Author: Atul Bhargava
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9811371199
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 255
Book Description
Plant breeding has played a significant role in the development of human civilizations. Conventional plant breeding has significantly improved crop yield by genetically manipulating agronomically important traits. However, it has often been criticized for ignoring indigenous germplasm, failing to address the needs of the marginal and the poor farmers, and emphasizing selection for broad instead of local adaptation. Participatory plant breeding (PPB) is the process by which the producers and other stakeholders are actively involved in a plant-breeding programme, with opportunities to make decisions throughout. The Working Group on Participatory Plant Breeding (PPBwg) was established in 1996 under the framework of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Research in PPB can promote informed participation and trust in research among consumers and producers, and in recent years, PPB has had a significant impact on food production by quickly and cost-effectively producing improved crop varieties. At the same time, there has been significant research in the area. PPB offers significant advantages that are particularly relevant to developing countries where large investments in plant breeding have not led to increased production, especially in the marginal environments. In addition to the economic benefits, participatory research has a number of psychological, moral, and ethical benefits, which are the consequence of a progressive empowerment of the farming communities. PPB can empower groups such as women or less well-off farmers that are traditionally left out of the development process. This book explores the potential of PPB in the coming decades. The topic is more relevant since international breeding efforts for major crops are aimed at decentralizing local breeding methods to better incorporate the perspective of end users into the varietal development process. The first book incorporating the upcoming research on this novel breeding approach, it reviews the important tools and applications of PPB in an easy-to-read, succinct format, with illustrations to clarify these complex topics. It provides readers with a basic idea of participatory plant breeding as well as advances in the field and insights into the future to facilitate the successful integration of farmers into breeding programmes. This book is a valuable reference resource for agriculturists, agricultural advisers, policy makers, NGOs, post-doctoral students and scientists in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and botany.
Participatory Plant Breeding: Concept and Applications
Author: Atul Bhargava
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9811371199
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 255
Book Description
Plant breeding has played a significant role in the development of human civilizations. Conventional plant breeding has significantly improved crop yield by genetically manipulating agronomically important traits. However, it has often been criticized for ignoring indigenous germplasm, failing to address the needs of the marginal and the poor farmers, and emphasizing selection for broad instead of local adaptation. Participatory plant breeding (PPB) is the process by which the producers and other stakeholders are actively involved in a plant-breeding programme, with opportunities to make decisions throughout. The Working Group on Participatory Plant Breeding (PPBwg) was established in 1996 under the framework of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Research in PPB can promote informed participation and trust in research among consumers and producers, and in recent years, PPB has had a significant impact on food production by quickly and cost-effectively producing improved crop varieties. At the same time, there has been significant research in the area. PPB offers significant advantages that are particularly relevant to developing countries where large investments in plant breeding have not led to increased production, especially in the marginal environments. In addition to the economic benefits, participatory research has a number of psychological, moral, and ethical benefits, which are the consequence of a progressive empowerment of the farming communities. PPB can empower groups such as women or less well-off farmers that are traditionally left out of the development process. This book explores the potential of PPB in the coming decades. The topic is more relevant since international breeding efforts for major crops are aimed at decentralizing local breeding methods to better incorporate the perspective of end users into the varietal development process. The first book incorporating the upcoming research on this novel breeding approach, it reviews the important tools and applications of PPB in an easy-to-read, succinct format, with illustrations to clarify these complex topics. It provides readers with a basic idea of participatory plant breeding as well as advances in the field and insights into the future to facilitate the successful integration of farmers into breeding programmes. This book is a valuable reference resource for agriculturists, agricultural advisers, policy makers, NGOs, post-doctoral students and scientists in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and botany.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9811371199
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 255
Book Description
Plant breeding has played a significant role in the development of human civilizations. Conventional plant breeding has significantly improved crop yield by genetically manipulating agronomically important traits. However, it has often been criticized for ignoring indigenous germplasm, failing to address the needs of the marginal and the poor farmers, and emphasizing selection for broad instead of local adaptation. Participatory plant breeding (PPB) is the process by which the producers and other stakeholders are actively involved in a plant-breeding programme, with opportunities to make decisions throughout. The Working Group on Participatory Plant Breeding (PPBwg) was established in 1996 under the framework of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Research in PPB can promote informed participation and trust in research among consumers and producers, and in recent years, PPB has had a significant impact on food production by quickly and cost-effectively producing improved crop varieties. At the same time, there has been significant research in the area. PPB offers significant advantages that are particularly relevant to developing countries where large investments in plant breeding have not led to increased production, especially in the marginal environments. In addition to the economic benefits, participatory research has a number of psychological, moral, and ethical benefits, which are the consequence of a progressive empowerment of the farming communities. PPB can empower groups such as women or less well-off farmers that are traditionally left out of the development process. This book explores the potential of PPB in the coming decades. The topic is more relevant since international breeding efforts for major crops are aimed at decentralizing local breeding methods to better incorporate the perspective of end users into the varietal development process. The first book incorporating the upcoming research on this novel breeding approach, it reviews the important tools and applications of PPB in an easy-to-read, succinct format, with illustrations to clarify these complex topics. It provides readers with a basic idea of participatory plant breeding as well as advances in the field and insights into the future to facilitate the successful integration of farmers into breeding programmes. This book is a valuable reference resource for agriculturists, agricultural advisers, policy makers, NGOs, post-doctoral students and scientists in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and botany.
Plant Breeding and Cultivar Development
Author: D. P. Singh
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0128175648
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 663
Book Description
Plant Breeding and Cultivar Development features an optimal balance between classical and modern tools and techniques related to plant breeding. Written for a global audience and based on the extensive international experience of the authors, the book features pertinent examples from major and minor world crops. Advanced data analytics (machine learning), phenomics and artificial intelligence are explored in the book's 28 chapters that cover classical and modern plant breeding. By presenting these advancements in specific detail, private and public sector breeding programs will learn about new, effective and efficient implementation. The insights are clear enough that non-plant breeding majoring students will find it useful to learn about the subject, while advanced level students and researchers and practitioners will find practical examples that help them implement their work. - Bridges the gap between conventional breeding practices and state-of-the-art technologies - Provides real-world case studies of a wide range of plant breeding techniques and practices - Combines insights from genetics, genomics, breeding science, statistics, computer science and engineering for crop improvement and cultivar development
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0128175648
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 663
Book Description
Plant Breeding and Cultivar Development features an optimal balance between classical and modern tools and techniques related to plant breeding. Written for a global audience and based on the extensive international experience of the authors, the book features pertinent examples from major and minor world crops. Advanced data analytics (machine learning), phenomics and artificial intelligence are explored in the book's 28 chapters that cover classical and modern plant breeding. By presenting these advancements in specific detail, private and public sector breeding programs will learn about new, effective and efficient implementation. The insights are clear enough that non-plant breeding majoring students will find it useful to learn about the subject, while advanced level students and researchers and practitioners will find practical examples that help them implement their work. - Bridges the gap between conventional breeding practices and state-of-the-art technologies - Provides real-world case studies of a wide range of plant breeding techniques and practices - Combines insights from genetics, genomics, breeding science, statistics, computer science and engineering for crop improvement and cultivar development
Plant Breeding and Farmer Participation
Author: Salvatore Ceccarelli
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org
ISBN: 9789251063828
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 671
Book Description
This book complements the traditional approach to plant breeding by addressing a number of issues specifically related to the participation of farmers in a plant breeding programme, and provides a comprehensive description and assessment of the use of participatory plant breeding in developing countries. It is aimed at plant breeders, social scientists, students and practitioners interested in learning more about its use, with the hope that they all will find a common ground to discuss ways in which plant breeding can be beneficial to all and can contribute to alleviate poverty.
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org
ISBN: 9789251063828
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 671
Book Description
This book complements the traditional approach to plant breeding by addressing a number of issues specifically related to the participation of farmers in a plant breeding programme, and provides a comprehensive description and assessment of the use of participatory plant breeding in developing countries. It is aimed at plant breeders, social scientists, students and practitioners interested in learning more about its use, with the hope that they all will find a common ground to discuss ways in which plant breeding can be beneficial to all and can contribute to alleviate poverty.
Community Seed Banks
Author: Ronnie Vernooy
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134608608
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 323
Book Description
Community seed banks first appeared towards the end of the 1980s, established with the support of international and national non-governmental organizations. This book is the first to provide a global review of their development and includes a wide range of case studies. Countries that pioneered various types of community seed banks include Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Zimbabwe. In the North, a particular type of community seed bank emerged known as a seed-savers network. Such networks were first established in Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA before spreading to other countries. Over time, the number and diversity of seed banks has grown. In Nepal, for example, there are now more than 100 self-described community seed banks whose functions range from pure conservation to commercial seed production. In Brazil, community seed banks operate in various regions of the country. Surprisingly, despite 25 years of history and the rapid growth in number, organizational diversity and geographical coverage of community seed banks, recognition of their roles and contributions has remained scanty. The book reviews their history, evolution, experiences, successes and failures (and reasons why), challenges and prospects. It fills a significant gap in the literature on agricultural biodiversity and conservation, and their contribution to food sovereignty and security.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134608608
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 323
Book Description
Community seed banks first appeared towards the end of the 1980s, established with the support of international and national non-governmental organizations. This book is the first to provide a global review of their development and includes a wide range of case studies. Countries that pioneered various types of community seed banks include Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Zimbabwe. In the North, a particular type of community seed bank emerged known as a seed-savers network. Such networks were first established in Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA before spreading to other countries. Over time, the number and diversity of seed banks has grown. In Nepal, for example, there are now more than 100 self-described community seed banks whose functions range from pure conservation to commercial seed production. In Brazil, community seed banks operate in various regions of the country. Surprisingly, despite 25 years of history and the rapid growth in number, organizational diversity and geographical coverage of community seed banks, recognition of their roles and contributions has remained scanty. The book reviews their history, evolution, experiences, successes and failures (and reasons why), challenges and prospects. It fills a significant gap in the literature on agricultural biodiversity and conservation, and their contribution to food sovereignty and security.
Plant Breeding
Author: H.K. Jain
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400710402
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 813
Book Description
The Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding was established in 1941 in recognition of the growing contribution of improved crop varieties to the country's agriculture. Scientific plant breeding had started inIndia soon after the rediscovery of Mendel's laws of heredity. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute set up in 1905 and a number of Agricultural Colleges in different parts of the country carried out some of the earliest work mostly inthe form of pure-line selections. In subsequent years, hybridization programmes in crops like wheat, rice, oilseeds, grain legumes, sugarcane and cotton yielded a large number of improved cultivars with significantly higher yields. A turning point came in the 1960s with the development of hybrids in several crops including inter-specific hybrids in cotton. And when new germplasm with dwarfing genes became available in wheat and rice from CIMMYT and IRRI, respectively,Indian plant breeders quickly incorporated these genes into the genetic background of the country's widely grown varieties with excellent grain quality and other desirable traits. This was to mark the beginning of modem agriculture in India as more and more varieties were developed, characterized by a high harvest index and response to modem farm inputs like the inorganic fertilizers . India's green revolution which has led to major surpluses offood grains and othercommodities like sugar and cotton has been made possible by the work of one of the largest groups of plant breeders working in a coordinated network.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400710402
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 813
Book Description
The Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding was established in 1941 in recognition of the growing contribution of improved crop varieties to the country's agriculture. Scientific plant breeding had started inIndia soon after the rediscovery of Mendel's laws of heredity. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute set up in 1905 and a number of Agricultural Colleges in different parts of the country carried out some of the earliest work mostly inthe form of pure-line selections. In subsequent years, hybridization programmes in crops like wheat, rice, oilseeds, grain legumes, sugarcane and cotton yielded a large number of improved cultivars with significantly higher yields. A turning point came in the 1960s with the development of hybrids in several crops including inter-specific hybrids in cotton. And when new germplasm with dwarfing genes became available in wheat and rice from CIMMYT and IRRI, respectively,Indian plant breeders quickly incorporated these genes into the genetic background of the country's widely grown varieties with excellent grain quality and other desirable traits. This was to mark the beginning of modem agriculture in India as more and more varieties were developed, characterized by a high harvest index and response to modem farm inputs like the inorganic fertilizers . India's green revolution which has led to major surpluses offood grains and othercommodities like sugar and cotton has been made possible by the work of one of the largest groups of plant breeders working in a coordinated network.
The Commons, Plant Breeding and Agricultural Research
Author: Fabien Girard
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1351615890
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 525
Book Description
The joint challenges of population increase, food security and conservation of agrobiodiversity demand a rethink of plant breeding and agricultural research from a different perspective. While more food is undeniably needed, the key question is rather about how to produce it in a way that sustains biological diversity and mitigates climate change. This book shows how social sciences, and more especially law, can contribute towards reconfiguring current legal frameworks in order to achieving a better balance between the necessary requirements of agricultural innovation and the need for protection of agrobiodiversity. On the assumption that the concept of property can be rethought against the background of the 'right to include', so as to endow others with a common 'right to access' genetic resources, several international instruments and contractual arrangements drawn from the plant-breeding field (including the Convention on Biological Diversity, technology exchange clearing houses and open sources licenses) receive special consideration. In addition, the authors explore the tension between ownership and the free circulation and exchange of germplasm and issues such as genetic resources managed by local and indigenous communities, the ITPGRFA and participatory plant-breeding programmes. As a whole, the book demonstrates the relevance of the 'Commons' for plant breeding and agricultural innovation.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1351615890
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 525
Book Description
The joint challenges of population increase, food security and conservation of agrobiodiversity demand a rethink of plant breeding and agricultural research from a different perspective. While more food is undeniably needed, the key question is rather about how to produce it in a way that sustains biological diversity and mitigates climate change. This book shows how social sciences, and more especially law, can contribute towards reconfiguring current legal frameworks in order to achieving a better balance between the necessary requirements of agricultural innovation and the need for protection of agrobiodiversity. On the assumption that the concept of property can be rethought against the background of the 'right to include', so as to endow others with a common 'right to access' genetic resources, several international instruments and contractual arrangements drawn from the plant-breeding field (including the Convention on Biological Diversity, technology exchange clearing houses and open sources licenses) receive special consideration. In addition, the authors explore the tension between ownership and the free circulation and exchange of germplasm and issues such as genetic resources managed by local and indigenous communities, the ITPGRFA and participatory plant-breeding programmes. As a whole, the book demonstrates the relevance of the 'Commons' for plant breeding and agricultural innovation.
Plant Breeding in the Omics Era
Author: Rodomiro Ortiz Ríos
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319205323
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 250
Book Description
The field of plant breeding has grown rapidly in the last decade with breakthrough research in genetics and genomics, inbred development, population improvement, hybrids, clones, self-pollinated crops, polyploidy, transgenic breeding and more. This book discusses the latest developments in all these areas but explores the next generation of needs and discoveries including omics beyond genomics, cultivar seeds and intellectual and property rights. This book is a leading-edge publication of the latest results and forecasts important areas of future needs and applications.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319205323
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 250
Book Description
The field of plant breeding has grown rapidly in the last decade with breakthrough research in genetics and genomics, inbred development, population improvement, hybrids, clones, self-pollinated crops, polyploidy, transgenic breeding and more. This book discusses the latest developments in all these areas but explores the next generation of needs and discoveries including omics beyond genomics, cultivar seeds and intellectual and property rights. This book is a leading-edge publication of the latest results and forecasts important areas of future needs and applications.
Tree Breeding: Principles and Strategies
Author: G. Namkoong
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461238927
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 186
Book Description
It has become apparent, during discussions with students and colleagues in forest genetics, that a universal concern is the achievement of diverse goals of forestry from fiber production in industrial as well as farm forests to conserving forest ecosystems. Although we generally have several breeding methods available and several species to breed, we seek to satisfy multiple-use goals on diverse sites by management techniques that at best can only partially control edaphic environmental variation. The dominant approach, which was agriculturally motivated, has involved inten sive effort with complicated breeding plans on single species for uniform adaptability and single-product plantations. However, this is obviously neither the only, nor necessarily the best, solution for the genetic management of tree species, and thus our intent in this volume is to develop ways to achieve multiple objectives in tree breeding. We include an array of breeding plans from simple iterated designs to sets of multiple populations capable of using gene actions for different traits in different environments for uncertain futures. The presentation is organized around the development of breeding from single-to multiple-option plans, from single to multiple traits, from single to mUltiple environ ments, and from single to multiple populations. However, it is not a complete "How To" book, and includes neither exercises nor instructions on data handling. It also does not include discussion of all modes of reproduction and inheritance encountered in plants.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461238927
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 186
Book Description
It has become apparent, during discussions with students and colleagues in forest genetics, that a universal concern is the achievement of diverse goals of forestry from fiber production in industrial as well as farm forests to conserving forest ecosystems. Although we generally have several breeding methods available and several species to breed, we seek to satisfy multiple-use goals on diverse sites by management techniques that at best can only partially control edaphic environmental variation. The dominant approach, which was agriculturally motivated, has involved inten sive effort with complicated breeding plans on single species for uniform adaptability and single-product plantations. However, this is obviously neither the only, nor necessarily the best, solution for the genetic management of tree species, and thus our intent in this volume is to develop ways to achieve multiple objectives in tree breeding. We include an array of breeding plans from simple iterated designs to sets of multiple populations capable of using gene actions for different traits in different environments for uncertain futures. The presentation is organized around the development of breeding from single-to multiple-option plans, from single to multiple traits, from single to mUltiple environ ments, and from single to multiple populations. However, it is not a complete "How To" book, and includes neither exercises nor instructions on data handling. It also does not include discussion of all modes of reproduction and inheritance encountered in plants.
Advances and Applications of Cost-Effective, High-Throughput Genotyping Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture
Author: Nisha Singh
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832541860
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 196
Book Description
Recent advances in next-generation sequencing-driven mass production of genomic data and various other integrated techniques have considerably broadened and deepened our understanding of living organisms' molecular systems. Because complex quantitative traits are difficult to select due to low heritability, conventional plant breeding relies on phenotypic selection and breeder experience, it takes longer to develop a new, improved variety. For association studies to identify DNA markers linked to these complex traits, genotyping chip arrays allow genotyping of thousands of markers in a short amount of time. Plant breeding consistency and predictability have improved thanks to advances in genomics. NGS technologies bring new tools and concepts that can enhance the precision and efficiency of plant breeding such as cost-effective, high throughput genotyping technologies for sustainable agriculture. These genotyping technologies will be lowering the time and cost of developing high-quality food crops that are stress-resistant while still having a high nutritional value. This Research Topic focuses on recent advancements in NGS-related technologies, mainly the development of cost-effective high-throughput genotyping platforms with a wide range of bioinformatics tools, and possible translational multi-omics applications in crop breeding programs for sustainable agriculture.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832541860
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 196
Book Description
Recent advances in next-generation sequencing-driven mass production of genomic data and various other integrated techniques have considerably broadened and deepened our understanding of living organisms' molecular systems. Because complex quantitative traits are difficult to select due to low heritability, conventional plant breeding relies on phenotypic selection and breeder experience, it takes longer to develop a new, improved variety. For association studies to identify DNA markers linked to these complex traits, genotyping chip arrays allow genotyping of thousands of markers in a short amount of time. Plant breeding consistency and predictability have improved thanks to advances in genomics. NGS technologies bring new tools and concepts that can enhance the precision and efficiency of plant breeding such as cost-effective, high throughput genotyping technologies for sustainable agriculture. These genotyping technologies will be lowering the time and cost of developing high-quality food crops that are stress-resistant while still having a high nutritional value. This Research Topic focuses on recent advancements in NGS-related technologies, mainly the development of cost-effective high-throughput genotyping platforms with a wide range of bioinformatics tools, and possible translational multi-omics applications in crop breeding programs for sustainable agriculture.
Guide to Participatory Varietal Selection for Submergence-tolerant Rice
Author: T. R. Paris
Publisher: IRRI
ISBN: 9712202623
Category : Agricultural development projects
Languages : en
Pages : 120
Book Description
The Green Revolution averted the threat of famine through the rapid adoption of improved rice varieties. However, despite this huge success, hundreds of millions of poor rice-farming families in rainfed areas still live in poverty and suffer from food (rice) insecurity. Despite many released improved rice varieties for rainfed conditions, farmers still use local varieties that can withstand drought and floods but have low yields or they use the same varieties for many years because of a lack of better varieties. Rainfed rice farmers are slow to adopt improved varieties because of several problems. One problem is more of extension than breeding - many farmers, particularly those living in remote rainfed areas, may not have access to or information about the seed of new varieties. Another problem is that variety testing programs are often conducted on-station, which does not represent farmers' fields. Moreover, conventional rice breeding programs usually seek farmers' input only at the very end of the process, when newly released varieties, usually one or two per year, are evaluated in on-farm demonstration trials. Often, in remote and unfavorable areas, subsistence farmers, who comprise the majority of the rural farming population in Asia, give importance to social and cultural dimensions aside from the agronomic performance of the new rice varieties. The complexities of developing acceptable varieties for variable and stressful rainfed environments require that breeders become deeply familiar with men and women farmers' needs and preferences. Since 1977, IRRI has been making efforts to improve communication among farmers, breeders, and extension workers so that men and women farmers' concerns and preferences are considered in plant breeding objectives. Participatory varietal selection (PVS) is a simple way for breeders and agronomists to learn which varieties perform well on-station and on-farm and to obtain feedback from the potential end users in the early phases of the breeding cycle. It is a means for social scientists to identify the varieties that most men and women farmers prefer, including the reasons for their preference and constraints to adoption. Based on IRRI's experience in collaboration with national agricultural research and extension system partners and farmers, PVS, which includes "researcher-managed" and "farmer-managed" trials, is an effective strategy for accelerating the dissemination of stress-tolerant varieties. PVS has also been instrumental in the fast release of stress-tolerant varieties through the formal varietal release system. This guide on PVS will complement the various training programs given by IRRI for plant breeders, agronomists, and extension workers engaged in rice varietal development and dissemination.
Publisher: IRRI
ISBN: 9712202623
Category : Agricultural development projects
Languages : en
Pages : 120
Book Description
The Green Revolution averted the threat of famine through the rapid adoption of improved rice varieties. However, despite this huge success, hundreds of millions of poor rice-farming families in rainfed areas still live in poverty and suffer from food (rice) insecurity. Despite many released improved rice varieties for rainfed conditions, farmers still use local varieties that can withstand drought and floods but have low yields or they use the same varieties for many years because of a lack of better varieties. Rainfed rice farmers are slow to adopt improved varieties because of several problems. One problem is more of extension than breeding - many farmers, particularly those living in remote rainfed areas, may not have access to or information about the seed of new varieties. Another problem is that variety testing programs are often conducted on-station, which does not represent farmers' fields. Moreover, conventional rice breeding programs usually seek farmers' input only at the very end of the process, when newly released varieties, usually one or two per year, are evaluated in on-farm demonstration trials. Often, in remote and unfavorable areas, subsistence farmers, who comprise the majority of the rural farming population in Asia, give importance to social and cultural dimensions aside from the agronomic performance of the new rice varieties. The complexities of developing acceptable varieties for variable and stressful rainfed environments require that breeders become deeply familiar with men and women farmers' needs and preferences. Since 1977, IRRI has been making efforts to improve communication among farmers, breeders, and extension workers so that men and women farmers' concerns and preferences are considered in plant breeding objectives. Participatory varietal selection (PVS) is a simple way for breeders and agronomists to learn which varieties perform well on-station and on-farm and to obtain feedback from the potential end users in the early phases of the breeding cycle. It is a means for social scientists to identify the varieties that most men and women farmers prefer, including the reasons for their preference and constraints to adoption. Based on IRRI's experience in collaboration with national agricultural research and extension system partners and farmers, PVS, which includes "researcher-managed" and "farmer-managed" trials, is an effective strategy for accelerating the dissemination of stress-tolerant varieties. PVS has also been instrumental in the fast release of stress-tolerant varieties through the formal varietal release system. This guide on PVS will complement the various training programs given by IRRI for plant breeders, agronomists, and extension workers engaged in rice varietal development and dissemination.