Abstract

Participatory varietal selection and participatory plant breeding are two new terminologies that include both old and new concepts and procedures. The difference between participation varietal selection and participatory plant breeding is determined by the degree and timing of farmer involvement in plant breeding. The degree of farmer involvement in various stages of the breeding program is the fundamental difference between participatory plant breeding and participatory varietal selection. Farmers test and select new varieties generated by the institutional system in their fields and at local research centres in a variety of environments, as well as comparing these varieties to local farmer varieties, while farmers are often involved in decision-making throughout the breeding process, not just in the final testing of advanced breeding lines, in participatory plant breeding. Farmers are the primary beneficiaries of a participatory variety selection program because they are the end-users of agricultural technologies. The participatory variety selection method provides researchers valuable feedback that allows them to focus their research program to properly meet the demands of farmers. The poorest farmers should to profit from new varieties by promoting collaboration between plant breeders and farmers. However, Poor farmers in marginal areas continue to produce obsolete crop varieties that are low yielding, susceptible to pests and disease and are less fitted to farmers’ actual challenges and opportunities. These farmers have little exposure to new varieties, and those that have been released are frequently unsuitable for marginal areas. Therefore, participatory variety selection is very critical to introducing improved crop varieties to new growing environments based on farmers preferred traits and selected improved crop varieties. In order to enhance improved crop varieties, farmers’ preferences must be taken into account across regions and growing seasons that farmers will accept. Generally, participatory varietal selection and participatory plant breeding are the way to overcome the issue of local adaptation and demand driven improved technologies. Participatory Varietal Selection and client-oriented breeding are two methods used to achieve farmers’ profitability with improved crop varieties.