Overview

Farmers and researchers too often live and work in different realities. Researchers breed plant hybrids in the laboratory that are successful only under ideal conditions, requiring just the right inputs of water, fertilizer, and pesticides. For resource-poor farmers, however, such conditions simply don't exist. As a result, they either obtain poor results from high-tech seeds or continue to do the best they can with local varieties. Seeds and Synergies reflects on the innovative efforts of a group of Chinese researchers and extension agents to connect scientists and farmers. Their action research has enabled indigenous women and men in local communities to improve maize varieties jointly with professional plant breeders. This has invigorated maize production, created new livelihoods, and strengthened organizational capacities. The research has also resulted in policy changes in plant breeding, in the conservation of agricultural biodiversity, in the protection of indigenous knowledge, in farmer organization, and in the provision of services, notably extension. This book will be of particular interest to rural development scholars, researchers, teachers and trainers, and field-level practitioners.

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9781853397059

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Reviews

Seeds and Synergies presents inspiring evidence of change in practice and policy in the governance of seed systems and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. Policy makers and plant breeders should read this! --Janice Jiggens, Professor and guest researcher, Communication and Innovation Studies

The many connections that seesd have or can lead to for improving rural livelihoods and quality of life are fascinating and worth in-depth examination. --Norman Uphoff, former Director of the Cornell International Institute for Rood, Agriculture and Development Seeds and Synergies presents inspiring evidence of change in practice and policy in the governance of seed systems and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. Policy makers and plant breeders should read this! --Janice Jiggens, Professor and guest researcher, Communication and Innovation Studies The many connections that 'seesd' have or can lead to for improving rural livelihoods and quality of life are fascinating and worth in-depth examination. --Norman Uphoff, former Director of the Cornell International Institute for Rood, Agriculture and Development -The many connections that 'seesd' have or can lead to for improving rural livelihoods and quality of life are fascinating and worth in-depth examination.---Norman Uphoff, former Director of the Cornell International Institute for Rood, Agriculture and Development -Seeds and Synergies presents inspiring evidence of change in practice and policy in the governance of seed systems and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. Policy makers and plant breeders should read this!---Janice Jiggens, Professor and guest researcher, Communication and Innovation Studies Seeds and Synergies presents inspiring evidence of change in practice and policy in the governance of seed systems and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. Policy makers and plant breeders should read this! --Janice Jiggens, Professor and guest researcher, Communication and Innovation Studies Seeds and Synergies presents inspiring evidence of change in practice and policy in the governance of seed systems and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. Policy makers and plant breeders should read this! --Janice Jiggens, Professor and guest researcher, Communication and Innovation Studies

-Seeds and Synergies presents inspiring evidence of change in practice and policy in the governance of seed systems and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. Policy makers and plant breeders should read this!---Janice Jiggens, Professor and guest researcher, Communication and Innovation Studies

<i>Seeds and Synergies</i> presents inspiring evidence of change in practice and policy in the governance of seed systems and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. Policy makers and plant breeders should read this! --Janice Jiggens, Professor and guest researcher, Communication and Innovation Studies

Seeds and Synergies presents inspiring evidence of change in practice and policy in the governance of seed systems and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. Policy makers and plant breeders should read this!

Author Information

Song Yiching is a social scientist with a special interest in rural development (especially working with women), farmer organizations, and agricultural extension. She is currently a senior research scientist at the Centre for Chinese Agricultural Policy, Chinese Academy of Science in Beijing, leading a long-term action research programme to create synergies between the seed systems of farmers and the Chinese Government. Ronnie Vernooy has been involved with the research in Guangxi providing technical and financial support, and has written a series of publications which have been published as journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers.

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