Formal system and farmers' system: the impact of CIMMYT maize germplasm in South-Western China

Abstract

China has followed a modern technology oriented approach and has relied predominantly on its public agricultural research system to ensure the national food security. However, national food security not necessary mean food security for all. Poverty and food insecurity are still issues in China. The impact of agricultural research on poverty alleviation has increasingly drawn attention from the International Agricultural Research Centers of Consultive Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and National Agricultural Research System (NARS). The present paper is based on an impact study of a CIMMYT’s Collaborative Programme on Maize Breeding in South-western China, which was carried out by the author from 1994 to 1998 2 . The impact study has revealed that the impact of CIMMYT's maize germplasm on food security and poverty alleviation is quite significant and is actually being achieved through both the formal system and farmers' system. The paper intends to address the interrelated national and household food security and poverty alleviation issues by assessing the impact of the Programme and analysing the capabilities of public research and farmers' indigenous knowledge to deal with these issues at different levels. It concludes by suggesting that China will benefit from a twin-truck approach, i.e. a combination of modern technology oriented approach and participatory approach. Collaboration between the formal and farmers’ knowledge systems are highly necessary for the design of agricultural