Farmers’ rice seed selection and supply system in Nepal: understanding a critical process for conserving crop diversity

Farmers rice seed selection, acquisition and exchange practices, and their relationship with management of on-farm rice varietal diversity, were studied in two contrasting agro-ecosystems in Nepal. Data came from 135 households using questionnaires, focus group discussions and direct field observations. Seed selection is primarily for maintenance of productivity and purity of a variety. The rigor applied to selection is inversely related to access to quality seed from outside sources. Excluding native varieties with religious or ceremonial values, seed selection procedures for native and modern varieties (MVs) do not differ. Farmers seed selection practices are influenced by whether a variety, be it a native or modern (MV) is grown by many or few farmers, is grown on large or small land areas, on any morphological heterogeneity or an abundance of off-types within the variety and its cultural and religious use. Farmers perceive that varieties and seed batches need to be changed frequently on a given plot of land to maintain a stable yield. Poorer households often lack resources for rigorous seed selection compared to resource-endowed households. Women play a significant role in seed selection and exchange of genetic materials. Farmers mainly rely on informal networks for seeds but they do also acquire seeds from formal sources and the market. The number of nodal or key seeds sourced by farmers within informal networks is linked to the level of fragmentation of the network. Supporting the on-farm production of quality seeds of native local varieties, increases access to genetic diversity of local crops through seed fairs and community level gene-banks. Elevating the image of native varieties as an important local resource for food, security and sustainable agriculture are recommended as actions to improve the use and conservation of on-farm crop genetic diversity.