Access to seed is crucial for farming, though few studies investigate household-level access in the informal ‘farmer seed systems’ which still supply most seed in poor countries. This paper uses empirical data of seed exchange practices for sorghum in eastern Ethiopia to analyze how social relationships influence access to off-farm seed for a major crop. Seed shortfalls are common, and farmer–f...

IInstitutional analysis can be used to understand the value placed on crop diversity by farmers as a social process, and to uncover the market-related constraints and incentives that influence farmer management of genetic resources. This is particularly important for capturing the dynamics of crop populations and the collective impact of individual decisions regarding crop diversity. In the app...

in this research, during three consecutive years (2010-2012), a series of diallel crossing was performed among wild type barberry genotypes and iranian seedless barberry. setting of seed and fruit in the crossing have been studied and then seedling survival were evaluated in several cultural systems. results showed significant effects of pollen sources on setting of fruits, seed and seeded frui...

Gene flow of transgenes into non-target populations is an important biosafety concern. The case of genetically modified (GM) maize in Mexico has been of particular interest because of the country's status as center of origin and landrace diversity. In contrast to maize in the U.S. and Europe, Mexican landraces form part of an evolving metapopulation in which new genes are subject to evolutionar...

Summary The quality and provenance of seed are exceptional importance for the production yield cultivated plants. There numerous tests determination vigour. accelerated ageing test is one most important that provide degree germination preservation longevity in storages. aim this study was to observe effect different methods – organic conventional on vigour maize (variety Rumenka), using test. M...

Since the 1980s, many developing countries have introduced policies to promote seed industry growth and improve the delivery of modern science to farmers, often with a long-term goal of increasing agricultural productivity in smallholder farming systems. Public, private, and civil society actors involved in shaping policy designs have, in turn, developed competing narratives around how best to ...

Abstract Where maize plays a critical role in food security, governments and donors have invested heavily support of local, privately owned, often small medium sized, seed enterprises (maize SMEs). Underpinning these investments are strong assumptions about SMEs’ capacity to produce distribute smallholders. This study assesses the capacities 22 SMEs Mexico that engaged with MasAgro—a large-scal...