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Participatory variety selection (PVS) for the selection and testing of salt tolerant varieties/genotypes and breeding accessions of rice was conducted at Central Soil SalinityResearch Institute, Regional Research Station, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India from 2001 to 2007. This aimed to identify high yielding, adaptable, and acceptable rice cultivars for sodic soils through farmers' participation. Typically, plant breeders develop varieties isolated from active farmers and release varieties that are most productive under ideal conditions; often they are not suitable for marginal farm conditions, like sodic lands. Therefore, PVS facilitates development of varieties suitable for marginal soils and farmers' interests. A collection of modern rice varieties/genotypes was screened and evaluated under researcher-managed trials during 2001. From 2002 to 2008, farmers became a part of the variety/genotype selection and testing process in order to incorporate their preferences, which were crucial for the large-scale adoption of the selected variety/genotype. With farmer support, genotype CSR-89IR-8 was identified as superior and not only performed better in different locations in the state of Uttar Pradesh, but was also readily adopted Downloaded by [University of Connecticut] at 06:57 01 April 2015 428 Y. P. Singh et al. by many farmers in sodic areas. This genotype is tolerant to sodicity (up to pH 2 ∼9.9) and yields more grain in sodic soil than other varieties/genotypes tested. In view of the successful testing and large scale adoption of CSR-89IR-8 in the target sodic areas of Indo-Gangetic plains, this genotype was officially released as variety CSR 43 by Uttar Pradesh State Variety Release Committee in 2011for widespread cultivation. The successful use of PVS in these sodic environments convinced researchers, stakeholders, and partner organizations to more broadly adopt this approach for new rice variety development, particularly for other salt affected areas.

This paper assesses farmer adoption of rice varieties and new genotypes introduced through participatory varietal selection (PVS) in villages which represent submergence-and drought/submergence-prone villages in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. It focuses on the involvement of women farmers in participatory research for screening improved varieties for areas which suffer from abiotic stresses. It further assesses the impact on the decision-making authority (or women's empowerment) on rice varietal choice, seed acquisition and disposal, and crop management after participating in PVS trials. It suggests strategies to empower women farmers in making sound and timely decisions on farm-related matters and to enhance their roles in accelerating the adoption of new varieties. I N T RO D U C T I O N