Rural seed sector development through participatory varietal selection

Erin Lynn Wilkus,Matthias Jäger,Gian Nicola Francesconi

doi:10.1108/jadee-01-2016-0002

Abstract

PurposeThis impact assessment provides empirical evidence from household producer surveys to test the assumptions surrounding the contribution of participatory varietal selection (PVS) activities on seed sector development. The purpose of this paper is to focus on household access and adoption of common bean varieties from seed provision services and local markets to determine if, and under what social conditions, PVS activities stimulated seed uptake and market participation.Design/methodology/approachThe propensity score matching technique and simple regression analysis were used to estimate the impact and compare household performance across three farmer groups located in Hoima, Uganda.FindingsPVS increased access to and adoption of improved varieties and supported additional intermediate development outcomes when farmer group characteristics were aligned with PVS efforts. Specifically, PVS was more likely to stimulate market purchases of newly introduced varieties in the farmer group located closest to markets. The project did not however, improve all the development objectives that were evaluated. PVS most critically, did not increase the probability that households received the specific varieties they desired.Research limitations/implicationsThis study found that PVS can support the key pillars of seed sector development. In addition to increasing household access to new varieties, free seed dissemination promoted market participation and stimulated local seed market development.Originality/valueThis study addressed the need to consider intermediate development outcomes in impact assessments of development interventions. The findings clarified the contribution of PVS in the context of broader development goals and identified farmer group dynamics associated with enhanced impacts among rural producers in Uganda.

Highlights

Awareness that agricultural development initiatives could benefit from incorporating household producers into development activities increased rapidly toward the end of the twentieth century
Intended impacts on adoption The impact of
Prior to the present study, very little was understood about the seed procurement methods that were used by the household producers who participated in the participatory varietal selection (PVS) trials

Summary

Introduction

Awareness that agricultural development initiatives could benefit from incorporating household producers into development activities increased rapidly toward the end of the twentieth century. Over the past two decades, development institutions identified impact assessments and participatory methodologies as two promising approaches from which to learn Such strategies can address the needs and interests of household producers and shift development approaches toward a more client-oriented development paradigm. The majority of impact assessments, including those employed by CGIAR Research Programs, remained focused on ultimate outcomes like food security and poverty alleviation. These metrics did not reflect key features of the value chain that specific participatory research and development activities were designed to enhance, known as intermediate development outcomes. The present study addresses the need to incorporate intermediate development outcomes in impact assessments of participatory development activities, using a case study of participatory varietal section (PVS) trials that were conducted in Western Uganda

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Conclusion