Seeds and Synergies

Farmers and researchers too often live and work in different realities. Researchers breed plant hybrids in the laboratory that are successful only under ideal conditions requiring just the right inputs of water fertilizer and pesticides. For resource-poor farmers however such conditions simply don’t exist. As a result they either obtain poor results from high-tech seeds or continue to do the best they can with local varieties. Seeds and Synergies reflects on the innovative efforts of a group of Chinese researchers and extension agents to connect scientists and farmers. Their action research has enabled indigenous women and men in local communities to improve maize varieties jointly with professional plant breeders. This has invigorated maize production created new livelihoods and strengthened organizational capacities. The research has also resulted in policy changes in plant breeding in the conservation of agricultural biodiversity in the protection of indigenous knowledge in farmer organization and in the provision of services notably extension. This book will be of particular interest to rural development scholars researchers teachers and trainers and field-level practitioners.