Chapter 8 - Participatory Breeding: Developing Improved and Relevant Crop Varieties With Farmers

Abstract

This chapter exposes the concept of participatory plant breeding (PPB), and relates it to the theory of plant breeding. Essential elements of PPB are new forms of cooperation between farmers and researchers, a detailed assessment of agroecological conditions and farmers’ needs, the use of local germplasm, a decentralized organization of selection and variety testing, and innovative strategies for seed production and distribution. This chapter outlines how PPB can practically be organized in the various stages of a plant breeding program, starting from setting objectives, generating or assembling variability, selecting, variety testing and evaluation, and ending with production and diffusion of seed. The last section describes the types of impact that can be achieved through PPB: food security is improved through rational use of resources and better adaptation of varieties to environmental conditions, and farmers are being provided with new options while eco-friendly traditional practices are strengthened and maintained.