CBN-V Video Archives - S1-26
Farmer led versus breeder led cassava variety evaluation and selection: The experience of the Uganda National Cassava programme.

Vega V.R.M., S. Rodríguez, M. García, J. López, J.C. Ventura, M. Cabrera, Y. Beovides, M. Folguera, M. Oliva, C. Pons, M. Martínez, D. Guerra, M. Alvarez, H. T. J. García.

Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute (NAARI), P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda.

        Cassava germplasm development in Uganda has in the past focused mainly on mosaic resistance. By 1998, 9 resistant, high yielding cassava varieties had been released. Prior to 1998, farmer involvement in the variety evaluation and selection was minimal, often happening at the final stages. As a result, farmers rejected many of the varieties taken for on-farm evaluation. It is also probable that many otherwise farmer acceptable varieties were discarded before they were exposed to farmers. Although the released varieties played a key role in combating the recent mosaic epidemic in Uganda, and are also higher yielding than the local varieties, farmers have returned to their local varieties in the post-epidemic areas. During 1998, on-station farmer participatory variety evaluation was initiated within the National cassava programme to supplement the breeder’s evaluation and selection. Results obtained so far indicate that farmer selected varieties are highly adopted by other non-participating farmers. Diffusion of new cassava varieties has been made faster and cheaper.

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