Millet transactions in market fairs, millet diversity and farmer welfare in Mali

Smale, Mélinda; Diakité, Lamissa; Keita, Naman

doi:10.1017/s1355770x12000216

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Until recently, the use of improved open‐pollinated varieties (OPV) of pearl millet in WCA was very limited due to low availability of seed and insufficient infrastructure in the seed sector, as well as relatively low adoption by the farmers, as improved varieties often did not suit their preferences (Ndjeunga, 1997; Smale et al, 2012). However, in the last decade, a number of initiatives have been undertaken to strengthen farmer involvement in pearl millet improvement, such as on‐farm variety testing and certified seed production, which have resulted in increasing farmers’ access to improved pearl millet cultivars (Omanya et al, 2007).…”

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confidence: 99%

Agro‐morphological Characterization of West and Central African Pearl Millet Accessions

Pucher

Sy²,

Angarawai

et al. 2015

Crop Science

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Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] was domesticated in Sahelian West Africa. This highly outcrossing crop is one of the most important staple cereals in the semiarid tropics, adapted to very harsh rain‐fed conditions. Agro‐morphological characterization of local germplasm is very important to better understand existing diversity, ease targeted genetic broadening of breeding populations, and potentially link this knowledge to genotypic information. The objectives of our study were to (i) characterize West and Central African (WCA) pearl millet accessions based on their agro‐morphological traits; (ii) evaluate the possibility to group accessions based on their agro‐morphological characteristics; (iii) determine geographic patterns of phenotypic differentiation; and (iv) derive conclusions for pearl millet improvement in WCA. A total of 360 early‐to‐medium maturity accessions were phenotyped for 12 agro‐morphological traits at six environments in WCA. Wide ranges of all observed traits indicated a high diversity of the tested accessions. Principal component analysis revealed very large diversity within individual countries, especially within Mali and Burkina Faso. Some limited grouping of accessions from Niger, Senegal, Cameroon, Morocco, and Mauritania was observed for individual principal component axes. Geographical differentiation and country differences were detected for several traits. The results and data presented in our study reflect WCA pearl millets’ tremendous diversity and adaptability to a wide range of environments and give a sound basis for breeders to select and utilize this germplasm to serve the manifold needs of WCA pearl millet farmers.

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confidence: 99%

Agro‐morphological Characterization of West and Central African Pearl Millet Accessions

Pucher

Sy²,

Angarawai

et al. 2015

Crop Science

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“…The results suggest that producers were using the community biodiversity management system in place of market sources in 2018. Local markets have an important role as a backup source for the seed of traditional grains in Mali, especially in cases of repeated crop failure, although seed quality is a concern in these transactions (Diakité et al ., 2008; Smale et al ., 2008). Farmers continued sourcing fonio and Bambara groundnut primarily from their own production and exchanges with other farmers in 2018, while the community biodiversity management system added an additional source that has enhanced resilience of seed supply for these crops.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intraspecific diversity and farmer practices of seed selection and exchange support crop adaptation and resilience of seed supply under the variable climate conditions and fragile agricultural support typical of the region (Bazile and Abrami, 2008; Coulibaly et al ., 2008; Vigouroux et al ., 2011). Albeit, seed exchanges can be limited geographically or within kinship networks with inconsistent seed quality (Bazile, 2006; Coulibaly et al ., 2008, Smale et al ., 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revitalizing cultivation and strengthening the seed systems of fonio and Bambara groundnut in Mali through a community biodiversity management approach

Sidibé

Meldrum

Coulibaly

et al. 2020

Plant Genet. Resour.

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Fonio (Digitaria exilis (Kippist) Stapf) and Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) are native crops grown at a small scale in Mali that have potential to support agricultural productivity under climate change. A community biodiversity management approach was explored in this study as a means to reinforce the cultivation of these crops by increasing farmers' access to intraspecific diversity and developing capacities of community institutions for their management. The research involved six communities in Ségou and Sikasso regions. Multiple varieties of fonio (10–12) and Bambara groundnut (8–12) were established in diversity fields in each site over 2 years where farmers engaged in experiential learning over the crop cycle. Significant adoption of fonio and Bambara groundnut was detected in several study sites. The precise drivers of adoption cannot be definitively determined but likely include increased seed access and awareness gained through the diversity field fora, seed fairs and community seed banks. No significant yield advantage was detected for any of the varieties in the diversity fields, which showed variable performance by site and year. The number of varieties registered and managed by community seed banks in each site increased from 1–5 varieties of each crop to 11–12 varieties following the interventions. The number of Bambara groundnut varieties cultivated in farmers' fields also increased, while there was evidence of a slight decline in fonio diversity in some communities. The results of this study can inform efforts to strengthen seed systems and cultivation of neglected and underutilized species in Africa.

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“…For example, in Kenya ‘market hoppers’ are vendors who move from primary to secondary markets to sell produce and seed, which impacts on the level of genetic diversity found therein (Audi et al , 2010). In contrast, few links were found between dominant and secondary markets in Mali (see Smale et al , 2012).…”

Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed supply in local markets: supporting sustainable use of crop genetic resources

2012

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ABSTRACT. This introductory paper summarizes the policy context, methodological approach, and key results from the set of papers contained in this special edition derived from a FAO-led project on seed sourcing in local markets and its farm-level impacts. The introduction provides the conceptual framework used in the papers for considering the relationship between sourcing seed from market and rural household decision-making as well as the effects this has on two key farm outcomes: on-farm diversity and household welfare. Approaches for data collection and study site selection are described, withThe authors would like to express their deep gratitude to all the participants in the FAO 'Using Markets to Promote the Sustainable Utilization of Crop Genetic Resources' Project, including farmers and market vendors as well as national and international researchers. The authors would like to acknowledge the important intellectual input of C. Leigh Anderson and Timothy Dalton into the development of the conceptual framework of the project. Further information and outputs of the project may be obtained at http://www.fao.org/economic/esa/seed2d/projects2/ marketsseedsdiversity/en/.terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355770X12000393 a focus on how methodological issues were addressed in the different studies. Lastly, the paper summarizes the results of the individual papers and draws broad conclusions and policy implications for promoting the sustainable utilization of crop genetic resources through increasing market access and in a manner that supports agricultural production.

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Millet transactions in market fairs, millet diversity and farmer welfare in Mali

Cited by 18 publications

References 7 publications

Agro‐morphological Characterization of West and Central African Pearl Millet Accessions

Agro‐morphological Characterization of West and Central African Pearl Millet Accessions

Revitalizing cultivation and strengthening the seed systems of fonio and Bambara groundnut in Mali through a community biodiversity management approach

Seed supply in local markets: supporting sustainable use of crop genetic resources

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