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The International Neem Network: a case study on networking

Year of publication 2000

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Product type Meeting

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Despite the widespread use of neem, global programmes for the evaluation and improvement of genetic resources of neem have previously not been initiated. The lack of activity in this field and the reliance on locally available germplasm is partly caused by problems of seed viability and handling, which have placed a serious constraint on seed collection and transfer. As a result, the genetic material presently used in plantations is generally thought to have been originally collected on few stan ds or trees, and its genetic base is in many cases likely to be very narrow, particularly in countries outside the natural range of the species. Neem decline is presently affecting many Sahelian countries and is alleged to be caused by a number of interacting environmental and genetic factors, possibly aggravated by pathogens. Following the recommendations and agreements of the First and Second International Consultations on Neem Improvement in Thailand 1993 and India 1994, the International N eem Network was established in 1994. The collaborating countries and the focal institutes for the International Neem Network are given in box 1. The long term objective of the International Neem Network is to improve the genetic quality and adaptability of neem and to improve its utilisation, throughout the world, as a contribution to development in the countries concerned, with particular focus on meeting the needs of rural people. The Network collaborators decided to undertake activities rel ated to provenance exploration, seed collection and exchange for establishment of internationally coordinated trials. The Network collaborators also decided to undertake research in seed physiology and technology, genetic diversity and reproductive biology, as well as studies on variation in chemical compounds. This note gives an introduction to the activities and achievements of the International Neem Network.

Language English

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    Meeting
    REPORT OF THE WORKSHOP ON DATA ANALYSIS OF THE INTERNATIONAL NEEM NETWORK 2001
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    National collaborators of the International Neem Network (INN) and resource persons met in a workshop on data analysis held at the Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), in Jodhpur, India 21 to 25 March 2001. The workshop, attended by 14 persons, was supported by FAO, the DANIDA Forest Seed Centre (DFSC, Denmark) and the FAO Forest Research Support Programme for Asia and the Pacific (FORSPA, Thailand). Participants from Burkina Faso, India, Laos, Nepal, Tanzania and Thailand discussed with exper ts and resource persons from FAO, DFSC and the Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions (APAFRI, Malaysia). The workshop included a field trip to neem field research activities and a Rajasthan Forest Service Conservation Area on 24 March. The Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE, Dehra Dun) and the Forest Service, Government of Rajasthan, are heartily thanked for hosting the workshop in a friendly and constructive atmosphere, for the fine practical arrangem ents and for the efficient organization of the meeting. The list of participants and the agenda are given in Annex 1 and Annex 2 respectively. The main objectives of the workshop were to (i) report and discuss the state of the international provenance trials established in 1995; (ii) present progress made in data collection and analysis on individual trials; (iii) discuss possible future assessments, and criteria to be monitored; (iv) consider the relevance and feasibility of a global assessme nt of the trials; and (v) discuss the future activities of the Network.
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    Meeting
    Report of the Workshop of the International Neem Network - Yangon, Myanmar - 28 July - 1 August 1997 1997
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    National institutions of 23 countries, in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, are participating in the Network which is coordinated by FAO. During 1993 and 1994, seed-sources were surveyed and documented throughout the natural range of the species and in areas of introduction. Pilot seed collection and exchange were undertaken to improve the procedures used in these very difficult operations, Neem seed having a recalcitrant or intermediate behaviour. A training workshop was organised in July 1994, in Coimbatore (India), to familiarise network collaborators with the improved procedures for seed collection and exchange. Twenty five seed-sources, representing the eco-geographical variation in the range of distribution of the species, were selected for seed collection and exchange among network collaborators in 1995, for establishment of international provenance trials. Results of seed exchange and nursery production were discussed at a workshop of the International Neem Network in Ban gkok in March 1996. At this meeting guidelines for trial design of international provenance trials were discussed and adopted. Following the Bangkok workshop, approx. 30 international provenance trials were established by network collaborators in some 15 countries, sampling the full range of ecological conditions within the distribution area of Neem. The main objectives of the workshop were to (i) report and discuss the 1996 activities of the network, especially the results of the trial establis hment; (ii) discuss and adopt guidelines for assessment of provenance trials; (iii) discuss the future activities of the Network; and (iv) visit Neem research activities in the field in Myanmar.
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    Meeting
    Report of the Workshop of the International Neem Network - Bangkok, Thailand, 14-15 March 1996 1996
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    Following the recommendations and agreements of the First and Second International Consultations on Neem Improvement, Bangkok (Thailand) January 1993, and Jodhpur (India) March 1994, the International Neem Network was established with the long term objective to improve the genetic quality and adaptability of neem and to improve its utilization, throughout the world, as a contribution to development in the countries concerned, in particular in concern of meeting the needs of rural people. In the initial stage, the main component of the activities of the Network is: Provenance exploration, collection and exchange for establishment of internationally coordinated trials. The Network also decided to undertake research activities in Phenology, Seed Physiology and Tehnology, Genetic diversity and Reproductive biology, and Variation in chemical compounds. National institutions of 23 countries, in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, are participating in the Network which is coordinated by F AO. The main objectives of the workshop were to (i) report and discuss the 1995 activities of the network; (ii) discuss and adopt the guidelines for design and establishment of provenance trials; and (iii) to discuss the future activities of the Network. This report describes and summarizes the discussions and recommendations of the meeting.
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