Enhancing farmers’ access and use of conserved germplasm for improved food security and climate resilience: The case of sorghum at Kenya’s national genebank

Participatory varietal selection and participatory plant breeding are two new terminologies that include both old and new concepts and procedures. The degree and timing of farmer involvement in plant breeding determines the difference between participatory varietal selection and participatory plant breeding. The main difference between participatory plant breeding and participatory varietal selection is the degree of farmer involvement in the various stages of the breeding program. Participatory varietal selection involves farmers testing and selecting new varieties generated by the institutional system in their fields and at local research stations in a range of environments, as well as comparing these varieties to local farmer varieties while in a participatory plant breeding, farmers are often involved in decision-making throughout the breeding process, not just in the final testing of advanced breeding lines. Farmers are the primary beneficiaries of a participatory variety selection program because they are the end-users of agricultural technologies. The participatory variety selection method provides researchers valuable feedback that allows them to focus their research program to properly meet the demands of farmers. The poorest farmers should to profit from new varieties by promoting collaboration between plant breeders and farmers. However, poor farmers in marginal areas continue to produce obsolete crop varieties that are low yielding, susceptible to pests and disease and are less fitted to farmers' actual challenges and opportunities. These farmers have little exposure to new varieties, and those that have been released are frequently unsuitable for marginal areas. Therefore, participatory variety selection is very critical to introducing improved crop varieties to new growing environments based on farmers preferred traits and selected improved crop varieties. In order to enhance improved crop varieties, farmers' preferences must be taken into account across regions and growing seasons that farmers will accept. Generally, participatory varietal selection and participatory plant breeding are the way to overcome the issue of local adaptation and demand driven improved technologies. Participatory Varietal Selection and client-oriented breeding are two methods used to achieve farmers’ profitability with improved crop varieties.

Eight released sorghum varieties were evaluated in four environments in the Wag-himra and Lasta in main production season for two years (2016 and 2017). The objective of the trial was to identify high yielder sorghum varieties that possesses farmers preferred traits for production in both testing sites . The trial was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The GGE statistical model was used for analyzing genotype by environment interaction GEI and to assess the stability of sorghum variety for grain yield. A combined analysis of variance for grain yield and yield related traits showed that the main effects of both genotypes and environments, and the interaction effect, were highly significant (P ≤ 0.001). The mean values of grain yield ranged from 1300 kg ha-1 (Dagim) to 2800 kg ha-1 (Melkam) with the overall mean values of 2100 kg ha-1. Based on the GGE biplot analysis, high yielding variety Melkam (2800 kg ha-1) showed better performance stability across the test environments. In addition, the result of participatory variety selection (PVS) revealed that Melkam ranked first and second preferred sorghum variety in Lasta and Waghimira agro-ecologies, respectively. We recommend, therefore, Melkam for production in both agro-ecologies and similar areas of the country. This variety will play a role in enhancing farmers’ income through improved grain yield, especially in the dry lowlands areas of Wag-himra and Lasta. Keywords : Farmer preferred trait, GGE, PVS, stability, yield DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-7-05 Publication date: April 30 th 2020

Participatory variety selection (PVS) is an approach which provides a wide choice of varieties to farmers to evaluate in their own environment using their own resources for increasing production. It enhances farmer’s access to diverse crop varieties, increases production and ensures food security and helps faster dissemination and adoption of pre and released varieties. It allows varietal selection in targeted areas at cost-effective and timely manner and helps promotion of community seed production and community seed banks. Therefore, a variety developed through PVS usually meets demand of different stakeholders. Farmers in Singida and Iramba districts in central Tanzania were found to be growing land races which were low yielding, long maturing, drought and disease susceptible, as no variety had previously been released in Tanzania. Through PVS a broader choice of varieties that matched farmer needs in adaptation and quality traits was offered for evaluation. As such PVS was used to introduce, evaluate, release and promote for adoption finger millet varieties in Central and Northern Tanzania. Farmers selected and adopted new varieties of a higher utility (a combination of improved agronomic traits, higher yield, and improved quality). Through PVS Tanzania released her first finger millet varieties (U15 and P224). Adoption of the varieties was very high as farmers associated with the varieties; and affordable high quality seed was made available as Quality Declared Seed (QDS) produced by the target farmer groups. Preferred traits differed between the gender groups; women preferred risk averting traits like short duration, drought tolerance, compact heads and disease resistance while male preferred market related traits (high yield, brown colour and big head.

Participatory variety selection (PVS) is important in understanding farmers’ selection criteria, raising awareness, and facilitating adoption of improved varieties. This study aimed to understand farmers’ maize selection criteria, identify superior varieties based on farmers’ selections, combined with use of agronomic yield data. The study was conducted in Jixini and Mkhwezo in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Focus group discussions (FGD) and semi-structured questionnaires were used to identify maize selection criteria. Seven maize open pollinated varieties (OPVs) from CIMMYT-Zimbabwe (ZM 305, ZM 423 ZM 501, ZM 525, Obatanpa, ZM 621, ZM 627), two from IITA-Nigeria (BR 993, and Comp 4), three locally grown maize OPVs (Okavango, Afric 1 and Nelson’s Choice) and a hybrid check (Pan 6479) were evaluated together with farmers in each of the villages. Farmer-selection criteria common to both villages were ear traits such as taste, long cobs, and big kernels. Other traits, such as prolificacy, early maturity, retainability of seed and dark leaves were village specific. Three varieties (Okavango, ZM 305 and ZM 501) were selected by farmers. In addition, there were no significant differences between the highest yielding varieties within each site. Farmers’ choices were, therefore, consistent with selections made based on yield performance. However, some of the important traits for farmers, such as taste, were not normally prioritised, but should be considered when developing or recommending varieties. This will increase the likelihood of their adoption in marginal areas of South Africa. Keywords: Participatory variety selection, selection criteria, farmer, maize

Green gram (Vigna radiata (L.) R Wilczek var. radiata) is an important pulse in the climatically marginal areas of Eastern Kenya. The pulse is cultivated primarily for food grain and income generation. Its productivity in Eastern Kenya has declined, because of drought and use of late maturing varieties. The objectives of the experiment were to (i) evaluate green gram introductions for adaptability and seed yield in semi-arid areas of eastern Kenya and (ii) identify farmer preferred green gram lines through participatory variety selection. Twenty green gram lines including recent introductions, improved commercial varieties and a land race were evaluated in nine environments. Participatory variety selection was conducted to identify farmer selection criteria and acceptability. Genotypic variation and genotypes × environment interactions were observed. A wide range of seed sizes among the lines from small, medium to large was recorded. Lines AVMU 8501, AVMU 0801 and AVMU 1003 yielded higher grain in almost all the environments indicating broad adaptation. Line AVMU 8501 was superior for grain yield giving yield advantage of 13%, 70% and 32% over the best commercial variety KAT N26 and 21%, 17% and 28% over KS 20 at Environment 4, Environment 7 and Environment 9, respectively. Early maturity, yield and pod/seed size were important traits that influence adoption of green gram in Kenya. AVMU 0801, AVMU 1003 and AVMU 8501 were identified as the most farmer preferred lines. These, if well adopted, can go a long way in increasing the green gram productivity in drought prone Kenyan arid and semi-arid lands that experience erratic rainfall.

Faba bean is the most important pulse crop in area coverage and volume of annual production in Ethiopia. However, the productivity in terms of yield is still far below its potential. This research was designed to select and promote the best varieties based on farmers’ preferences. Participatory variety selection was conducted with eight faba bean varieties using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The trial was conducted in the Hagere Mariam District during the 2019 and 2020 main cropping seasons. The result showed that a highly significant variation was observed among the tested varieties in days to flowering (50 to 55.67), thousand seed weight (39.16 to 91.62 g), grain yield (1.88 to 3.03 t ha−1), and percent severity index (11.10% to 30.67%) for faba bean gall disease. A significant difference was also detected in days to maturity (134.67 to 140.67) and plant height (83.27 to 106.57 cm). The highest grain yield was recorded by Hachalu (3.03 t ha−1) followed by Walki (2.92 t ha−1) and Numan (2.86 t ha−1). Farmer’s variety had a lower yield (2.29 t ha−1) by 24.5%, 22.6%, and 18.8% than Hachalu, Walki, and Numan varieties, respectively. Dosha, Numan, and Hachalu have better tolerance to faba bean gall than the farmer’s variety under natural infestation. Among the tested varieties, Walki got a high preference score from farmers based on their selection criteria such as plant height, grain and straw yield, no. of pods/plant and no of seeds/pod, seed size, early maturity, and better adaptability in the area. Consequently, Walki was scaled up and widely disseminated in the region, achieving an average grain yield of 2.64 tons per hectare and a 107.9% yield advantage over the framer’s variety.

Chickpea is one of the grain food legumes contributing an enormous amount of protein to the human diet in Southern Ethiopia. Though a lot of improved varieties were released by research centers farmers depend on low yield and local varieties. Hence, participatory variety selection is one of the methods used to evaluate varieties through involvement of users. Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) were conducted during 2015/2016 in Mirab Badwacho and Damot Fullasa districts of South region, Ethiopia to assess the performance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties and to evaluate farmers’ selection criteria for chickpea. Six improved varieties with local check were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Significant variation among chickpea varieties were observed for most the agronomic traits collected except for number of pod per plant which was not significant. Concerning location, the majority of the traits were showed significant difference indicating dissimilarity in agro ecologies of the two districts. The study also revealed that in some cases the researchers’ selection match with farmers’ preferences. However, in general farmers have shown their own way of selecting a variety for their localities. These parameters include earliness, diseases and pest resistance, seed colour, branch number and length and seed size. Hence, including farmers’ preferences in a variety selection process is a paramount important. Therefore, based on attentively measured parameters, farmers’ favourites and the agro ecologies of the site the varieties Natoli, Dalota and Arerti are selected for the area. The varieties Habru and Ejere should also be given due consideration by farmers for its earlier maturity in the study area.

Adaptive strategies for enhancing climate resilience in agricultural extension services in India, amidst escalating climate challenges. It begins by delineating the profound impacts of altered weather patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and shifting pest and disease dynamics on agricultural practices. The paper then delves into the variety of technological innovations, management practices, and policy interventions currently being implemented to bolster climate resilience. Notably, it highlights the adoption of precision agriculture technologies, climate-smart agricultural tools, and the innovative use of ICT in extension services to provide timely, targeted advice to farmers. On the management front, the paper discusses the significant benefits of crop diversification, advanced water management strategies like rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation, and improved soil health practices, which collectively contribute to a sustainable and resilient agricultural system. Policy and institutional adaptations are also examined, emphasizing the crucial role of supportive policy frameworks, community engagement, and multi-stakeholder partnerships in scaling successful adaptations and ensuring their sustainability. Drawing on international case studies-from Vietnam's effective water management techniques to Zambia's success with crop diversification and the technological advancements in North American agriculture-the review identifies key factors contributing to their success, challenges faced, and the potential for transferring these strategies to the Indian context. Each case study provides insights into overcoming barriers to adoption and highlights the importance of integrating local and scientific knowledge to achieve long-term sustainability. Concludes by stressing the need for a multi-faceted, inclusive approach that aligns with local environmental, cultural, and economic contexts to effectively address the unique challenges posed by climate change to Indian agriculture.

Among cereals, three crops namely maize, wheat, and rice account for 90% of the total cereal production, with global production levels of 791.2, 522.6, and 1229.63 million tons for wheat, rice and maize, respectively. The global challenges of food insecurity, climate variability, and unsustainable land use necessitate a redefined approach to cereal production, focusing on climate resilience, low vulnerability, and high productivity while establishing food and environmental safety. Integrated crop management (ICM) offers a holistic farming approach that integrates various agricultural practices to ensure long-term benefits and mitigate risks. This comprehensive review examined a total of 108 documented studies from existing literature pertaining to the last 23 years, besides case studies on ICM in rice, wheat, and maize production, analyzing its benefits, challenges, and future directions. In Asian countries, where rice is a staple food, ICM practices have effectively addressed challenges such as yield stagnation, declining profits, and crop failures. Nutrient and pest management, along with conservation agriculture (CA), have played a crucial role in overcoming these challenges. China’s implementation of site-specific management duly integrated with other practices, has successfully reduced excessive nitrogen use besides improved environmental and health outcomes. Sustainable corn production has been achieved in the USA and Africa through comprehensive implementation of CA and crop diversification. Globally, ICM has demonstrated yield increases of 10–19% for rice, 16–30% for wheat, and 13.5–30% for maize crops. Despite having ample potential, the widespread adoption of ICM faces technical, climate-related, and economic constraints. Overcoming these challenges requires targeted training, extension services, and supportive policies. Furthermore, future research should focus on addressing key knowledge gaps to facilitate the widespread implementation of ICM. While promoting climatic resilience and sustainability in cereal production systems, ICM can contribute to food security and environmental preservation globally.

Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management, Egerton University. Advisors: Dr. J.K. Lagat and Prof. B.O. Bebe

PurposeIn Uganda, sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] is typically a “woman’s crop,” grown, processed, stored and also mainly consumed by smallholder farmers for food and income. Farmers value sweetpotato for its early maturity, resilience to stresses, and minimal input requirements. However, productivity remains low despite the effort of breeding programs to introduce new varieties. Low uptake of new varieties is partly attributed to previous focus by breeders on agronomic traits and much less on quality traits and the diverse preferences of men and women in sweetpotato value chains.MethodTo address this gap, breeders, food scientists, and social scientists (including gender specialists) systematically mainstreamed gender into the breeding program. This multidisciplinary approach, grounded in examining gender roles and their relationship with varietal and trait preferences, integrated important traits into product profiles.ResultsBuilding on earlier efforts of participatory plant breeding and participatory varietal selection, new interventions showed subtle but important gender differences in preferences. For instance, in a study for the RTBFoods project, women prioritized mealiness, sweetness, firmness and non-fibrous boiled roots. These were further subjected to a rigorous gender analysis using the G+ product profile query tool. The breeding pipelines then incorporated these gender-responsive priority quality traits, prompting the development of standard operating procedures to phenotype these traits.ConclusionFollowing an all-inclusive approach coupled with training of multidisciplinary teams involving food scientists, breeders, biochemists, gender specialists and social scientists, integration into participatory variety selection in Uganda enabled accentuation of women and men’s trait preferences, contributing to clearer breeding targets. The research has positioned sweetpotato breeding to better respond to the varying needs and preferences of the users.

Participatory variety selection (PVS) of cotton was conducted in 2016 and 2017 main cropping season at Metema and Tach-armachiho. The experiment was done with an objective of evaluating the performance of varieties participating with farmers, and thereby to identify the most important farmers’ criteria for future improvement work. Eight released varieties were evaluated. The trial was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. here was significant difference among varieties for seed cotton yield, lint yield and some of the other traits. The varieties Mian-01(2829.9 kg/ha), Sisikuk-02 (2584 kg/ha) and Ionia (2422.7 kg/ha) gave superior seed cotton and - lint yield over the standard check Deltapine-90 (1988.9 kg/ha). The farmers showed priority for both qualitative and quantitative traits. In both Metema and Tach-armachiho, farmers identified eight traits as the best criteria of selection. These were early maturity, size of bolls, number of bolls, height, branching habit, softness, stretching ability and disease tolerance. According to those criteria’s, farmers’ selection result was in accordance with seed cotton yield and lint yield analysis results. Whereby, the high yielder varieties (Mian-01, Sisikuk-02 and Ionia were selected by farmers for its ability to mature early, larger size of bolls and uniformly. These three varieties showed higher performance for yield, and on top of that, were ranked top based on farmer’s selection. Therefore, the varieties are recommended for cultivation in the high potential area ofthe North Western Gondar and similar agro ecologies. Moreover, our future cotton improvement program should target on developing varieties that fulfill farmers’ preferences.

Chickpea is a multi-functional crop, has an important role in the diet of Ethiopian small-scale farmers' households, and also serves as a protein source for the rural poor who cannot afford to buy animal products. Though many improved chickpea varieties were released by different research centers depending on breeding objectives. Participatory Variety Selection was conducted during 2019/2020 in both Simada and Libokemkem districts of south Gonder Zone, Ethiopia. To assess the performance of chickpeas) varieties and to evaluate farmers' selection criteria for chickpeas. Seven desi-type chickpea varieties with one local check were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The combined Analysis of Variance for stand count at germination, stand count at harvest, days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, grain yield per hectare, and hundred seed weight showed high significant (P< 0.01) difference for genotypes and the combined analysis of variance for stand count at germination, stand count at harvest, days to flowering, plant height, number of seeds per pod, and grain yield revealed significant (P<0.01) difference for location. The study also revealed that in some cases the researchers' selection criteria were identical to farmers' preferences. These parameters include Disease reaction, Branch number, pod size, adaptability, and early maturity. Hence, including farmers' preferences in a variety selection process is paramount important. Therefore, based on attentively measured parameters, farmers' favorites, and the agro-ecologies of the site the varieties Minjar and Fetenech are selected for the area. The varieties Minjar and Fetenech should also be considered by farmers for their preference in the study area.

During the 2012 mehere season, a study was conducted in the income Gedeb Wereda of the Gedio zone in Ethiopia to evaluate farmers' selection criteria for beans and the performance of newly released Andean common bean varieties. The study utilised participatory variety selection (PVS) trials. The findings revealed that qualitative features were given more importance by farmers compared to quantitative traits. Among the different genotypes tested, Gegeba and Ibado emerged as the top two varieties. Farmers considered five qualitative characteristics as superior to production: seed size, marketability, maturity duration, pest and disease resistance, the ability to tolerate cool temperatures, and seed color. Gegeba, with its large, red-speckled seeds, high market demand, upright growth habit, early maturity (90 days), and reasonably high yield (&gt;2 tonnes ha-1), was the preferred choice for almost all farmers. The study suggests that future bean development efforts should focus on promoting the selected varieties and developing new ones that align with farmers' preferences, particularly in terms of adaptation to the mid-highlands, suitability for domestic consumption, local markets, and export markets.

Hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L) cultivars exploit hybrid vigor to break the yield ceiling of their inbred counterpart thereby increasing productivity per unit area. Crop varieties released in developing countries are often poorly adopted as a result of their failure to meet farmer and consumer trait preferences. This study was therefore conducted to identify key farmer preferred traits, assess farmers&amp;#39; general rice agronomic practices and the potential for adoption of hybrid rice through formal and informal survey approaches. Farmer preferred traits include high yield, early maturity, and good grain quality, but few others, their preferences varied according to location. High cost of hybrid rice seeds was identified as a major challenge. There will be the need for reasonable pricing such that the return from growing hybrid seed is high enough for farmers to recognize the value of growing hybrids. Forty per cent (40%) of the responding farmers were found to employ seed wasting practices such as broadcasting and dibbling. Farmers gave mistrust and unreliable seed supply as the main reasons for their low patronage of the formal seed system. Only two per cent (2%) of the responding farmers purchase seeds from private seed companies. It will be necessary to revamp the formal seed system to encourage farmer patronage and private sector involvement for successful roll out of hybrid rice technology in Ghana. Considering the expected yield advantage (&amp;gt;50%) and the price farmers will like to pay (GH&amp;cent;3.3; $0.8), the prospects of hybrid rice adoption could said to be low.