Participatory technology development and selection approaches to develop cultivars relevant to farmers’ needs

This practice was conducted through the project "Harnessing dryland legume and cereals genetic resource for food and nutrition security and resilient farming systems in Malawi and Zambia" which started in 2019, and implemented by ICRISAT, together with the Department of Agricultural Services (DARS) in Malawi, the Zambia Agricultural Research Institution (ZARI) and farmer associations with funding from the Benefit-sharing Fund. The main objectives are to re-introduce, conserve, disseminate or breed locally adapted varieties with farmers’ participation and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector, and to build the capacity of farmers and technical staff to be able to innovate and do research for food and nutrition security. Activities include: development of improved materials in addition to farmer collections, and assessing the effect of PGRFA and/or cropping systems on the livelihoods of the farmers or community groups. The main outcomes: farmers are supported to maintain and conserve agrobiodiversity in areas vulnerable to climate change and food insecurity; research and development have been strengthened and accelerated to produce climate-ready crops, and the knowledge and skills of farmers and technical staff on the use of genetic resources for food and nutrition security has been enhanced. The main lesson learned is that farmer participation is key in technology development and delivery for impact.