By Ncaba Ntshakala
In a moment to be celebrated for Eswatini and Africa as a whole, the Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuke officially launched the National Genebank at the Malkerns Research Station.
This state-of-the-art facility signifies the nation’s impeccable commitment to preserving Africa’s rich vegetable biodiversity for present and future generations.
The inauguration ceremony saw the Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, expressing his deepest gratitude to all development partners who contributed to the project.
He emphasized the government’s recognition of the critical role traditional seed ecosystems and biodiversity play in sustainable agriculture and conservation efforts.
ALSO READ: WFF, GEF distribute over 100 trees to 20 beekeepers
Minister Tshawuka highlighted the innovative features of the genebank. “This cutting-edge facility allows us to securely store seeds for up to a century,” he declared.
“This ensures the precious genetic heritage of our traditional seed ecosystems is preserved. This isn’t merely a building; it’s a gateway to safeguarding sustainable agriculture and food security for countless years to come.”
The National Plant Genetic Resources Centre, established in 1993, falls under the purview of the Department of Agricultural Research and Specialist Services (DARSS) within the Ministry of Agriculture.
This program serves as the national plant gene bank, established as part of a 20-year regional initiative – the SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre program.
ALSO READ: Gabon sees Africa’s first ‘debt-for-nature’ swap over the line
The initiative received financial and technical support from the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden).
This dedicated section of the Research Division plays a crucial role in ensuring and promoting the conservation of plant genetic resources.
Their primary focus lies on indigenous cultivated crops and their wild relatives, often referred to as weeds. These efforts encompass both ex-situ (in the gene bank) and in situ (in their natural habitat) conservation strategies.
