Participatory Varietal Selection Trials Research Articles

Selection of drought tolerant rice varieties for the western mid hills of Nepal

Rice (Oryza sativa L) is the most important staple food crop in Nepal, but current yields are low and total production varies, mostly due to drought. To evaluate high yielding and drought tolerant rice genotypes in typical rainfed lowland conditions, a participatory varietal selection trials was conducted with farmers in farmer’s field at Sundarbazar, Lamjung, Nepal during the wet season 2009 and 2010. Trials were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with six replications. Results obtained from two years’ experiment indicated that the genotypes IR-74371-54-1 and IR74371-70-1 matured at the same duration as the local check Radha-4 (120-123 days growth duration). Both genotypes had a high average chlorophyll content (SPAD reading of 15.9-16.1), were medium tall (110-112 cm), non-lodging, had a high number of filled grains and little sterility, and a high grain yield (mean yield 5.0 and 4.8 t ha-1, respectively). They also had the highest root length (22.4-26.2 cm) and root weight (9.5-10 g hill-1) which could tolerate more drought than the other genotypes tested. The maximum cost/benefit ratio was found in IR-74371-54-1 (1:1.72) followed by IR-74371-70-1 (1:1.66) and IR-74371-46-1-1 (1:1.65). All three lines were highly preferred by farmers in preference rankings during field visits and were released in Nepal in 2011 as Sookhadhan-2, Sookhadhan-3 and Sookhadhan-1 varieties, respectively. They fit easily into the existing cropping system in rainfed lowlands, are economically viable and safe to cultivate for the farmers in the mid hills of Nepal.Journal of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science.Vol. 33-34, 2015, page: 195-206

Acceptance and competitiveness of new improved wheat varieties by smallholder farmers

ABSTRACTWe conducted this research because earlier research revealed that Pakistani farmers were growing 8–10-year-old wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties and hence not benefitting from the recent advances in wheat breeding. Participatory varietal selection (PVS) trials were conducted to have farmers validate and include newly released wheat varieties into seed-production stream to speed up replacement of old and obsolete wheat varieties by farmer-preferred new high-yielding varieties. Fourteen new varieties recommended for irrigated and eight for rainfed environments were evaluated in this research involving smallholder farmers in food-deficit districts of Pakistan. Collaborating farmers preferred 10 varieties from the PVS trials, eight of which were germplasm from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) that yielded on average 5–17% more grain than local checks. Local checks used in the PVS trials in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were old improved varieties. Greater yield advantage from new varieties over local checks was reported from rainfed environments and areas where old local checks were used. The PVS research showed the possibility of ensuring food security of smallholder farmers as new high-yielding varieties gave an additional 0.3 –0.5 tons of grain per ha, sufficient to feed two to three persons per year. Research also revealed that innovative farmers in rainfed regions grew wheat varieties recommended for irrigated regions to identify high-yielding wheat varieties with stable performance. Feedback by farmers to wheat breeding research system was to develop even higher yielding new wheat varieties with diseases resistance to replace old and obsolete varieties to boost food security.

Regulatory reform of seed systems: Benefits and impacts from a mungbean case study in Nepal

Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L). Wilczek) is becoming an important grain legume in Nepal. It can be grown as an additional crop after harvesting winter crops such as winter wheat, winter legumes and oilseeds and before planting main season rice from the low-altitude Terai through to the middle hills of Nepal. Replacing short fallows in the spring, it provides additional high quality food, enhances soil fertility and increases the yield of the following crop.In spite of continued varietal research by the National Grain Legume Research Programme, no mungbean varieties were released from 1975 to 2006. The old variety, Pusa Baishakhi, was released in 1975, but became susceptible to Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV) and several other diseases so mungbean became limited to a rarely grown, green manure crop. In 2003, we introduced four mungbean varieties resistant to MYMV from the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre. These were evaluated in participatory varietal selection (PVS) mother and baby trials in low fertility and droughted conditions using farmers’ levels of inputs and management. Variety spread was promoted by distributing free small seed samples in a process known as Informal Research and Development (IRD); and community-based seed production and marketing. Of the four varieties, NM94 and VC6372 consistently produced higher grain yields than the local check varieties, were resistant to MYMV and hence were preferred by farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives endorsed a new variety release procedure in 2005 that permitted the use of data from PVS trials to support the release or registration of new crop varieties. In 2006, on the basis of data generated from PVS trials alone, the National Seed Board released NM94 as ‘Kalyan’ while, on the basis of combined data from the PVS trials and from on-station trials, VC6372 (45-8-1) was released as ‘Prateeksha’. The use of PVS contributed greatly to fast-tracking the release process and this resulted in farmers getting new MYMV-resistant mungbean varieties more quickly. Varieties spread rapidly through IRD and farmer-to-farmer seed networks and provided benefits to farming households. Regulatory reforms to speed up and simplify the process of varietal release are discussed.

Participatory evaluation and promotion of cereals and grain legumes for enhancing food security at Bajura district, Nepal

Participatory varietal selection (PVS) trials in maize, wheat, finger millet, buckwheat, pigeon pea and field pea, mixed cropping legumes with maize were implemented and farmer-preferred varieties of those crops disseminated in Barabish VDC (900-1600 m) of Bajura district during 2007/08 to 2009/10 with a view to enhance the local level food security. Results from PVS trials showed that maize variety Deuti produced the highest mean grain yields of 3625 kg/ha which was 25% higher than the local variety, wheat variety WK-1204 was the highest yielder (3901 kg/ha), with 48% more yields than the popular and check variety RR-21. Fingermillet variety KK -1 was the highest yielder (2459 kg/ha) in midhills, whereas ACC # 2827-1, NF1703-34, and performed better in high hills. This variety showed wider adaptation both in the mid and high hills. Sweet buckwheat genotype IR-13 was most preferred by farmers. For bitter buckwheat, genotypes ACC #- 2223-1 (4813 kg/ha), Sample # 8 (2333 kg/ha) and ACC # -2227-1 (1354 kg/ha) were high yielding. Field pea variety Sikkime produced the highest fresh pod yield of 4185 kg/ha and was superior to Kalaam Local. Seed yields of medium duration pigeonpea variety Rampur Rahar-1 evaluated for the first time in the locality, ranged between 250-1500 Kg/ha. Extra short duration variety of pigeonpea suitable for growing in pigeonpea-wheat rotation in rainfed uplands has been selected by farmers. The economic benefit of intercropping groundnut with maize was higher than intercropping pigeonpea or soybean, due to higher selling price of groundnut. On-farm seed saving and seed procurement of selected varieties had been initiated to ensure adequate seed supply at the local level. More than 1829 kg seed of wheat variety WK-1204 was produced and 40 % of it was used as seed in 2010 winter season. A total of 328 farmers comprising 28% females and 72% males were benefited through participation in crop and seed production trainings organized at the villages. Up-scaling of selected varieties / technologies has been suggested. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajn.v2i0.7522 Agronomy Journal of Nepal (Agron JN) Vol. 2: 2011 pp.75-87

Submergence risks and farmers’ preferences: Implications for breeding Sub1 rice in Southeast Asia

Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) provides a life support system to millions of resource-poor farmers in rainfed environments; however, yields are very low because of various biotic and abiotic stresses. Submergence caused by typhoons and floods is one of the major reasons for production losses. Because of the complexity of these ecosystems, the breeding framework necessitates adequate feedback and a more in-depth understanding of the ecological and socioeconomic conditions in these flood-prone areas. Within this purview, this study validated the performance in farmers’ fields of lines with the SUB1 gene that confers tolerance of submergence for up to two weeks. The SUB1 gene was incorporated through marker-assisted backcrossing, MABC. The evaluation was conducted through participatory approaches to gain understanding of the risks as well as farmers’ preferences for these varieties. A baseline survey of 658 farm households accomplished during 2008, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and adaptability trials were conducted, with focus on farmers commonly affected by submergence in four Southeast Asian countries: the Philippines, Lao PDR, Indonesia, and Southern Viet Nam. The study further examined farmers’ criteria in evaluating new varieties through the participatory varietal selection (PVS) process. Results showed that varying conditions of submergence can influence farmers’ criteria and preferences for rice cultivars. Depending on the timing of flood with respect to growth stage, shorter duration and shallow flashfloods can result in less than 10% production losses while deeper and stagnant water with two weeks’ duration and >100 cm depth can cause damage ranging from 40% to 77%. Major findings of PVS trials and preference analysis indicated that farmers prefer rice cultivars that are tolerant of submergence, have early to medium maturity relative to their commonly grown varieties, are resistant to pests and diseases, and are resistant to lodging, among other traits. To enhance adoption, male and female farmers should be involved in the evaluation process. The results of this study can contribute to enhancing breeding programs to develop appropriate varieties that reduce production losses, improve income, and ultimately reduce poverty incidence in submergence-prone areas.

REML IS AN EFFECTIVE ANALYSIS FOR MIXED MODELLING OF UNBALANCED ON-FARM VARIETAL TRIALS

SUMMARYOn-farm participatory varietal selection (PVS) trials are often of two types: mother trials (with all of the entries) and baby trials (each having one, or very few of the entries from the mother trials). We conducted PVS trials on 17 wheat varieties in 12 villages of four districts of Bangladesh over three years but the data were highly unbalanced. Both quantitative and qualitative traits were measured in the on-farm trials. The factors in the trials were both fixed effects (varieties and districts) and random (years and farmers). We used the residual or restricted maximum likelihood (REML) analysis for the mixed model for quantitative traits. For qualitative data on farmers' perceptions, logistic regression procedures were used that are equally applicable to balanced and unbalanced data sets. The REML analysis provided adjusted mean values for quantitative traits for all the varieties, for the mother and baby trials separately, using the data from all years and all locations. It identified varieties BAW 1006 and BAW 1008 that yielded 19–30% more than the control Kanchan and also had a higher 1000-grain weight, were at least as early to flower and had a high overall ranking by farmers in the mother trials. The logistic regression analysis of perception data agreed with the results of the REML analysis as these varieties were most preferred by farmers for grain yield, earlier maturity and better chapatti making quality. The less labour-intensive method of recording qualitative perceptions can usefully replace actual yield measurements, particularly when validated by other participatory measures such as intended and actual adoption. In 2005, BAW 1006 was released as BARI Gom 23 or Bijoy and BAW 1008 as BARI Gom 24 or Prodip for the whole of Bangladesh. The validity of the results of the REML analysis was confirmed by the high early adoption trends of the identified varieties. Since REML is an effective analysis for unbalanced PVS trial data using a mixed model, its wider use by researchers would increase the value of the PVS process.

Rapid gains in yield and adoption of new maize varieties for complex hillside environments through farmer participation. II. Scaling-up the adoption through community-based seed production (CBSP)

Participatory varietal selection (PVS) led to the identification of Population-22 and its later release as Manakamana-3. Subsequently further mother–baby trials tested five unreleased open-pollinated varieties (OPVs), ZM-621, Shitala, Population-45, Hill Pool White, and Hill Pool Yellow to compare them with Manakamana-3. Farmers again preferred Manakamana-3 as well as ZM-621 for their stable, higher grain yield, and for other traits such as stay-green, non-lodging, large white grains, and tolerance to foliar diseases. However, Manakamana-3 and ZM-621 both had late maturity, open husks and dented grain. Both were tested with farmers on-farm co-ordinated farmers field trials (CFFTs) and had not been identified as this was more contractual type of participatory research. Individual traits were measured but overall farmers’ preferences were not elicited. In the more collaborative participation of the mother–baby trials the overall preference was determined and farmers traded-off the late maturity and dented grains of Manakamana-3 and ZM-621 against other favourable traits. Depending on location, these genotypes yielded 15–45% more grain than the local varieties in the mother–baby trials. These results led to the release of ZM-621 as Deuti in 2006. Farmers had adopted Manakamana-3 (released in 2002) and ZM-621 (Deuti) as a direct result of PVS trials and increased area under them year after year. Farmers awareness of the varieties has increased and seeds of these varieties are under community-based seed production (CBSP). Involving farmers through a collaborative mode of participation in varietal selection overcame bottlenecks to finding new varieties that had occurred with more contractual on-farm research.

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH IN RICE BREEDING ON WOMEN FARMERS: A CASE STUDY IN EASTERN UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

SUMMARYThis paper assesses farmer adoption of rice varieties and new genotypes introduced through participatory varietal selection (PVS) in villages which represent submergence- and drought/submergence-prone villages in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. It focuses on the involvement of women farmers in participatory research for screening improved varieties for areas which suffer from abiotic stresses. It further assesses the impact on the decision-making authority (or women's empowerment) on rice varietal choice, seed acquisition and disposal, and crop management after participating in PVS trials. It suggests strategies to empower women farmers in making sound and timely decisions on farm-related matters and to enhance their roles in accelerating the adoption of new varieties.

PARTICIPATORY VARIETAL SELECTION WITH IMPROVED PEARL MILLET IN WEST AFRICA

A reconnaissance survey and participatory varietal selection trials (PVS) were conducted in four major pearl millet-growing countries of the Sahel between 2001 and 2003. The studies aimed to identify farmers' preferences in improved pearl millet varieties, increase awareness, test new varieties and enhance farmers' access to the improved varieties. Farmers selected five out of 10 tested varieties, with preferred characteristics, namely, maturity cycles of 80–90 d in the Sahel and 90–100 d in the Sudanian agro-ecozones, acceptable grain yield, compact and long (30–100 cm) panicles, a large number of tillers with panicles, adaptation and an acceptable taste. Farmers indicated that their local varieties were of superior adaptation and taste. They mentioned that hindrances to uptake and sustained use of improved varieties were due to lack of awareness, traditional values, seed unavailability, early maturity, bird damage and lack of fertilizer. The strong genotype × environment interactions in the Sahel suggests that breeding should be directed towards producing varieties adapted to specific zones rather than for wide adaptation. Notably, since farmers often cultivate pearl millet without any soil amendments, it may be advisable to disseminate varieties as a package (with fertilizer and agronomic instructions) rather than as varieties alone in a PVS programme, in order to achieve the full potential of improved varieties. The PVS trials are synergistic to plant breeding in identifying varieties suitable for harsh environments, which are difficult to duplicate in the research station. However, in the absence of formal distribution seed systems in the trial countries, village- or community-based seed production of varieties selected by farmers appears critical to the sustainable adoption of selected varieties.