Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

Section 7 • Participatory Plant Breeding, Seed Production, Harvest, and Post-Harvest Management
Exercise No. 7.01 243
VARIETY SELECTION AND SEED PRODUCTION
BY FARMERS FOR ORGANICALLY-GROWN SELF-
POLLINATED (LEGUMIMOUS AND SOLANACEOUS)
VEGETABLE CROPS
BaCKGroUND aND raTIoNalE
As mentioned earlier, there are few basic differences between
growing of vegetable crops intended for seed production
and those crops for fresh market or for other consumable
products. For example, isolation distance is necessary and
can vary according to crop, its pollination habit, and purpose
for which seeds are grown. For self-pollinated crops like
solanaceous crops and legumes, isolation distance is small.
The minimum isolation distance required for seed production
is 25 m in legumes and tomato, and 50 m in bell pepper.
Pollinators are not as important for self-pollinated crops as
they are for cross-pollinated vegetables 244 .
In many instances, farmers themselves, through their experiences, identify outstanding varieties
in their specific areas. Species or varieties that produce high yields of good quality products and
tolerant to pests and environmental stresses are preferred by farmers. Thus, they are selected for
seed production. In the Cordilleras, vegetable farmers usually use harvest from their own or their
neighbor’s previous crops for seeds in next cropping.
Many vegetable farmers use their own or their neighbor’s previous harvests as seeds for next
cropping. While some farmers practice good seed selection, still, many use seeds that are either
non-marketable or over mature. In FFSs, many innovative practices can be shared among farmers to
ensure sustained availability of cheap but good quality seed materials. This exercise was designed
to achieve this particular objective.
243 Adapted from Callo, Jr., D.P., L.B. Teofilo, and H.A. Tauli (eds). 2002. Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Vegetable IPM, Volume II. SEAMEO
Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. pp 292-295.
244 Bautista, O.K. (ed). 1994. Introduction to Tropical Horticulture. 2 nd Edition. SEAMEO Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture
and University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines. pp167-177.
351
when is this exercise most
appropriate?
ɶ In FFS, TOT, and VST
sessions, when some
self-pollinated vegetable
crops (e.g., legumes
and solanaceous crops)
are grown for seeds in
learning field; and
ɶ When farmers want to
learn from other farmers
and do hands-on of
proper seed selection
and seed production of
self-pollinated vegetable
crops (e.g., legumes and
solanaceous crops) in
their own farms.