tailieunhanh - BRINGING FARMERS BACK INTO BREEDING - Chapter 5 & 6

BEYOND THE PILOT PROJECT: CHALLENGES FOR INSTITUTIONALISATION At present we can see a large number of projects practicing various forms of PPB, all of them being quite successful so far (case studies in this publication, Ashby & Lilja, 2004). | 5 Beyond the pilot project challenges for INSTITUTIONALISATION Institutionalising farmers involvement in plant breeding At present we can see a large number of projects practicing various forms of PPB all of them being quite successful so far case studies in this publication Ashby Lilja 2004 . There is however no general message about the possible role of PBB within national crop improvement regimes. This leads us to question the future direction of PPB. Sustaining and institutionalising PPB . mainstreaming and scaling-up where it offers real advantages would seem to require recognition that it can play a valid complementary role within national seed programmes and policies. This step requires an enabling institutional and policy environment as well as available and organised technical support. One way of seeing if this support and environment do exist is to ask what happens after pilot projects finish Will breeders and farmers still meet and jointly decide on what to evaluate and how Will materials from new crosses still find their way to interested farmers And will this way of working become the normal way of doing breeding where it appears opportune For these conditions to be met PPB must be recognised as an approach that effectively combines the development of improved varieties and development objectives aiming at alleviating rural poverty and improving local food production. At present reports on progress towards institutionalisation mostly personal communications send mixed messages but do identify a number of challenges that need to be addressed in order to create a truly enabling environment. Publishing the results of the achievements of PPB is necessary in order to influence policy makers and managers of agricultural research of PPB s value. In addition PPB methods need to be included as part of curricula in training plant breeders. For PPB methods to be included in such curricula there is a need for well documented case studies and the translation