Farmer participatory crop improvement Part I. Varietal selection and breeding methods and their impact on biodiversity
Abstract
Farmer participatory approaches for the identification or breeding of improved crop cultivars can be usefully categorised into Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) and Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB). Various PVS and PPB methods are reviewed. PVS is a more rapid and cost-effective way of identifying farmer-preferred cultivars if a suitable choice of cultivars exists. If this is impossible, then the more resource-consuming PPB is required. PPB can use as parents cultivars that were identified in successful PVS programmes. Compared to conventional plant breeding, PPB is more likely to produce farmer-acceptable products, particularly for marginal environments. The impact of farmer participatory research on biodiversity is considered: the long-term effect of PVS is to increase biodiversity, but where indigenous variability is high it can also reduce it. PPB has a greater effect on increasing biodiversity although its impact may be limited to smaller areas. PPB can be a dynamic form of in situ genetic conservation.
Citation
CAZS Discussion Papers No. 1, 16 pp.
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