Development and Promotion of an Informal and Formal Seed System Through Farmer Participatory Seed Production of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajanL.) in Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Pigeonpea is a major pulse crop in India. However, its productivity, which hovers around 700 kg ha -1 , has remained stagnant over the past several decades. Local landraces dominate the cultivation of pigeonpea in the country. A major reason for low productivity in pigeonpea is the non-availability of quality seed of improved varieties to farmers. In this paper, we share experiences of farmer-participatory pigeonpea seed production in Fatehpur and Kanpur Dehat districts in Uttar Pradesh in India. Through farmer-participatory varietal selection trials, farmers identified NA 1, long-duration pigeonpea variety and UPAS 120, short-duration variety, as their preferred choices. Long-duration variety NA 1 was preferred because of its disease resistance, higher yield, attractive seed size and color. Farmers were organized to form cooperative societies to undertake seed production, processing and marketing at the local level. Societies were also linked with the public sector seed producing agencies to participate in the formal seed production program. The C: B ratio of seed production of NA 1 variety was 1: 5.19 as compared to 1: 2.53 of the local variety. Village-level seed production not only addressed the issue of shortage of quality seeds but also brought higher incomes to farmers leading to improved livelihood.

CONSTRAINTS TO ADOPTION OF IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY FOR BERSEEM CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM ALEXANDRINUM) CULTIVATION IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

“…The idea did not originate from the farmers themselves but most were amenable to the idea of adoption and long-term commitment to this activity (Srinivas et al ., 2010). However, the participatory research approach could provide a sense of ownership to farmers and encourage them to make the idea their own thus ensuring better long-term success (Singh et al ., 2013).…”

“…Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics as described by Singh et al . (2013) and Anwar et al . (2012).…”

“…Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics as described by Singh et al (2013) and Anwar et al (2012). The quantitatively collected data contained two types of response variables, continuous and categorical (predicted) variables, and therefore a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used.…”

Policy options for advancing seed systems for vegetatively propagated crops in Vietnam

“…A key aspect of informal VPC seed systems is the role of decentralized and localized systems in which farmers are the main producers, and are actively engaged in multiplication and distribution of seeds through exchange or sale, typically within limited geographic areas (Jones et al, 2001;Ndjeunga, 2002;Hirpa et al, 2010;Sperling and McGuire, 2010;Witcombe et al, 2010;Tin et al, 2011;Singh et al, 2013;Tadesse et al, 2016). Another distinctive feature of the informal seed system is that seed is a by-product of thousands/millions of farm enterprises that are focused on the production of crop output for consumption.…”

Construction and Standardization of Attitude Scale to Measure the Attitude of Tribal Farmers Towards Seed Banking

“…Seed banks usually store seed from a wide range of individuals, informal groups and NGOs who share seed among themselves (Lewis & Mulvany, 1997). Promoting the local seed varieties through informal seed distribution systems such as community seed banks/seed banks is the need of the hour in tribal areas (Khadka et al, 2012;Maharjan et al, 2012;Shrestha et al, 2012;Malik et al, 2013;Singh et al, 2013;Vernooy et al, 2017).In order to promote seed banks in tribal areas, it is necessary to know the attitude of the farmers towards seed banking. In the present study, the various psychological objects such as the seed accessibility, seed production, seed storage, use and seed distribution to others has been symbolized.…”