Participatory research approaches rapidly improve household food security in Nepal and identify policy changes required for institutionalisation

Abstract

The introduction, testing, promotion and release of a rice variety, BG 1442, in Nepal were examined in relation to existing policies governing these procedures and to how more participatory approaches could benefit food security. From 1998 to 2006, participatory varietal selection (PVS) was used to test BG 1442 and other candidate rice varieties in the spring (Chaite) rice-growing season (February to June) and in the main season (June to November). The testing of BG 1442 commenced 11 years after it was first introduced into Nepal in 1987 by the national rice research programme (NRRP). Following its initial acceptance by farmers, it was widely disseminated from 1998 by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the low altitude region of Nepal called the terai in projects funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), UK. This dissemination was done using a method termed informal research and development (IRD) where many small packets of seed were distributed without fertiliser or pesticides, the only additional input being a description of varietal characteristics on an enclosed leaflet. From 2001 to 2008, various assessments were made of its extent of adoption and its impact on livelihoods. In a randomised survey of households in 10 districts, BG 1442 increased from not being used at all in 1997 to being grown by about 20% of the surveyed rice farmers by 2008. It was grown both in the Chaite and the main season and was well adapted to the rainfed-upland and medium-land rice ecosystems. The variety was grown from the far west to the far east of low-altitude Nepal by resource-poor farmers. IRD was important in accelerating adoption and improving food security as it was by far the most important external source of seed for farmers. Prior to the adoption of BG 1442, farmers who did not harvest sufficient rice to last their households for 12 months increased rice self sufficiency by over 2 months (25% more). Those households that sold surplus grain and who grew BG 1442 increased grain sales by 600 kg (25% more) in the Chaite season and by 370 kg (24% more) from main season cultivation.preprintPeer reviewe

Addressing the yield gap in rainfed crops: a review

“…Successful examples of the use of participatory varietal selection and participatory plant breeding/clientoriented breeding are collated in Ceccarelli et al (2009), as well as in more recent publications (e.g. vom Brocke et al 2010;Joshi et al 2012) (Fig. 2). b. Tactical management.…”

Organic Agriculture—Driving Innovations in Crop Research

“…Farmers satisfied with new cultivars will multiply and distribute seeds among their social networks (Vernooy, 2003). Farm-saved seeds and local seed markets and seed fairs can all maintain and strengthen the formal and informal seed chain and thus improve smallholder farmers' access to seed (Sperling et al, 2008;Sthapit et al, 2008;da Silva Dias, 2010;Joshi et al, 2012). Pautasso et al (2012) highlighted the role of seed exchange networks in conservation of agrobiodiversity and their importance for local food security.…”

Yield and Profit from New and Old Wheat Varieties Using Certified and Farmer-Saved Seeds

“…This needs to be understood in the context of the current dilemma, wherein the terms "seed replacement" and "variety replacement" are often used interchangeably, when in fact CS of newly-released, high yielding and disease resistant varieties versus CS of old and obsolete varieties is not the same thing. Moreover, in developing countries, crop breeding and variety testing and release procedures take long time, with a lag phase of 6-8 years after the release of a variety and before any substantial adoption [22][23][24][25]. Varieties released by this method no longer remain a "new variety" in the true sense.…”