This exploratory study aims to understand and improve the performance of Gambia Indigenous Livestock Multipliers’ Associations (GILMA – Fulladu and Saloum) as a way of enabling them to better respond to the challenges faced in fulfilling their institutional responsibilities. Using participatory institutional diagnosis, the GILMA members and experts were able to examine their associations and to stimulate collective reflection as a means of making the associations more efficient and effective. The findings of this diagnosis showed that functioning of both GILMAs was closely linked to the operations of their technical partners. This resulted to GILMAs which clearly lack defined vision and mission. Main issues to address include capacity development of GILMA's executive committee in terms of institutional management, group facilitation, participatory planning, effective strategies for partnership and ownership. Overall, this study developed pathways for revitalizing GILMAs into vibrant and self-sustaining indigenous ruminant livestock multipliers’ associations that can effectively carry out specific roles and responsibilities within the three-tier Open Nucleus Breeding Scheme of the International Trypanotolerance Centre.

Introduction. Shanxi province is one of the main walnut production areas in the North of China. The cultivated species mainly belong to a Chinese walnut tree population, named ‘Mian Hetao’ (Juglans regia L.), which reproduces from seedlings. Although the walnut apomixis characteristics were discovered very early and have an important breeding value, this variety has not yet been reported as an important breeding resource. Cultivar origin. ‘Qinquan 1’ is a new cultivar of walnut tree (Juglans regia L.), selected in 1982 from walnut seedling resources in the department of Shanxi, in the North of China. This cultivar is characterized by apomixis, the ratio of which can reach 24.7%. After more than 20 years of selection and many local experiments, its characteristics were given and the cultivar was certificated in March 2007. Cultivar characteristics. Characteristics of ‘Qinquan 1’ fruits, trees, development stages, production and the apomixis rate are given. Main cultural techniques. Many characteristics of this new cultivar are suitable for its growth in the middle or south Loess Highlands (China), where the annual average temperature is 9~13 °C and rainfall is above 450 mm. The cultivar is also cultivable in the North of China where the soil and climate conditions resemble those of the original area. Other recommendations are given for improving the ‘Qinquan 1’ tree growth.