Diagnostic Methods For Breeding Pearl Millet With Farmers In Rajasthan

    Weltzien, E and Whitaker, M L and Dhamotharan, M (1995) Diagnostic Methods For Breeding Pearl Millet With Farmers In Rajasthan. In: Using Diversity Enhancing And Maintaining Genetic Resources On-Farm Proceedings Of A Workshop , 19-21 June 1995, New Delhi, India.

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    Abstract

    The role of local farmers in ICRISAT's pearl millet improvement project for Rajasthan has changed: from unidentifiedsuppliers oflocalgermplasm to the base materialof a formal breeding program, to active collaborators in selection and variety development. On-farm trials, designed to expose farmers to a wide range of diversity for traits that the local landraces do not'possess, provided the starting point for this change in farmers' roles. Farmers' evalua tions of this new diversity have provided insight into theirpreferences for specific traits and their production objectives, thus allowing the breeding program to focus on improving traits of primay interest for farmers in the target region. Farmers from different regions, and farmers representing different socialgroups prefer different traits and place different emphasis on yield stability versus maximizing yield in favorable years. Interested farmers have selected among a widerrange of advanced experin~entavl arieties in onstation trials. Their selections reflect the needs of their conlmunities and production conditior)s. Farmers' traditional strategies for seed selection andpreservation vary among individuals willlin a village and across regions. Farn?ers are exploiting the variability generated by the natural outcrossing between the local landraces and the experitnental cultivars. An initial on-station evaluation of the effect of this selection indicates that farmers are selecting elfeclively for improved productivity.

    Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
    Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Subjects: Mandate crops > Millets
    Depositing User: Library ICRISAT
    Date Deposited: 03 Dec 2011 13:24
    Last Modified: 01 Jan 2014 09:20
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/4732
    Acknowledgement: UNSPECIFIED
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