2. Multipurpos e tree and shrub germplasm
- During the last decade the awareness has grown that woody perennials can and must play a prominent role in maintaining the sustainability of many tropical land-use systems and in offsetting rapidly increasing farm fuel wood needs.
- Consequently the demand for trees and shrubs which have the potential for various uses cannot,
- at present, be adequately met by controlled supplies of appropriate germplasm,
- either for reasons of actual shortage or for lack of communication between germplasm suppliers and requestors.
- In this situation immediate action was required in order not to delay progress in agroforestry research and development which hinged to a large extent on the availability of sufficient germplasm of woody perennials.