Tunis — The "cereals and early fruit and vegetables" group from the national "genes bank" which is composed of 15 researchers visited several governorates to collect some 5000 cereal and early fruit and vegetables strains, basing themselves on the latest techniques of collection, observation and research.

This group of experts has already undertaken to dry up these samples so as to stock a number of them; the second part will be examined in view of elaborating their genetic material.

Other teams belonging to the national "genes bank" and specialized in other varieties, notably spices, leguminous plants and forest and medicinal plants, as well as the genetic structure of animals and fish, will visit other regions to collect local plant and animal strains.

The national genes banks works in cooperation and in network with various teams of experts from scientific research centers and institutes.

The project aim at planting several early local varieties and to disseminate them among Tunisian farmers who will then reintroduce them in the agricultural production chain, with a view to promoting local varieties of seeds characterized by their resistance and adaptability to difficult climatic conditions, as well as their higher yield.