The impact of maize and rice varieties from client oriented breeding on the livelihoods of poor farmers in western India

Abstract

Limited participation of farmers in agricultural research and extension can result in the low uptake of new farm technologies including the use of modern varieties. Participatory approaches can be used to rapidly and cost-effectively identify the best existing varieties in a process termed participatory varietal selection (PVS). However, client-oriented breeding (COB) approaches can produce more readily-adopted varieties compared to those identified by PVS. In COB, varieties are bred to specifically meet the requirements of the client farmers. The impact of new rice (Ashoka 200F and Ashoka 228) and maize (GM-6) varieties developed through COB in India, on the livelihoods of farmers was surveyed in a sample of farmers in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan states of western India. High yields and other traits such as improved grain quality and earlier maturity were characteristics of the new varieties. New varieties of rice, Ashoka 200F and Ashoka 228 bred by COB in eastern India improved both household food self-sufficiency and seed sales. Farmers reported considerable impacts on their livelihoods with seed sales in maize increasing by 51% and food lasting for more than one additional month. Farmers growing the new maize variety in western India reported an overall increase between 10 to 20% in their total income. The impact of the rice varieties was less (26%) as rice generally occupies a smaller proportion of the farmers' land. While those impacts were achieved using seeds supplied from a project, the challenge to produce a sustainable and affordable seed supply system still remains. Farmers distributed seed to others only after keeping sufficient seed for growing the variety on their own farm. Seed availability from formal channels is crucial if impact is to be rapid and if seed is to be available after poor harvests in drought years. However, seed supply from the formal seed sector has still not addressed the needs of poor farmers in remote villages. Additional forms of seed supply to the poor farmers are required. GVT has facilitated a community-based seed production and supply in the project area and, in the cases documented so far, it has been successful. The seed producers' company could be a solution for seed supply to poor farmers. © Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in Asia and Oceania (SABRAO) 2013.