Positive selection in seed potato production in Kenya as a case of successful research-led innovation

Abstract

By identifying the success factors of a programme on positive seed potato selection, this article analyses the role of research in agricultural innovation. The positive seed selection programme developed an approach to improve the quality of seed potatoes by ware potato growers, complementary to specialized seed production systems now widely promoted in sub-Saharan Africa. With more weight being placed on innovation rather than on research outcome, the role of research has been widened and research has assumed responsibility for developing and piloting effective training through partnership with extension. Researchers effectively contributed to innovation because they were given and took the liberty of pursuing a ‘bright idea’. The case discussed in this article points out that innovation can emerge from old technology within existing institutional environments, and can be surprisingly simple as long as researchers have room to manoeuvre and opportunity to engage in partnerships with practitioners.

Seed degeneration in potato: the need for an integrated seed health strategy to mitigate the problem in developing countries

“…Many reasons have been given for the failure of certified seed replacement systems in developing countries (Thiele, ). The authors propose that the research and development initiatives that have driven potato seed interventions in developing countries for the last five decades or more (Crissman, ; Crissman et al ., ; Kadian et al ., ; Hidalgo et al ., ; Gildemacher et al ., ) need to be critically scrutinized. The near‐exclusive emphasis on certified seed replacement systems (Fig.…”

Incomplete Infection of Secondarily Infected Potato Plants – an Environment Dependent Underestimated Mechanism in Plant Virology

“…Additionally, a technique to maintain or even improve seed quality has been widely advocated and disseminated by the International Potato Center for application in regions where farmer-saved seed is still dominant, such as Eastern Africa. This technique, referred to as positive selection, involves identifying plants that look healthy at an early stage of the season (e.g., at flowering), which will eventually be harvested for seed at the end of the growing season ( Gildemacher et al, 2011 , 2012 ; Schulte-Geldermann et al, 2012 ; Thomas-Sharma et al, 2016 ). The positive selection method is simple, cheap and robust, and can easily be adopted by small-holder seed growers or ware growers who plant their own seed.…”

“…To address the constraint of seed degeneration, Thomas-Sharma et al (2016) recently outlined such a strategy, within which host plant resistance and on-farm disease management play integral roles. They showed that such an approach, including positive selection and the regeneration of degenerated seed, can be used for designing adequate and sustainable seed systems to improve potato productivity in parts of the world that lack access to a continuous supply of healthy seed ( Gildemacher et al, 2012 ; Schulte-Geldermann et al, 2012 ; Thomas-Sharma et al, 2016 ).…”

Quality and innovation in food chains

“…Good farm management can enhance yield and quality of seed potatoes produced by ware/seed growers. For example, a positive seed potato selection study undertaken in Kenya showed that positive seed potato selection increases the yield of potato by ware growers by about 34% (Gildemacher et al, 2012). The current practice in the informal seed system is suboptimal and needs improvement.…”