Chapter 11

Promoting intraspecific crop diversity in local seed systems to improve productivity and resilience on farm: A Portfolio Option Approach

Isabel López N., Devra Jarvis, Rose Nankya, Bhuwon Sthapit, Devendra Gaucham, MuhabbatTurdieva, Paola De Santis, Gloria Otieno, Pablo Ezyaquirre, Bioversity International

Ximena Cadima F., Fundación PROINPA, BoliviaMahmadi Ouedraogo, INERA, Burkian FasoMahamadou Sawadogo, Univeristy of Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoDeepak Upadhaya and Bharat Bhandari, Nepal,John W Mulumba, NARO, UgandaKarim Baymetov and Abdikhalil Kayimov, Uzbekistan

5 Countries, 19 Crops, 15 Agroecological Zones

UGANDACommon bean, Plantain/banana

NEPALRice BarleyFinger MilletSponge GourdBOLIVIA

PotatoArracacha BURKINA FASO

Sorghum, FonioPearl Millet, Cow PeaBambara Groundnut

UZBEKISTANApplePomegraniteGrape, ApricotCarrot, Onion

JumlaKaski Bara

KhorezmTash SamarkandSurkhandryaFergana Valley

PobeTougouriThiougou

Colomi uphillColomi downhill

Rubaya/KabaleKabwoheNakaseke

• Increase varietal diversity in seed systems

• Increase the diversity of seed suppliers

• Increase seed quality in local seed systems

The Portfolio Option philosophy

Questions the way in which decision-making works in the formal seed value change

How decisions are made to multiply basic seed by national governments and the private sector.

Issues of Genetic purity and seed multiplication – to provide a “Genetic purity at your service” capacity where farmers can manage their seed to select true to type from their harvest.

Intent is to support improved production in farmers’ fields

The Portfolio Options Approach

Allowing for redundancy so farmers have choices of both seeds and suppliers.

Classic Approach: Varieties are promoted in isolation

Portfolio Options Approach:Various varieties are made available to be cultivated together, at different levels and scenarios

Looks for similarities in seed supply

Strategically picking varieties that complement each other

Complementarities in seed suppliers

Looks for similarities in varieties

Farmers own portfolio of varieties are enhanced by improved farmer access to a wider portfolio to complement his or hers existing varieties

The philosophy…

Rather than looking for similarities in seed supply the portfolio approach looks for complementarities.

Strategically picking varieties that complement each other, while allowing for redundancy so farmers have choices.

DROUGHT

TOLERANT

LATE

MATURING

HIGH YIELD

FLOOD

RESISTANT

TRANSPORTABILITY

DROUGHT

TOLERANT

NUTRITIOUS

Characterize varieties to organize by traits – where farmers can choose at least one variety from each group

The philosophy…

It is not new! Farmers have combined different varieties within their farms during millennia.

LATE

MATURING

HIGH YIELD

FLOOD

RESISTANT

TRANSPORTABILITY

DROUGHT

TOLERANT

GOOD TASTE

NUTRITIOUS

For example: national catalogues of commercial varieties. Can they be diversified based on complementarities among varieties?

DROUGHT

TOLERANT

LATE

MATURING

HIGH YIELD

FLOOD

RESISTANT

TRANSPORTABILITY

DROUGHT

TOLERANT

GOOD TASTE

NUTRITIOUS

The method. Step 1: Identification of functional traits based on farmers’ and consumers’ needs

and preferences

• Functional value of a crop or variety will vary depending on who is

valuing it (farmer-man/women, old/young-, consumer, food processor,

scientist, etc.)

• Identifying the diversity in functional traits needed by the community

• Traits can be grouped in categories based on their main function: serve

household consumption needs, meet market demands (local, national,

international), address environmental challenges, etc.

Drought tolerant Quality taste High productivity

Step 1a: Identifying the diversity in functional traits needed by the community

Disease resistant

11

111

2222

2 33333 4

444

4

UGANDA NEEDDS VARIATION Choose BEST ONE

Nakseke Resistant To bean fly Unpredicatable rain Selling variation

Cooking

Time

Storage

ability Taste Yield

BEAN strain 1

strain

2

Strain

3

strain

1 strain 2

Strain

3

early

rain but

no rain

after low rain

late

rain on

set

Early

Selling

rest of

year

Yellow short X X X X

Khaki X X X X

Nambale long X X X X

Yellow long X X

Nambale short X X X X X X

Kanyebwa X X X X X

Kahura short X X X X

Namunye X X X

Nakyewogola X X

Brown Niko X X

Kayinja X X X

Nakawunde X

Akeru long X X X X

Akeru short X X X

Obote X X X

Kalorina X X X X X

Manyigamulimi X X X X X X

Naka beauty X X X

Naka brown dotted X

Naka small red local X X X X

Reistant to different

strains ALS

Anthrancose

Step 1b: Characterize varieties to organize by traits – where farmers can choose at least one variety from the group of interest

The method. Step 2: Participatory characterization and evaluation of diversity in functional traits

Demonstrated assumptions:

• Significant number of varieties have diverse functional traits

• Priority traits for farmers are not always the same as for scientists and breeders

• Breeders do not always capture multi-functionality of crops and varieties

Ximena et al., unpublished data

The method. Step 3a: Mapping varieties against traits

Demonstrated assumptions:• There is a wide range of variation among varieties for the same trait• The same variety presents multiple traits• Local and improved varieties present different, complementary traits.

Nepal Rice: local varieties improved varieties

Burkina Faso Millet (Phobe)

Portfolio of Traits - from Assembled Portfolio = subset of varieties available - this is the subset tested in the field

The method. Step 3b: Mapping traits of specific varieties

The method. Step 4: Mapping varieties and traits against seed suppliers

Uzbeksitan example (10% of the data):• Different suppliers supply different varieties with different traits

Resistance to spring frost

Drought resistance Storage characteristics

Resistance to disease

Transportability

Suitable for processing

Heat resistance

Uzbek apples (10% of data)Research InstitutesNurseriesIndividual farmers

Variety Name Type of supplier

Drought

resistance

Heat

resistance

Salinity

resistance

Resistance

to spring

frost

resistance

to disease

suitable for

processing

Storage

characterist

ics

Transporta

bility

Borovinka Tashkentskaya Research Institute 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

Waynsep Research Institute 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1

Golden Delishes Research Institute 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1

Renet Semirenko Research Institute 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Afrosiabi Research Institute 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

Borovinka Tashkentskaya Research Institute 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

Kizil taram olma Research Institute 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1

Malika Research Institute 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1

Oydin Research Institute 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0

Pervenets Samarkanda Research Institute 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1

Farangiz Research Institute 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1

Khosildor Research Institute 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Renet Simirenko Research Institute 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Rozmarin beliy Research Institute 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1

Waynsep Research Institute 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1

Golden Delishes Research Institute 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1

Djaonatan Research Institute 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1

Parmen zimniy zolotoy Research Institute 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0

Golden Delishes Forestry Nursery 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1

Djonatan Forestry Nursery 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1

Renet Simirenko Forestry Nursery 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Saraton Forestry Nursery 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0

Pervenets Samarkanda Forestry Nursery 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0

Renet Simirenko Individual Farmer 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1

Kizil olma Individual Farmer 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

Kelin yanok Individual Farmer 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0

Mayskiy Individual Farmer 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0

Atlas Individual Farmer 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0

Golden Delishes Individual Farmer 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Besh yulduz Individual Farmer 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0

Kirmizi Individual Farmer 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 11 26 21 28 17 21 13 18

Table of variety versus traits (yes/no) and supplier

Black dots = Research Institutes; Red dots = Forest Nurseries; Blue dots = individual farmers

The method. Step 5: Assembling portfolios of varieties

Options

1. Portfolios of varieties for a specific trait or set of traits

2. Portfolio of traits for specific varieties

3. Portfolios may combine traditional and improved varieties; varieties

released and not released; varieties of local origin and introduced ones

In some cases the presence of a trait will be a requirement:• e.g. Tolerante to saline soils in certain regions of Uzbekistan; Cold

tolerance high mountains in Nepal)

In other cases, variations within the same trait plays in our favor • Different maturing cycles in face of unpredictable weather in Burkina Faso;

different levels of resistance to pests and diseases in common bean in Uganda and rice in Nepal

Duplication and distribution of multiple varieties

Identifying suppliers for each variety, or package of varieties for needs/constraints where you need variation (incidence of pests, erratic rainfall, capacity to sell during the whole season)

– Who will provide basic/foundation seed– Who will multiply– Who will distribute– Who will champion

portfolios

Central Asia • 58 nurseries: 1,500,000 saplings annually• 72 demonstration plots in farmers’ orchards

supplying 430 local varieties

The method. Step 6 : Ensuring a portfolio of suppliers for specific varieties

Using this philosophy to identify varieties of basic seeds for different seed actors:For Private Sector, Development projects, Seed aid,

community seed banks

Successful models of seed supply can rely on a combination of Formal sources, like public and private research

institutes and seed organizations, With informal mechanisms of seed multiplication and

distribution, such as community-based seed initiatives.

The method. Step 7: Using the portfolio option philosophy

The method. Step 6 (cont.): Defining a seed production and supply strategy based on the portfolio]

Production and supply of portfolios in a sustainable way may require changes in seed systems:

Registering varieties, including traditional ones

Improving production of breeder and basic seed

Building capacities of local seed producers and suppliers

Increasing seed companies’ portfolios of commercial varieties

Improving seed accessibility (information, price, credit)

Moving from national to provincial decision making on annual public sector seed multiplication

(A)

Providing different varieties options with similar functional traits for users to choose

(B)

Constructing specific portfolios of varieties that cover pre-requested traits

Tested examples

Country and crop

Scale Needs or constraints Key functional traits

Uzbekistan Apple

Farm Ability to respond to market demands during the whole season;salinity; drought; early frosts

Salinity tolerance; frost tolerance, drought tolerance,short, medium and long maturing cycles

Results and comments

Portfolios of apples were assembled jointly by scientists and farmers for different target sites using local diversity and diversity maintained in research institutes; gaps in local diversity for the target traits were filled in by considering varieties from other sites; they were introduced in target sites by multiplying them in nurseries and farmers’ fields.

Tested examples

Country and crop

Scale Needs or constraints Key functional traits

NepalRice

Plot Pests and diseases Resistance to pest and diseases

Results and comments

National research partners distributed three rice varieties with different levels of resistance to 200 farmers for planting in the same plot. Two of the varieties were commonly used in the target site and one came from a different site. The two varieties with higher levels of resistance were expected to “protect” the third one, of very good taste and yield but much more susceptible to pests and diseases. Heat destroyed many of the seedlings. Farmers expressed concerns about managing mixtures, but they did like the new variety, not necessarily in combination with the other two. Potential at the farm, village or landscape level?

Tested examples

Country and crop

Scale Needs or constraints Key functional traits

Burkina Faso

Farm and village

Erratic rain. Drought. Yield. Adapted to local diet.

Short, medium and long maturing cycles. Drought tolerance. Grain size and productivity. Texture and taste after processed.

Results and comments

A large set of improved and local varieties with different maturing cycles and productivity levels were cultivated and evaluated jointly by scientists and farmers in common fields. As a result scientists and extension services identified varietal portfolios that minimized the risk of yield losses in the event of erratic rain while guaranteeing certain level of productivity. Farmers picked the portfolios they preferred from the common field.Improved varieties included in the portfolio are being promoted for basic seed production. Local varieties from the portfolio are prioritized for inclusion in the national catalogue of commercial varieties.

When can this method be useful?

When identifying possible crop variety diversity needs and gaps within a farm, a village, a landscape

When assessing robustness of a seed supply system and availability of diverse suppliers

When assessing a seed producer/supplier’s portfolio

When looking for rare varieties and traits, with potential to address emerging needs

When prioritizing varieties in subsidized seed supply systemsor to be promoted through extension services, NGOs, disaster relief, etc.

It allows to systematically introduce functionality, complementarity and useful redundancy as key criteria for assessing and promoting intraspecific diversity for improved productivity for small holder .

Thank you