On-farm participatory evaluation and selection of crop varieties at climate changes in Southern Niger

Abstract

Participatory varietal selection (PVS) is one of the most rapid and cost-effective ways for breeders, farmers, and agronomists to identify high-yielding and well adapted varieties to current climate threats and to obtain feedback from the potential end users in the early phases of the breeding cycle (s). On the other hand, a participatory evaluation of improved and local varieties of pearl millet, sorghum, cowpea, and groundnut was conducted in Southern Niger during the growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. The farmers' varietal and trait preferences were identified through on-farm participatory variety testing and focus group discussions. The findings showed that farmers' preferred varieties match most often with scientists, and the farmers' most preferred traits in the study area were yield, yield components, and earliness. The highest average grain yields across environments were recorded from pearl millet variety ICRI-TABI, sorghum variety SSD35, cowpea variety Dan Hajia, and groundnut variety 55-437. In the study area, farmers' strategies for tackling climate change and variability included selecting early maturing varieties with high yields and tolerant to drought, pests, and diseases. These findings could be critical for increasing farmers' farming systems productivity and thereby contributing to poverty alleviation and food security in the Sahel.

Gender trait preferences among smallholder cowpea farmers in northern Ghana: lessons from a case study

“…As observed in Table 2 , most farmers selected grain yield (83.33%), but was preferred by slightly more women (87%) than men (79%). Similar studies have consistently found preference for high grain yield among cowpea farmers (e.g., Rabé et al, 2022 ; Karikari et al, 2023 ; Moussa et al, 2023 ). These studies ( Rabé et al, 2022 ; Karikari et al, 2023 ; Moussa et al, 2023 ), however, assumed preference for traits among producers and end-users to be gender-blind, therefore did not consider trait preferences for both men and women.…”

“…Similar studies have consistently found preference for high grain yield among cowpea farmers (e.g., Rabé et al, 2022 ; Karikari et al, 2023 ; Moussa et al, 2023 ). These studies ( Rabé et al, 2022 ; Karikari et al, 2023 ; Moussa et al, 2023 ), however, assumed preference for traits among producers and end-users to be gender-blind, therefore did not consider trait preferences for both men and women. From the study, the finding that more women preferred pods that grow above the canopy for the reason that such cowpea are easier to harvest confirms ( Ridgeway, 2009 ; Sylla et al, 2023 ) that gender relations fit into social structures that define agricultural tasks.…”

“…Unlike this study, Rabé et al (2022) did not look at trait preferences between men and women cowpea farmers. These findings are supported by the conclusion of Moussa et al (2023) that farmers’ strategies for tackling climate change and variability in Southern Niger included adopting early maturing varieties with high yield and tolerant to drought, pests, and diseases. Increased urbanization, coupled with the growing market for cowpea in Ghana has also influenced the preference for a consumer trait such as less cooking-time among cowpea producers and consumers ( Mishili et al, 2009 ).…”