Florent Okry

Evidence for the Emergence of New Rice Types of Interspecific Hybrid Origin in West African Farmers' Fields

In West Africa two rice species (Oryza glaberrima Steud. and Oryza sativa L.) co-exist. Although originally it was thought that interspecific hybridization is impossible without biotechnological methods, progenies of hybridization appear to occur in farmer fields. AFLP analysis was used to assess genetic diversity in West Africa (including the countries The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Togo) using 315 rice samples morphologically classified prior to analysis. We show evidence for farmer interspecific hybrids of African and Asian rice, resulting in a group of novel genotypes, and identify possible mechanisms for in-field hybridization. Spontaneous back-crossing events play a crucial role, resulting in different groups of genetic diversity in different regions developed by natural and cultural selection, often under adverse conditions. These new groups of genotypes may have potential relevance for exploitation by plant breeders. Future advances in crop development could be achieved through co-operation between scientists and marginalized farmer groups in order to address challenges of rapid adaptation in a world of increasing socio-political and climatic uncertainty.

ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE SEED SECTOR OF RICE IN GUINEA: STAKEHOLDERS, PERCEPTION AND INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES

SUMMARY This paper analyses the organization of the rice seed sector in Guinea with the overall objectives to assess how organizational settings affect seed supply to small-scale farmers and to suggest institutional changes that would favour seed service and uptake of varieties. Data were collected in Guinea, West Africa, using focus group discussions with extension workers, farmers, representatives of farmers’ associations, agroinput dealers, researchers and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff, and surveys of 91 rice farming households and 41 local seed dealers. Findings suggest that the current institutional settings and perceptions of stakeholders from the formal seed sector inhibit smallholder farmers’ access to seed. Seed interventions in the past two decades have mainly relied on the national extension system, the research institute, NGOs, farmers’ associations and contract seed producers to ensure seed delivery. Although local seed dealers play a central role in providing seed to farmers, governmental organizations operating in a linear model of formal seed sector development have so far ignored their role. We discuss the need to find common ground and alternative models of seed sector development. In particular we suggest the involvement of local seed dealers in seed development activities to better link the formal and the informal seed systems and improve smallholder farmers’ access to seed from the formal sector.

Forging New Partnerships: Lessons from the Dissemination of Agricultural Training Videos in Benin

Abstract Purpose: This article evaluates the dissemination and use of rice training videos by radio stations, farmers, farmer associations and extension services in Benin. It pays attention to positive deviants and process innovation within a ‘hands-off experiment’. Design/methodology/approach: Using questionnaires and checklists we interviewed leaders of radio stations, extension services of nine municipalities and organized focus discussions with 13 farmer associations. Interviews focused on the processes of video dissemination/acquirement and the use and usefulness of the video. Findings: The commercial radio of Glazoué developed persuasive adverts and sold most of the 240 VCDs to farmers and extension services, whereas the community radios distributed most VCDs free of charge. About 20% of all the VCDs were sold, suggesting that farmers are eager to invest in acquiring knowledge. Extension services acquired the rice videos in various ways, indicating the need to inject videos via multiple pathways into the agricultural innovation system. Watching the farmer-to-farmer videos during staff meetings gave extension agents more confidence to interact with farmers. Practical implications: Videos do not need to be distributed to all farmer associations in the same village, as dissemination may take place between different associations. Farmers appreciate watching videos with their families if they are available in their local language. When suitable language versions are not available, group viewing is more appropriate. Originality/value: The farmer-to-farmer rice videos have created a momentum in Benin and across Africa, especially in the current context of rapid changes in the agricultural systems. The newly established non-governmental organization Access Agriculture aims at further supporting video-mediated learning in developing countries.

Robustness and Strategies of Adaptation among Farmer Varieties of African Rice (Oryza glaberrima) and Asian Rice (Oryza sativa) across West Africa

This study offers evidence of the robustness of farmer rice varieties (Oryza glaberrima and O. sativa) in West Africa. Our experiments in five West African countries showed that farmer varieties were tolerant of sub-optimal conditions, but employed a range of strategies to cope with stress. Varieties belonging to the species Oryza glaberrima – solely the product of farmer agency – were the most successful in adapting to a range of adverse conditions. Some of the farmer selections from within the indica and japonica subspecies of O. sativa also performed well in a range of conditions, but other farmer selections from within these two subspecies were mainly limited to more specific niches. The results contradict the rather common belief that farmer varieties are only of local value. Farmer varieties should be considered by breeding programmes and used (alongside improved varieties) in dissemination projects for rural food security.

Videos that speak for themselves: when non-extensionists show agricultural videos to large audiences

In 2008, an NGO showed videos about rice to farmers in 19 villages in Benin. A study in 2013 showed that farmers remembered the videos, even after five years had passed. In most of the villages at least some farmers experimented with rice farming or with new technology after the video screenings, which attracted large audiences of community members, including youth and women. Some of the villagers also visited extension agencies to get rice seed, and occasionally to seek more information. Farmers can benefit from agricultural learning videos shown by organisations with little previous agricultural experience. Videos do not necessarily need to be facilitated by an expert who knows the subject. Sometimes the video can speak for itself.

Processes underpinning development and maintenance of diversity in rice in West Africa: evidence from combining morphological and molecular markers.

We assessed the interplay of artificial and natural selection in rice adaptation in low-input farming systems in West Africa. Using 20 morphological traits and 176 molecular markers, 182 farmer varieties of rice (Oryza spp.) from 6 West African countries were characterized. Principal component analysis showed that the four botanical groups (Oryza sativa ssp. indica, O. sativa ssp. japonica, O. glaberrima, and interspecific farmer hybrids) exhibited different patterns of morphological diversity. Regarding O. glaberrima, morphological and molecular data were in greater conformity than for the other botanical groups. A clear difference in morphological features was observed between O. glaberrima rices from the Togo hills and those from the Upper Guinea Coast, and among O. glaberrima rices from the Upper Guinea Coast. For the other three groups such clear patterns were not observed. We argue that this is because genetic diversity is shaped by different environmental and socio-cultural selection pressures. For O. glaberrima, recent socio-cultural selection pressures seemed to restrict genetic diversity while this was not observed for the other botanical groups. We also show that O. glaberrima still plays an important role in the selection practices of farmers and resulting variety development pathways. This is particularly apparent in the case of interspecific farmer hybrids where a relationship was found between pericarp colour, panicle attitude and genetic diversity. Farmer varieties are the product of long and complex trajectories of selection governed by local human agency. In effect, rice varieties have emerged that are adapted to West African farming conditions through genotype × environment × society interactions. The diversity farmers maintain in their rice varieties is understood to be part of a risk-spreading strategy that also facilitates successful and often serendipitous variety innovations. We advocate, therefore, that farmers and farmer varieties should be more effectively involved in crop development.

The distribution of farmer learning videos: Lessons from non-conventional dissemination networks in Benin

Abstract Commercial channels can be non-conventional networks for disseminating agricultural information, especially if farmers are willing to pay for a DVD with learning videos. Using purposive sampling, we selected retailer and involved them in selling videos compiled in a DVD. Inside the jacket of DVD, we pasted a sticker listing a phone number that buyers or video viewers could call for further questions. We interviewed 341 of the buyers who called that number. After the phone interviews, snowball sampling was used to select 180 farmers for face-to-face interviews in order to validate the information collected during the telephone interviews and to understand the behavioural changes triggered by watching the videos. Within four months of first distributing DVDs to retailers, 80% of the 700 DVDs were sold. Distributing videos through commercial channels gives a fair chance to everyone to learn, since the DVDs were sold on the open market at an affordable price. About 84% of the DVDs were sold at 1 USD, suggesting that all of the respondents were willing to pay for learning DVDs; 86% of respondents said they now spent less money on pesticides after watching the videos. Private sector actors can become “new extensionists” and distribute agricultural information to rural populations.

Quality farmer training videos to support South–South learning

The Internet and mobile phone services have enabled farmers across developing countries to pro-actively seek information themselves. However, the key problem is little content of relevance. This paper compares two complementary models, namely access agriculture and digital green, that enable farmers’ access to training videos. The paper then elaborates on the Access Agriculture model, as one that supports South–South learning between farmers. Careful attention to content, style and format during video production results in quality videos that are eagerly used by any organisation, TV or radio station. Translated upon demand into any local language, the use of quality training videos is highly cost-effective. Five years after being established, the Access Agriculture video platform hosts over 175 farmer training videos in 75 languages for anyone to view and download for free. About 44% of the nearly 200,000 visitors to the video platform come from Africa, and 23% from Asia. The percentage of people accessing the video platform via their mobile has increased from 30% in 2016 to 42% in 2018. Farmers are the largest professional group registering to the platform to download videos, fact sheets and audio files. Small livestock, vegetable production and food processing are popular topics, appealing to rural women and youth in particular. While smallholder farmers need relevant content, this does not mean that all training materials have to be developed locally. The growing body of evidence of cross-cultural, farmer-to-farmer learning is steadily changing this misperception. Examples are given of cost-recovery and private sector engagement in distributing, selling and showing quality videos hosted on the Access Agriculture platform. The paper ends by providing key lessons learned and challenges to support South–South learning between farmers at a scale previously unseen.