi et al 2019, Gauchan
et al 2020, Genebank 2021
Site specific varietal development and promotion of site specific
staple crop: 6 interventions

8/13
Evolutionary Plant Breeding
Evolutionary
plant breeding
• 66 rice landraces growing together
• Climate resilient population
Monogenotyped
Polygenotyped
Cultivar Mixture
Genetic enhancement and registration
of Native Landraces
Proso millet: Dudhae
Chino (Humla
Fox tail millet: Bariyo
Kaguno (Lamjung)
Finger millet: Rato
Kodo (Jumla)

9/13
Geographical Indication tag as an accelerating tool for conservation and use
Jumli Thaali
Jumli Simi
Jumli Maarshi
Akabare Khursaani
Ilam chiyaa
Basmati Dhaan
Bhaktapur
Dahi
Kaalo
musuro
Mude aalu
Pokhreli badaam
100 products for GI?
Kuvinde farsi
Digaam Gund
Mankamana
Suntala

10/13
Collaborative success cases with FAO
 Future smart food crops: Interaction and workshop, and publication
 Country report on plant genetic resources: State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources
for Food and Agriculture
 WIEWS - World Information and Early Warning System on Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture
 National Information Sharing Mechanism (NISM) for strengthening database (capacity
enhanced)
 Publication of Millet compendium
 The Benefit-sharing Fund has approved our project (in fifth call of BSF)

11/13
Plans and Nepal Genebank’s Request
1. Establishment of Agro gene sanctuary in 3 agroecozones (dedicated large areas for 6 components: crops,
forage, livestock, agro-insect, agro-microbe and aquatic AGRs of agrobiodiversity) to conserve naturally,
similar to national park
2. Banking AGRs in School and College (School field genebank, school agro gene sanctuary school agro insect
field genebank, etc
3. Preparation of National agrobiodiversity strategy and action plan (NABSAP)
4. Mainstreaming Red zoning and red listing system including agrobiodiversity impact assessment (AIA)
before implementing any mega project
5. Estimation of agrobiodiversity index of each district, province, country
6. Participatory and conservation breeding (landrace enhancement, evolutionary plant breeding, site specific
variety development, for making native AGRs competent) and formalizing AGRs products (eg through GI)
to ensure the marketing of native products
7. Organizing National level workshop and documentation of all 6 components of AGRs
8. Implementing National pride/level mega project on native agrobiodiversity
9. Establishment of Himalayan seed bank as safety backup and Cryo bank
10.Strengthening database including virtual genebank and digital passports for all 6 components of
agrobiodiversity
11.Celebration of agrobiodiversity year at an international level (2026?)
12.Estimating Health index of AGRs
13.Making agricultural field, farm, research areas agro-insect, agro-microbes and birds friendly

12/13
2. National Agrobiodiversity
Day and Week: Jan 3rd week
१-७ माघ : राषरि य क
ृ षि जैषिक
षिषिधता हप्ता
जीवन र वातावरणको लागि क
ृ गि जैगवक गवगवधता
Agrobiodiversity for life and environment
Nepal Government declared 2079BS
as National Agrobiodiversity Year
1. National Genebank
Day, 1st week of Oct
3. National agricultural
genetic resources
conservation and AGRs to
nature day: In Dec
बाला चतुुदशी (मष िंर क
ृ ष्ण चतुुदशी)
: राषरि य क
ृ षि आनुििंषशक स्रोत
िंरक्षण तथा प्रक
ृ षतमा क
ृ षि
आनुबिंषशक स्रोत षदि

13/13
Let’s make native AGRs competent globally
Native technologies/ innovations for global
security
Thank you all
• Agrobiodiversity is the basis of our life, and
basis for advancing agricultural sciences
• Let’s think agricultural biodiversity first in
agricultural problems.
• Go for local, work on local, respect local and
globalize local.
Himalayan
seed bank?

National Genebank (National Agriculture Genetic Resources Center)

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