Why farmers should play a role in agric research #rwanda

Agricultural researchers who have been perched
on high pedestals, while largely remaining aloof
from the farming community could be in for a
rude shock.
Farmers now want to be involved in research
activities, a position that prominently featured in
many themes at the 3rd Africa Rice Congress in
Yaoundé, Cameroon from October 21-24.
At the Benin-based Africa Rice Centre, farmers'
participation in research has been embraced and
Marie-Noelle Ndiondjop, a biologist who develops
improved varieties for farmers, says the
programme takes three years.
During the programme, farmers, extension
services and researchers work together on
varieties proposed for adoption by the farmers
based on the felt problems and needs. "The
farmers are trained to plant and when the
varieties are at the vegetative stage, the farmers
evaluate, select and say why they chose or
rejected a particular variety at the end of the three
years," says Ndjiondjop.
She adds: "When the farmers reject a particular
variety, the researchers turn it into a research
question and go back into the laboratory to
improve on it based on the farmers' comments."
David Nanfumba, an agronomist at the
Buginyanya Zonal Agricultural Research and
Development Institute in Uganda observes:
"When farmers are part of the selection process
of a rice variety, they gather knowledge and
make informed choices on whether to accept or
reject a variety."
Yes, farmers look forward to new varieties
meeting their agricultural needs, but that does not
mean these varieties should be researched and
developed without their input.
A similar farmer-participatory rice selection
process in Zanzibar revealed that farmers
preferred SUPA BC, a variety that has now been
released to them, says Khatib Juma Khatib, an
agricultural research officer with the Zanzibar
Research Institute.