The primary objective of Farming Systems Research and extension is to enhance the productivity of the land and water resources available to the farmers and lead to sustainable agriculture. Under the Farming Systems Research and Extension programme, ASA is spearheading the participatory varietal selection and promotion programme.

Operational Area: 14 districts in Madhya Pradesh and 3 districts in Jharkhand.

Major Past and Ongoing Projects

	Name of Project	Sponsor	Duration
1.	Capacity building of MP-District Poverty Initiative Project for establishment of Participatory Varietal Selection and Promotion.	Madhya Pradesh District Poverty Initiative Project	2003-06
2.	Capacity building of UNDP sponsored NGOs for establishment of participatory Varietal selection and promotion.	3 NGOs in Jharkhand	2005-07
3.	Participatory crop improvement in Irrigated area.	DFID, sponsored by Centre for Arid Zone studies, UK	2000-03

Key Results

• 29 potential crop varieties have been identified and promoted through seed producers cooperative.
• Farmers have got 30-40% yield increment by adopting new varieties against local varieties.
• Supported MPDPIP in developing commercially viable institutions -
  seven Producers Companies under the Companies (Amendment) Act 2002 have been
  registered in seven   districts.
• Supported three NGO partners of UNDP in Jharkhand and demonstrated the
  efficiency of PVSP in three districts namely Dumka, Ranchi and Lohardagah.

Further reading

• A film on the methodology of Participatory varietal selection process (2006)

• A film on Seed Producer’s Company-Need and functions (2006)

• IEC material on Seed information Kit (2006)

• IEC material on Seed Certification Process (2006)

• IEC material on Seed Storage Technique (2006)

• IEC material on Seed Germination Tests (2006)

• IEC material on Seed Production (2006)

• Crop Improvement Through Participatory Seed Development- A Tool Kit (2006)

• Illustrative flip charts on the process of Participatory Varietal Selection Process. (2006)

• Evaluation of Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) pilot project in Jhabua district, M.P.(2006)

• It pays to offer a big basket of choice to farmers: case of Rice participatory varietal selection and promotion in 5 Central Plateaus districts in Madhya Pradesh

• An investigation of the causes of the spread of Oryza Sativa Cultivar, Gurjari, across villages in Gujarat

• Impact Assessment Study of Participatory Crop Improvement in Lundawada in Gujarat.

• Review of ASA Participatory Crop Improvement Programme

• Innovative Technologies: On Farm Seed Priming-A low risk and low cost activity for farmers