ABSTRACT
The Kiziba community gene bank, located in Kabwohe, Kiziba parish, in the Sheema district of Uganda, was started in 2010. With technical support from Bioversity International and the Ugandan National Agricultural Research Organization and financial support from the United Nations Environment Programme's Global Environment Facility, farmers worked to save the seeds that formed the starting capital of the community gene bank. The management committee ensures that seed deposited in the gene bank is stored properly and preserved using locally made organic materials, mainly cow dung, which is burned and ground to powder. The gene bank is currently functioning as a community-level initiative managed by members of the community with technical oversight and guidance from Bioversity International and the Plant Genetic Resources Centre. The gene bank is registered at the district level as a seed-producing group and operates under various policies, but the draft national agricultural seed policy that is currently being reviewed will be the major policy influencing its operation.
