David P. Coady and Susan W. Parker, Program Participation under Means-Testing and Self-Selection Targeting Methods IFPRI, April 2005AbstractUsing data that enables us to distinguish between the different components of programparticipation (i.e., knowledge, application, and acceptance), we investigate the determinants of household behavior and program implementation in a social safety-net program that combines administrative and self-selection targeting methods. High undercoverage of eligible households primarily reflects lack of knowledge and binding budget constraints in poor areas. High leakage to ineligible households reflects the combination of their high levels of knowledge, application, and acceptance. Lowering undercoverage will require greater program awareness among the poor living in nonpoor areas and this is likely to come at the expense of substantial leakage to the nonpoor unless improvements are made to the verification process. Our results also suggest that in the presence of a budget constraint, the administrative selection process gives priority to the poorest households and those with children.

Almekinders, C., and J. Jongerden. 2002. On visions and new approaches. Case studies of organisational forms in organic plant breeding and seed production. Working Paper Technology and Agrarian Development, Wageningen University, Netherlands. pp. 30This report is based on an exploratory study of the social, financial and legal organisation, and technology applied in five initiatives in the sector of biological seed production and plant breeding in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. The study is carried out by researchers of the Chairgroup Technologie en Agrarische Ontwikkeling (TAO) of the Wageningen University and Researchcentre (WUR), and was comissioned by Louis Bolk Institute and Platform Biologica. The report is an exploratory study of the social, financial and legal organisation, and technology applied in five initiatives in the sector of biological seed production and plant breeding in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. The experiences of the studied initiatives are relevant in a period in which interest for organic seed and plant breeding is increasing. A number of the actors in the organic sector consider organic breeding a guarantee the availability of suitable seeds and varieties for the organic sector in terms of agronomic and quality traits. An important requirement is that seeds are produced and developed with technologies that are accepted in the organic sector. In addition, the organic sector is interested in breeding strategies that aim not only at economic, but also at social sustainability. The analysis of the five initiatives concentrates on the limitations and the choices by the involved actors made in the course of their development. The main conclusion of the study is that the social and financial organisation, and technologies used in the initiatives show functional coherence. Two circuits are distinguished in the study, i.e. the bio-dynamic circuit and the bio-classic circuit. Each of the circuits shows its own characteristics and coherence. The perspective of the actors on the mission and function of plant breeding is an important factor in their choices. Choices of sources of capital for financing the initiatives play a crucial role. Those that opt for capital from donations and legates (biodynamic circuit) seem to have a different development path of breeding and seed production than those that use conventional capital arrangements (bio-classic circuit). The use from the two distinctive sources of funding corresponds, respectively, to organisations that develop a network structure and a more classical organised one. Both types of organisations can be seen as initiatives that have to conform to the principles of capital providers in the use of technology and marketing strategies. At the same time, however, they are both innovative. Summarising, it is concluded that the diversity of the perspectives of the actors in the organic sector provides opportunities to explore new pathways in breeding and seed supply for the organic sector. Over time, as their improved materials become available, the viability of the different approaches will become clear.

Almekinders, C., J. Molina, N. Alfaro y R.Herrera. 2002. Fitomejoramiento participativo en Nicaragua ya es un exito para los involucrados. Programa Colaborativo de Fitomejoramiento Participativo en Mesoamérica.Actualmente se encuentra en marcha un proyecto de fitomejoramiento participativo en Pueblo Nuevo y Condega. El proyecto se inició hace 2 años, lo cual en términos de fitomejoramiento significa que es entonces un proyecto muy joven. Aún así ya se dan impactos significativos, no solamente en los campos de los agricultores, sino también en las instituciones que participan. A pesar de que falta bastante para llegar al momento en lo cual los agricultores podrían lanzar una variedad propia de frijol o maíz, y aunque tampoco existe seguridad de que pueden desarrollar un material superior a los que llegan por canales convencionales, agricultores, técnicos y el fitomejorador siguen trabajando con ánimo, en colaboración buscando alternativas por caminos que nadie ha andado hasta ahora, con la única seguridad que se van encontrar con preguntas a lo cual nadie todavía tiene una respuesta.

Ceccarelli, S. and S. Grando. 1999. Decentralised Participatory Plant Breeding. ILEIA.The objective of this PPB project conducted in Syria is to test an alternative way of producing improved varieties of crops, such as barley, for marginal environments. The project operates in 9 villages chosen to represent variations in annual rainfall, soil types, management practices, farm sizes and types of participatory selection. The project compared the following four strategies of selection:• By farmers in their own fields (decentralised participatory selection)• By farmers on the research station (centralised participatory selection)• By the breeder in farmers fields (decentralised non-participatory selection)• By the breeder in the research station (centralised non-participatory selection)Farmers acquired the ability to conduct the trials without supervision, and were able to formulate suggestions about potential parents for crosses. They were able to explain the project to other farmers. Farmers began to realise that there could be many different types of barley. We showed farmers how crosses were made, and the different types of barley generated by a single cross. In one of the villages, a farmer’s wife suddenly started sitting in the same room with us ‘foreigners’ and began participating in the discussion. Such a change obviously makes it much easier to find out the preferences of women which would otherwise be ‘filtered’ through the men. These reactions may seem small, but they indicate that this approach can have a major impact on variety adoption, skill building, increased female participation, and the capacity of farmers to redirect plant breeding and shape agricultural research to their needs.

AgroSpecial no. 5, by Almekinders, Hardon and others. It covers experiences with participatory plant breeding and challenges for institutionalisation.

ICARDA. 2001. Barley germplasm improvement for increased productivity and yield stability. Annual Report.