Gender Differentiation of Farmer Preferences for Varietal Traits in Crop Improvement: Evidence and Issues

Changes in agro-ecological as well as socio-economic conditions lead to transformations of food and farming systems worldwide. Using plant varieties with new or different sets of traits can be one option for farmers to adapt to these changes; however, coping strategies and related varietal traits may vary for different groups of farmers, depending for example on their access to resources and assets, and their production goals. Gender is one major social category for which differences in this regard can be expected.Changes in agro-ecological as well as socio-economic conditions lead to transformations of food and farming systems worldwide. Using plant varieties with new or different sets of traits can be one option for farmers to adapt to these changes; however, coping strategies and related varietal traits may vary for different groups of farmers, depending for example on their access to resources and assets, and their production goals. Gender is one major social category for which differences in this regard can be expected.

Plant breeding for nutrition-sensitive agriculture: an appraisal of developments in plant breeding

Plant breeding for nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) has to address the various aspects of food and nutrition security by taking on an integrated approach. In our article, we summarize past and current developments in plant breeding that are relevant to nutrition in this broader context. We outline how plant breeding can contribute to availability of, access to and utilization of food, and give examples of how the concept of NSA is differently addressed in selected plant breeding projects. Effective targeting towards the needs of vulnerable groups seems to be a key success factor. Differences exist with regard to the underlying concept of technology diffusion, the importance given to agrobiodiversity for improving food and nutrition security, and the degree and quality of participation of target groups. We conclude that the potentials of crop and variety improvement for NSA are far from being tapped. Plant breeding for NSA requires that the inherent focus of most breeding programs on crops and varieties be broadened towards people and their needs. It is thus required to integrate complementary expertise into breeding programs, and to overcome the divide between technology-oriented and system or actor-oriented approaches. Furthermore, it should be acknowledged that commercial breeding needs to be complemented by other initiatives and institutions that focus particularly on food and nutrition security of vulnerable groups. Any efforts to further harmonize agricultural, nutrition, health, environmental, and educational policies, also with international policy frameworks and obligations, could help to create an enabling policy environment for NSA

Handbook: Rural extension, Volume 2: Examples and background material

Agricultural extension services in many developing countries have suffered in recent years, not only from poor funding and under-trained staff, but from a lack of up-to-date literature on the subject. This book is the second in a three-volume series on rural extension that aims to address this situation. It contains supplementary information on the cases featured in Volume 1 (see 1552)

Handbook: Rural extension, Volume 1: Basic issues and concepts

This is the first book in a three-volume series on rural extension (see 1553) aimed at promoting greater transparency in extension planning, implementation and evaluation. It discusses the role of extension in rural development, extension approaches, concepts and methods, and the use of extension aids and media. The book includes case-studies illustrating approaches and methods, and concludes with practical guidelines and checklists

Evaluating Farmers' Pearl Millet Cultivars: Results from a Workshop on Farmer Participation in Breeding and Conservation of Genetic Resources

The objectives of the workshop were to describe the effects of farmers' own seed management practices on pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br.] populations and to identify possible implications for breeding and conservation of genetic diversity in this crop. Farmer cultivars were compared with selected improved varieties that had similar characters or were being used in the region