Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat
Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat
Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat
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Table 4-5: Alternative sources <strong>of</strong> seed <strong>of</strong> varieties planted / adopted in Mali, Niger <strong>and</strong> Nigeria (2007/08)<br />
Alternative source Mali Niger Nigeria<br />
MV (6) LV (128) MV (79) LV (302) MV (37) LV (257)<br />
On-farm trial 33.33 2.34 1.27 0.00 5.41 14.17<br />
Other farmers 0.00 2.34 0.00 4.30 2.70 14.17<br />
Family/parents 0.00 6.25 0.00 3.31 0.00 9.84<br />
Own seeds 33.33 80.47 68.35 86.42 62.16 70.87<br />
Seed traders 0.00 6.25 1.27 4.30 0.00 21.26<br />
IER 33.33 0.78 NA NA NA NA<br />
IAR NA NA NA NA 24.32 0.39<br />
ICRISAT 0.00 0.00 2.53 0.00 2.70 0.00<br />
Village markets 0.00 8.59 3.80 6.95 0.00 0.00<br />
Cooperatives 0.00 0.78 22.78 3.31 0.00 0.00<br />
Extension services 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.66 5.41 5.12<br />
Projects 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.79<br />
NGOs 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.70 0.79<br />
UNCC 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.66 0.00 0.00<br />
a = Significant at 1%, b = Significant at 5%, c = Significant at 10%<br />
In parentheses, the number <strong>of</strong> UPA/HHs surveyed, NA: not applicable<br />
Sources: Baseline surveys in West Africa, ICRISAT/IER/IAR/INRAN, 2007/08<br />
Uncovering farmers’ preference for traits <strong>and</strong> varieties<br />
Participatory varietal selection (PVS) trials revealed that farmers were able to discriminate most major<br />
plant <strong>and</strong> seed traits. In fact, plant <strong>and</strong> seed traits were found to be statistically associated with the<br />
varieties tested under the PVS. In Nigeria, for example, farmers found plant type, grain size, <strong>and</strong><br />
resistance to diseases, color <strong>of</strong> the leaves, maturity, haulm yield, haulm quality, pod yield, grain color,<br />
foliar diseases, plant vigor, pod reticulation, pod filling, pod size, <strong>and</strong> number <strong>of</strong> pods as being largely<br />
associated with varieties tested. In Niger, plant type, resistance to diseases, color <strong>of</strong> the leaves, plant<br />
maturity, number <strong>of</strong> pods, p being pod size, pod yield, haulm quality, haulm yield <strong>and</strong> plant vigor as<br />
being strongly associated with varieties tested. In Mali, plant maturity, number <strong>of</strong> pods, pod size, pod<br />
filling, pod reticulation, pod beak, pod constriction, grain size, grain color, haulm quality, pod yield<br />
<strong>and</strong> taste were associated with the varieties (Table 4-6).<br />
Progress <strong>of</strong> Phase 1<br />
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