PREFACE

The timely inclusion of bulbing Allium species within the mandate crops of the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) in 1992, and its need to take stock of the current research and development issues of allium crops within the tropics, catalyzed the organization of this first allium symposium.

Through the generous support of numerous donors, the conference drew 136 allium scientists and experts from 43 countries to Thailand where the agenda led the participants through general country reports to specialized topics on conventional and modern breeding, conservation and utilization of genetic resources, pest and disease control, and the management of other production constraints.

The content of this proceedings represents the contribution of the symposium participants to the future improvement of allium production and utilization within the tropics, and I wish to thank them and the reviewers for their painstaking efforts in the development of these proceedings. This also represents the first of what we hope will be many copublishing efforts between ISHS and AVRDC.

Finally, I wish to express gratitude to the staff of the Asian Regional Center (AVRDC) in Thailand without whom this symposium would not have materialized, to Dr. Jack W. Reeves and Ms. Cristina Bejosano-Gloria of AVRDC for assistance with technical editing, and to my secretary Gloria Kuo for tirelessly retyping various drafts of the proceedings.

David J. Midmore
Convener


WELCOME ADDRESS

The Honorable Principal Secretary of Agriculture of Thailand, the Honorable Deputy Director General of FAO, the President of Kasetsart University, distinguished delegates and participants, ladies and gentleman:

Allow me first to compliment both the Honorable Principal Secretary of Agriculture and the Honorable Deputy Director General of FAO for graciously accepting our invitation to open this international symposium. Their presence this morning, in spite of their crowded calendars, manifests their recognition of the importance of horticulture, in general, in the economy of the developing countries and confirms the importance of this conference.

We are all aware of the nutritional importance of vegetables. But equally significant are the opportunities for employment and family income generated by vegetable production. Vegetables generate 3–10 times the employment and income per hectare of land as that of cereals like rice, wheat, or maize.

Moreover, while the demand for staple is tapering off, both in developed and developing countries, the demand for horticultural products is rising with increase in per capita income. Local demand and exports of horticultural products in developing countries are projected to grow significantly in the coming decades.

The availability of improved technology, in order to increase productivity to improve quality and to further reduce costs, will largely determine how successful the developing countries will be in meeting these projected demands for horticultural products such as vegetables.

Unfortunately, for many developing countries the capacity and resources to generate the necessary technology will be beyond their means. There simply are too many commodities to deal with, and the scientific manpower and infrastructure requirements too great and too expensive for any one country to be self-sufficient in its technology-generating capacity.

The only way is for the developing countries to pool their resources and engage in mutually-beneficial research and technology-sharing arrangements through various mechanisms such as direct bilateral exchanges, regional networks, and through the mediation of international research centres. Information sharing through the conventional hard-copy medium, increasingly through electronic networks and periodic regional and international gatherings as we have today, provides additional opportunities for gaining access to a critical level of research effort.

The Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) is keen to play a role in the global effort to mobilize research on horticulture crops for the benefit of developing countries. In our "Center Strategy for the 1990s", we see our role as one of catalyzing the organization of vegetable research networks in the major regions of the world. Upon the invitation of our national partners, AVRDC has spearheaded the establishment of regional networks in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Southern Africa. Soon we anticipate setting up similar cooperative activities in Latin America and the rest of Africa.

For this initiative, we have had the benefit of close and productive association with similarly minded organizations. One such very productive linkage had been our collaboration with Kasetsart University which hosts AVRDC's regional center and whose president, Dr. Kamphol, we were privileged to hear today.

Tropical onions, garlic, shallot, and other alliums are very important vegetable commodities in developing countries. Their potential is great both for local consumption and, for some countries, for generating foreign exchange through exports. However, they are relatively less studied crops, and, therefore, would require a lot of scientific effort to solve their production constraints.

This symposium is an excellent opportunity for all involved in allium research to share information, exchange views, and explore areas of cooperation for mutual benefit. Our hope is that this symposium will mark the state-of-the-science of tropical alliums, and lay the groundwork for a global network of information sharing and research collaboration.

We are pleased to recognize that many of the world's leading scientists engaged in allium research have responded to our call for this symposium. Your presence today is guaranty that the wishes and expectations of the conveners and those of the sponsors such as ISHS, IBPGR, FAO, and the Government of Thailand and commercial sponsors will be realized.

Welcome to all of you, and may you have a pleasant sojourn in this beautiful country, Thailand.