Technical Working Groups

Priority areas on a regional basis, where cooperation among participating countries is needed for the development of these areas, will be identified by the participants in the expert consultation meeting for the establishment of the medicinal plants Network that will may be held in CAIRO at the period of 27-30, September 2004 from the following:

a) Identification , conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants
b) Agricultural practices
c) Post-harvest and processing technologies
d) Socio-economic and Commercialization Group


For the optimal utilization of the limited resources available, Working Groups in the three areas identified above should prioritize, streamline and focus on the problems in each of the areas identified as priority areas. They should also seek to tie the existing activities of country members of the network rather than starting completely new programs, unless on a temporary basis, to address a specific research problem, using external funding.

It is important to have precise and realistic work plans, which assign responsibilities to members and to the secretariat for each aspect of an activity. Some of the specific tasks that may have to be addressed by the working groups in each of these areas are summarized below. These should be looked at as only guidelines that have to be prioritized and may later be modified and updated as deemed necessary. They include the following.

The host institution of the working group would provide local facilities and expenses, but funds for regional programs and research activities, training and collection and dissemination of information would be sought from national and/or multilateral sources. Cost sharing among participating countries should be encouraged. FAO, AARINENA will continue to provide technical assistance in the activities of the working groups.