Understanding Farmers' Seed Management as a Basis for Participatory Breeding

摘要

The farmers' seed system includes various aspects such as the nature, development, maintenance, exchange of varieties, as well as the farmers' strategies using his/her portfolio of varieties. Characterization of the following four themes will providea thorough understanding of the farmers' seed management strategies: a) the farmers' germplasm base, b) the farmers' production and storage of seed, c) the exchange, movement and availability of seed at the farmers level, and d) the information exchangeregarding varieties. This paper explores what information would be needed for each theme, and the expected benefits of that information to effectively conduct participatory breeding activities.