Content uploaded by Paul C Struik
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Paul C Struik on Jan 25, 2015
Content may be subject to copyright.
A preview of the PDF is not available
Wheat and barley seed system in Syria: Farmers, varietal perceptions, seed sources and seed management
Abstract and Figures
A total of 206 wheat and 200 barley farmers were interviewed in northeastern Syria to understand farmer perceptions and practice relating to modern varieties, seed sources and seed quality. Wheat farmers had better awareness and grew modern varieties (87%), applied fertilizers (99.5%), herbicides (93%), seed treatment (90%) or insecticides (41%). In contrast barley growers had low awareness (36%) and use (0.5%) of modern varieties, herbicides (4%), insecticides (3%) and fertilizers (56%). Grain yield, grain size, food quality and tolerance to lodging, drought and frost were the agronomic characteristics farmers sought from new wheat varieties. For barley, grain yield, grain size, grain color, feed quality, marketability and tolerance to diseases and drought were the key traits sought. The informal sector-seed retained from the previous harvest or obtained from neighbors or local traders/markets-was the main source of seed for both wheat and barley. Most farmers practiced onfarm seed selection, cleaning, treatment, separate storage or quality assessment of seed that was obtained locally. Farmers’ perceptions and preferences of new varieties/technologies and their seed sources and seed management practices must be taken into account in any efforts to develop or to strengthen seed sector development
Figures - uploaded by Paul C Struik
Author content
All figure content in this area was uploaded by Paul C Struik
Content may be subject to copyright.
... Asiedu-Darko (2014) indicted that farmer knowledge and perception of technology and innovation are key factors influencing the decision to adopt improved practices and inputs and are often limited by cultural and traditional conditions. Bishaw et al. (2011) reported that farmer perception of quality and value of certified seed was essential for adoption of improved cultivars distributed through certified seed programs in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Kuisa et al. (2017) assessed the perception of farmers on factors that contribute to chronic aflatoxin (caused by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus) contamination in corn (Zea mays L.) and ...
... According to Meijer et al. (2015), farmer perception is referred to as their views of a given technology in terms of their perceived needs and prior experiences. Bishaw et al. (2011) reported that 57% of farmers cited perception of good seed quality as a reason for acquiring seed from off-farm, local seed sources (e.g., other farmers or local traders) while 61% perceived that saved seed from their production from the previous cropping cycle was more effective in achieving higher quality seed. Consequently, sourcing of seeds by farmers from any source is largely governed by farmer perception of the source and not necessarily through a rigorous review of the sources by a third party. ...
... Increasing understanding of cultivar preferences of farmers and reasons for their decisions are critical defining more effective strategies to increase access to higher quality seed. Farmer preferences have been identified as a major factor that influences farmer seed sources (Bishaw et al., 2011;Mekbib, 2007). One factor that determines farmer choice of seed is the availability of cultivars to meet their needs (Remington et al., 2002). ...
Peanut remains a major staple and important cash crop in Ghana. Seed quality is a critical component of successful peanut production in Ghana. A survey of 200 peanut farmers documented perceptions of seed quality attributes in 2019 in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Bono East, and Ashanti Regions of Ghana. Farmer-saved seed was the main source of seed for planting. High germination rate was the primary attribute of seed in the selection process. Farmers indicated that a premium would be considered for high quality seed. Farmers also agreed that certified seed and farmer saved seed provided high quality relative to seed found in local markets with respect to cultivar purity, germination, and seedling vigor. Shitaochi was the most popular cultivar. Early maturation was the most desired characteristic listed by farmers. These findings support the need for greater investment in seed quality for certified seed production and the need for improved regulation of seed sold in open markets.
... It ranks fourth in area coverage next to teff, maize and sorghum, respectively. It is the main staple food for about 36% of the Ethiopian population (Bishaw, Z., 2011). Arsi and Bale highlands are the major wheat producing regions of Ethiopia and are deemed to be the wheat belts of East Africa. ...
... Arsi and Bale highlands are the major wheat producing regions of Ethiopia and are deemed to be the wheat belts of East Africa. The area under wheat production is estimated to be about 1.6 million hectares, which makes the country the largest wheat producer in sub-Saharan Africa (Bishaw, Z., 2011). ...
... The national agricultural research system has developed diverse improved bread wheat varieties with key attributes such as high grain yield and quality, resistance to rusts, tolerance to drought and consumer preferences (taste, baking and nutritional quality). Farmers however have subjective preferences for different varietal attributes and their varietal demand is significantly affected by their perceptions (Bishaw et al., 2011). Thus, this proposal initiated to demonstrate and promotes improved bread wheat varieties in the study areas. ...
The study was focused on demonstration of bread wheat technologies major wheat growing area in east Hararghe .The objectives were to evaluate and demonstrate improved bread wheat variety with their production package to the farmers and assess farmers' feedback towards improved bread wheat technology. The activity was conducted in main cropping season 2019-2020 for two year at Jarso and Metta districts. A total of fourty (40) trial farmers were selected from two potential bread wheat growing Districts (Jarso and Metta). Four FRG having 60 farmers were established. Two improved bread wheat varieties along with local check (Senate, Liban and Local) were planted on the plot of 10mx10m per trial farmers. Yield data, economic data, farmers' perception and preferences were collected and yield data were analyzed by using ANOVA. The results of ANOVA showed that yield of improved bread wheat showed statistically significant at 0.01% the probability level of between improved and local treatments. The yield performance of the improved varieties (Senate,Liban and local) were 36.83, 30.27 and 25.47 qt/ha at Afgug and 39.14,33.23 and 28.35 qt/ha at Dursitu Bilsuma respectively. Farmer preference of improved & local variety with improved management ranks Sennate 1 st and Liban 2 nd at both Jarso and Metta respectively. Generally, sennate with recommended package showed higher yield advantage than liban and local. Therefore senate variety it is recommended for further scaling up.
... In Syria, bread wheat is cultivated mostly under irrigated cropping system. Durum wheat and barley are grown mainly in rain-fed environments, where their productivity are profoundly affected by rainfall and abiotic (i.e., drought, sunlight, cold, and salinity) stresses (Bishaw et al., 2011;Khan et al., 2021). Pathogens are among the main threats to high yield of barley and wheat and a threat into food security. ...
... Although barley and wheat are crucial cultivations in the arid Mediterranean region (Bishaw et al., 2011(Bishaw et al., , 2015, there is insufficient information about their resistance to head blight infection and aggressiveness of Fusarium species (Talas et al., 2011;Alkadri et al., 2015;Sakr, 2019aSakr, , 2020aSakr, , d, 2021Sakr and Al-Attar, 2021;Sakr and Shoaib, 2021). In this context, this three-year field experiment aimed to evaluate disease reactions, i.e., head blight incidence (DI, class I), head blight severity (DS, class II) and head blight-damaged kernels (FDK, class III), of diverse Mediterranean wheat and barley cultivars of Syrian origin of contrasting susceptibility to FHB inoculated with four head blight organisms under arid Mediterranean conditions. ...
... Eight Mediterranean cereal genotypes widely cultivated in Syrian field with agreeable quality and agronomic traits and resistance to fungal diseases (Bishaw et al., 2011(Bishaw et al., , 2015 included six T. aestivum and T. durum cultivars and two H. vulgare cultivars: Arabi Abiad (AB) and Arabi Aswad (AS) was used. ...
... The national variety release committee, based on field evaluation and submitted data, decides to release, reject or repeat the variety. Up on release, 50-100 kg of breeder seed should be submitted to the national/regional seed enterprises for multiplication of pre-basic, basic and certified seed [11]. ...
African agriculture faces critical challenges of ensuring food security for a fast-growing population; providing livelihoods for the farming community contributing toward SDGs goals; maintaining the sustainability of the sector in the face of rapid climate change. Wheat, cultivated on a total area of 10 million hectares annually with a total production of 28 million tones, is one of the most important food security crops in Africa. There is a huge gap between wheat production and supply in Africa due to low production level, increasing demand associated with the surge in urban population, and change in food preferences. To offset this gap, Africa imported about 55 million t in 2020/21 of which 27 and 28 million t destined to SSA and North Africa, respectively. Wheat production in Africa could be increased through the development and deployment of improved technologies (improved varieties, quality certified seeds, irrigation, agronomic practices, fertilizer and pesticides), and better institutional and market arrangements creating incentives for broader wheat sector actors involved in wheat production, marketing and processing. During the last 10 years, ICARDA in partnership with the national agricultural research systems in Africa, has implemented SARD-SC (Support Agricultural Research and Development-Strategic Crops) and TAAT (Transformation of African Agriculture Technology) through financial support from the African Development bank (AfDB). Both SARD-SC and TAAT adopted Innovation Platform (IP) approach for technology validation, promotion and scaling. IP is a multi-stakeholder alliance composed of groups of individuals with different backgrounds and expertise representing different research for development organizations which is established or organized at two levels: Strategic and operational levels. It is composed of (farmers, input producers and suppliers, traders, millers, food processors, researchers, extensionists, government officials) who come together on a common space and time (platform) to identify and prioritize problems, conduct research and provide solutions, advocate for investments, mobilize resources, develop capacities, promote and scale technologies for greater impact. Key regional innovation platforms (IP) and satellite testing sites have been established in Ethiopia (EIAR, Kulumsa), Sudan (ARC, Wadmedani), and Nigeria (Lake Chad Research Institute) to serve as national and regional hubs for rainfed high lands, irrigated hot lowlands, and hot and humid lowlands of SSA, respectively. Using participatory variety selection (PVS) approach at the respective platforms, more than 40 wheat varieties of ICARDA-origin have been released by the national programs in Africa. Out-scaling of heat tolerant varieties with associated crop management packages has enabled to expand wheat production both vertically and horizontally, create jobs, and build national capacities. The irrigated wheat production in Ethiopia increased from 21,000 hectares in 2019 to more than 400,000 ha in 2022 in addition to the 1.8 million hectares cultivated under rainfed environments annually. Similarly, wheat production area has increased from 70,000 ha to 100,000 ha in Nigeria and from about 200,000 to 375,000 ha in 2020 in Sudan. Rapid technology development and deployment, accessibility and affordability of inputs, promotion of commercial farming and agro-processing industries, and establishment of conducive policies, marketing, information and infrastructures are key for transforming wheat production in Africa.
... The national variety release committee, based on field evaluation and submitted data, decides to release, reject or repeat the variety. Up on release, 50-100 kg of breeder seed should be submitted to the national/regional seed enterprises for multiplication of pre-basic, basic and certified seed [11]. ...
African agriculture faces critical challenges of ensuring food security for a fast-growing population; providing livelihoods for the farming community contributing toward SDGs goals; maintaining the sustainability of the sector in the face of rapid climate change. Wheat, cultivated on a total area of 10 million hectares annually with a total production of 28 million tones, is one of the most important food security crops in Africa. There is a huge gap between wheat production and supply in Africa due to low production level, increasing demand associated with the surge in urban population, and change in food preferences. To offset this gap, Africa imported about 55 million t in 2020/21 of which 27 and 28 million t destined to SSA and North Africa, respectively. Wheat production in Africa could be increased through the development and deployment of improved technologies (improved varieties, quality certified seeds, irrigation, agronomic practices, fertilizer and pesticides), and better institutional and market arrangements creating incentives for broader wheat sector actors involved in wheat production, marketing and processing. During the last 10 years, ICARDA in partnership with the national agricultural research systems in Africa, has implemented SARD-SC (Support Agricultural Research and Development-Strategic Crops) and TAAT (Transformation of African Agriculture Technology) through financial support from the African Development bank (AfDB). Both SARD-SC and TAAT adopted Innovation Platform (IP) approach for technology validation, promotion and scaling. IP is a multi-stakeholder alliance composed of groups of individuals with different backgrounds and expertise representing different research for development organizations which is established or organized at two levels: Strategic and operational levels. It is composed of (farmers, input producers and suppliers, traders, millers, food processors, researchers, extensionists, government officials) who come together on a common space and time (platform) to identify and prioritize problems, conduct research and provide solutions, advocate for investments, mobilize resources, develop capacities, promote and scale technologies for greater impact. Key regional innovation platforms (IP) and satellite testing sites have been established in Ethiopia (EIAR, Kulumsa), Sudan (ARC, Wadmedani), and Nigeria (Lake Chad Research Institute) to serve as national and regional hubs for rainfed high lands, irrigated hot lowlands, and hot and humid lowlands of SSA, respectively. Using participatory variety selection (PVS) approach at the respective platforms, more than 40 wheat varieties of ICARDA-origin have been released by the national programs in Africa. Out-scaling of heat tolerant varieties with associated crop management packages has enabled to expand wheat production both vertically and horizontally, create jobs, and build national capacities. The irrigated wheat production in Ethiopia increased from 21,000 hectares in 2019 to more than 400,000 ha in 2022 in addition to the 1.8 million hectares cultivated under rainfed environments annually. Similarly, wheat production area has increased from 70,000 ha to 100,000 ha in Nigeria and from about 200,000 to 375,000 ha in 2020 in Sudan. Rapid technology development and deployment, accessibility and affordability of inputs, promotion of commercial farming and agro-processing industries, and establishment of conducive policies, marketing, information and infrastructures are key for transforming wheat production in Africa.
... Темная пигментация зерна ячменя, связанная с накоплением меланина, считается адаптивным признаком и может давать окрашенным растениям некоторые преимущества. Было показано, что растения с темнои� окраскои� семян обладают повышен-нои� устои� чивостью к фузариозу по сравнению с неокрашенными растениями (Choo A. et al., 2005;Loskutov et al., 2017), а также являются более холодо-и засухоустои� чивыми (Weltzien, 1988;Bishaw et al., 2011). Ячмень с тем-нои� окраскои� зерна составляет около 68% от всеи� популяции дикого ячменя в Тибете, поскольку является более приспособленным к тяжелым климатическим условиям высокогорья (Choo T.M., 2002). ...
Background . Dark color of barley grain ( Hordeum vulgare L.) can be caused by the synthesis and accumulation of two types of polyphenolic pigments – anthocyanins and melanins, which perform important functions in plant life, participating in the regulation of growth and development, and protecting plants from adverse environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of barley in the VIR collection in the context of grain color.
Materials and methods . To analyze the pigment composition of the grain, 150 barley accessions with colored grains were selected from the VIR collection. Anthocyanins and melanins in grain husk were identified using qualitative reactions.
Results and discussion . It was shown that in 60% of the accessions the dark color of their grain was induced by independent accumulation of melanin, while the accessions characterized by accumulation of only anthocyanins, and those with combined accumulation of anthocyanins and melanins, were 14.6% and 14%, respectively. For 11.3% of the accessions the presence of anthocyanins and melanins in grain husk was not found; their pigmentation could presumably be associated with an increased content of other polyphenolic pigments – proanthocyanidins. Accessions with melanin in grain predominated in all identified geographic groups, while other types of pigmentation were most evenly represented in the regions with the widest genetic diversity of barleys – Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East.
Conclusion . Dark pigmentation of barley grain was shown to be mainly associated with the accumulation of melanin, and this type of pigmentation prevails in all geographical regions identified. The results obtained made it possible to describe the barley collection more fully and expand the possibilities of its utilization.
... According to Dawit [12], though some farmers are enthusiastic in accepting new varieties, others refuse them and the rates of adoption are less than 50%. The reason may be attributed to farmers' complains related with high seed prices, risks associated with newly introduced improved varieties and insufficient extension packages [16]. However, in order that these newly introduced seeds are diversely utilized by all farmers, the role of extension services is found to be fundamental. ...
... Most farmers (77.7%) store their seed in polypropylene bags and another 22.3% in jute bags, both of which are kept inside the house (Table 6.32). Studies from Ethiopia (Bishaw et al., 2010) and Syria (Bishaw et al., 2011) on wheat and barley showed that the majority of wheat and/or barley producers store their own saved seed. However, while jute bags or propylene bags are the most common form of storage in Syria, a traditional storage structure called gotera is common in Ethiopia. ...
... Most farmers (77.7%) store their seed in polypropylene bags and another 22.3% in jute bags, both of which are kept inside the house (Table 6.32). Studies from Ethiopia (Bishaw et al., 2010) and Syria (Bishaw et al., 2011) on wheat and barley showed that the majority of wheat and/or barley producers store their own saved seed. However, while jute bags or propylene bags are the most common form of storage in Syria, a traditional storage structure called gotera is common in Ethiopia. ...
In Turkey, wheat is the most important crop in terms of land area, volume of
production, and monetary value. Despite varied climatic and agro-ecological conditions,
wheat is grown in almost all areas of the country. Although a significant proportion of
wheat produced is used for domestic consumption, it plays a dominant role as a source
of cash accounting; on average, making up to 45% of household income in some areas
where it is grown for market.
Over the last 30 years, wheat production has remained largely stable, in the range
of 16 to 22 million tons, with some annual variations. Wheat area has decreased from
9.3 million hectares in 1988 to 6.8 million hectares in 2019. During the same period,
there has been a 27% increase in the average yield – from 1.88 tons ha-1 to 2.78 tons
ha-1, which has almost fully offset the reduction in total wheat area, leading to only a
slight (7%) reduction in total wheat grain production. In 2019, although Turkey ranked
eleventh in global total wheat production, it was the number one wheat flour and
bourghul exporting country, with a total export of over 3.34 million tons. Turkey is also
a major producer of pasta and related products, with a total production volume of 1.3
million tons in 2016.
The establishment, in the 1930s, of regional agricultural research institutes
responsible for crop improvement, particularly cereals (wheat, barley), and state farms
responsible for production and distribution of seeds of new varieties to farmers, laid
the foundation for an organized seed sector in Turkey. The National Wheat Release and
Training Project that embarked in 1967 contributed to the start of a ‘green revolution’ in
the country, which gained momentum in the 1970s and continued, though at a slower
pace, thereafter. In 1991, the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies
was established as a central coordinating body of all national agricultural research,
where 12 agricultural research institutes were involved in wheat breeding and research
in different parts of the country representing different agro-ecologies.
From its humble beginning in the 1930s, the wheat seed sector in Turkey has seen
considerable changes over the years. While most of the changes were incremental over
different phases, but sometimes radical, the most important change has been a rapid
expansion in variety registration and certified seed production by the private sector
over the last 20 years. These changes are mainly attributed to the policy changes
and structural transformation that led to the liberalization of Turkey’s seed sector.
Specifically, the Agricultural Law No. 5488 and Seed Law No 5553, both of which were
instituted in 2006, and Law No 5042 for the Protection of Breeders’ Rights of New Plant
Varieties, which was enacted in 2004. These laws introduced a regulatory framework
that encouraged private sector investment in agriculture in general, and the seed sector
in particular.
This book, Political Economy of the Wheat Sector in Turkey: Seed Systems, Varietal
Adoption, and Impacts is a second book in a series (preceded by a similar book focussing
on Morocco and to be followed by another focussing on Uzbekistan). The book series
ix
was possible through support provided by the CGIAR Research Program on Wheat. This
book compiles the studies conducted on the Turkish wheat sector, focussing mainly on
the seed value chain and covering the entire variety development process –from seed
production and marketing, to varietal adoption and impacts; and is organized as follows.
Chapter 1 highlights the historical developments of the wheat grain and seed sector,
including the policy and regulatory frameworks. Chapter 2 presents the development of
agricultural research institutes and hence, the generation of improved wheat varieties,
while Chapter 3 focuses on varietal release and protection. Chapter 4 presents a
description of the procedures and status of production and commercialization of early
generation seed (elite, original), primarily by the National Agricultural Research System,
and large-scale certified seed by the private and public sectors. Chapter 5 elaborates on
seed quality assurance and certification. Chapter 6 describes the status and identifies
the determinants of adoption, assesses the impacts of improved wheat varieties and
provides estimates of the annual quantities of wheat seed use. Chapter 7 provides a bird’s
eye view of the whole wheat sector in Turkey by synthesizing and establishing linkages
between the achievements, limitations, challenges and opportunities documented in
each of the preceding 6 chapters and makes recommendations for the way forward.
This comprehensive book, where most of the information related to the wheat
sector in Turkey is compiled into one document, is the first-of-its-kind in the country.
Therefore, we believe that it will be a ‘go to’ document and a good reference material
for several years to come. The rich experiences and possible options for mitigating
major challenges that deter the development of the sector documented in this book
are expected to inform key stakeholders – including policymakers, researchers, farmers,
private and public seed companies, and development partners, and by so doing, help in
improving the efficiency of the wheat sector in the country.
This study aims to (1) analyze farmers' perceptions of the quality of rice seed assistance in Central Kalimantan food estates. (2) Analyze the level of farmer satisfaction with the quality of rice seed assistance in Central Kalimantan food estates. This research was conducted on farmer groups who obtained new superior variety seeds (VUB) in Belanti Siam Village, Pandih Batu District, Pulang Pisau Regency. Deliberate choice of location (Purposive). The sampling in this study was carried out using the Slovin formula, because there were 12 farmer groups in the population in this study, several samples were taken from each farmer group according to the number of farmers in each group with an error rate of 10%. namely as many as 84 farmers. The method used to answer the first objective is descriptive method through interviews and using a Likert Scale. Then the method used to answer the second objective is the Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) and Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) methods. The results showed that farmers' perceptions of the quality of the rice seed assistance showed a score of 6,835 with an index of 67,80% and belonged to the good category. The level of farmer satisfaction with the quality of rice seed assistance from several different attributes. Based on the results of the analysis using the CSI method, farmer satisfaction with the rice seed assistance has an index value of 64.04%. The farmers who received the rice seed assistance in Belanti Siam Village were quite satisfied with the quality of the seeds they obtained.
A large number of small-scale enterprises growing, dealing and marketing seed emerged during the economic reforms of the 1980s in Ghana. The enterprises are dynamic and able to produce and market seed, despite limits on the availability of capital. This paper examines the nature of small-scale maize and cowpea seed enterprises in the two regions of Brong Ahafo and Ashanti and describes how actors in the system learn about seed quality and the trustworthiness of people they are dealing with. It explores how farmers get access to seed and how they obtain information on what they are buying and whom they are dealing with. The growers interviewed in the study accounted for 25 per cent of formal seed production in Ghana in 1997. Finance for seed production comes from the grower's personal income, loans from friends or family and, in a few cases, from banks. Credit given by seed dealers is also important. There are no legal contracts, so credit arrangements are based on trust, social pressure and coercion. Seed dealers range in size, managing between one and four stores. Some also play a wholesale role, working through agents who take seed on credit. Seed dealers buy from a number of growers and obtain information on seed supply from sources including Ministry of Food and Agriculture seed inspectors acting unofficially. Growers and dealers must find ways to acquire the latest price information as prices can change at short notice when demand is high. Half of the dealers buy some of their seed on credit. Growers give credit to dealers especially if there is a reciprocal agreement involving the dealers financing the grower, but needs to be built up before credit is offered. Dealers known to growers sometimes act as guarantors for other dealers. The case of seed enterprises in Ghana throws light on how entrepreneurs obtain information and how they build up trust based on working relations, existing links and intermediaries. Public policy needs to consider the social and economic factors underpinning the seed industry. Enterprises can reduce the transaction costs of obtaining information by building links with other enterprises. The strategies and the social capital they draw on is shaped by pre-existing knowledge, networks and social contacts. Transaction costs can be reduced by making information available to seed enterprises. Government workers, especially seed inspectors play an important, though unofficial, role in brokering information.
Seed replacement choices differ from decisions about other inputs, such as fertilizer, because the farmer can reproduce seed. Assumptions about rates of improvement in yield potential and depreciation of retained seed are combined with behavioral assumptions and price and technical information to develop a model predicting the number of years before a farmer will buy new seed. Parameter estimates for wheat in Pakistan are fed into the model and results compared with observed replacement times. Time horizon strongly conditions effects of model parameters. To speed varietal change, better information for farmers is likely to be preferred to seed subsidies.
The basic objective of agricultural research at ICARDA is to enhance pro ducer and consumer welfare through increasing the productivity, stability, and profitability of agriculture. Improved practices must be technically, ec onomically, and socially suitable to farmer conditions. The rainfed areas of West Asia and North Africa have highly variable environmental conditions as well as complex social and economic structures. In recent years, the region has been experiencing major changes in the relative availabilities and costs of the classical factors of production: land, labor, and capital. These changes have important implications for the design of new agricultural technology. On the one hand, the availability of labor may be an important factor determining the acceptability of new technology. On the other, it is important to consider the impact that technology can have on rural employment. To develop a better awareness of these issues and their relevance to technology development, ICARD A initiated a project on Agricultural Labor and Tech nological Change. The first stage of the project is published here; it is a review of available literature on selected issues of regional importance, com bined with more detailed analyses of the situations of eight countries with important rainfed agricultural sectors. ICARDA greatly appreciates the financial assistance of the Ford Foun dation, which allowed us to support the execution of the study and publi cation of its findings. We also appreciate the great efforts of the authors in the face of often limited data and facilities.
Germination of 20 rice seed lots from 20 farmers was tested on jute mat and cotton cloth and compared with the ISTA between paper method. All seed lots were of low quality. The germination percentages were similar when using the three methods. The quickest results were obtained with the jute mat method where germination counts were completed within 7 days compared to 14 days in the other two methods. Jute mats are cheap and easily available to farmers in Bangladesh.
