Farmer participatory varietal selection (PVS) and dissemination activities in Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal

Thirty-nine (39) new varieties were tested by farmers under their management and resources across Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal under the CFC funded Groundnut Seed Project the four countries. Out of the varieties tested, 17 were selected based on the farmers’ village level criteria which included high pod and fodder yield, resistance to diseases, taste, oil content, drought tolerance and marketability. More than 30 farmers’ associations and small scale seed producers emerged and are producing and distributing seed of selected varieties in the pilot areas. Participation of farmers in variety selection is major determinant of variety adoption.