Farmers’ Participatory Varietal Selection: A Sustainable Crop Improvement Approach for the 21st Century

Abstract

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.

Gestion de la chenille mineuse de l'épi du mil par des lâchers du parasitoïde Habrobracon hebetor Say au Niger

“…On peut qualifier cette démarche de participative et responsabilisante. Elle rejoint celles préconisées ces dernières années par plusieurs auteurs pour le transfert des technologies agricoles (par exemple, Beaudoux et al, 1995 ;Singh et al, 2014 ;Tackie et al, 2009).…”

Evaluation of a set of near isogenic lines (NILS) for rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) resistance and farmers participatory varietal evaluation in Sierra Leone

“…RYMV resistance was not identified as a selection criterion since the incidence of the disease was low at all locations during the season. Joshi and Witcombe (2008), Wopereis et al (2009),Singh et al (2014 and Angarawai et al (2016) identified farmer participatory varietal selection as the best approach for exposing farmers to cultivars and improving adoption rates.…”

Seleksi Varietas Partisipatif Terhadap Galur-Galur Elit Padi Gogo di Lahan Petani

“…Masalah tersebut diduga salah satunya disebabkan oleh sangat beragamnya preferensi petani terhadap suatu varietas baik itu dari morfologi tanaman maupun mutu beras yang dihasilkan (Almekinders dan Elings, 2001;Singh et al, 2013). Preferensi yang sangat beragam antar daerah atau bahkan antar petani membutuhkan ketersediaan pilihan varietas yang lebih beragam dari pemulia.…”

“…Nilai preferensi (preference score) dan hasil gabah genotipe padi gogo di lahan petani Cianjur, Jawa Barat pada MH 2012-2013 Panen dilakukan setelah pelaksanaan seleksi partisipatif. Hasil pengambilan sampel gabah kering giling menunjukkan galur B12790E-TB-2-1 memiliki hasil gabah tertinggi (6.8 t/ha), lebih tinggi dibandingkan semua varietas pembanding.…”

“…Nilai preferensi (preference score) dan hasil gabah genotipe padi gogo di lahan petani Kebumen, Jawa Tengah pada MH 2012-2013 Pelaksanaan PVS ini juga memiliki peran penting dalam peningkatan keragaman genetik padi di lapang dan sebagai jalur informasil difusi benih varietas unggul padi gogo di lahan petani (Witcombe et al, 2001;Hairmansis et al, 2008;Suwarno et al, 2009;Lacoste et al, 2012). Keragaman preferensi yang tercermin dalam pelaksanaan PVS di Cianjur dan Kebumen merupakan modal penting dalam usaha meningkatkan keragaman genetik di lapang.…”