Abstract

VALDIVIA BERNAL, Roberto et al. Participatory development of maize synthetic hybrids and seed production by framers. Agric. Téc. Méx [online]. 2007, vol.33, n.2, pp.135-143. ISSN 0568-2517.

The model 'Farmer-Researcher' (F-R) was applied by a group of farmers in Santa María del Oro, Nayarit, Mexico with the aim of developing their own maize hybrids and its seed production, in order to reduce production costs. The F-R model is a participatory process between farmers and researchers that involves research, technology transfer and adoption activities. The model was applied during 1996-2000 at Buckingham and neighborhood communities. In 1996, the farmers compared 10 commercial maize hybrids with two synthetic hybrids obtained from crosses between commercial F₁ hybrids. The agronomic characteristics and yield shown by the synthetic hybrids convinced the farmers to form eight new synthetic hybrids from crosses among the commercial hybrids: HV-313, D-880, C-385 in the generation F₂, P-3028, A-7573, D-867 and Ciclón. The farmers selected one hybrid and named it B-2002. The performance of B-2002 was similar to the best commercial hybrids sown at the region: P-3028, A-7573 and H-359; therefore, the seed of B-2002, produced by farmers, had an increasing demand. In 1998, 1999 and 2000, B-2002 was used in 1000, 1500 and 3500 ha, respectively. The application of the farmer-researcher model demonstrated that farmers, advised by a researcher, were able to develop maize hybrids and to produce their own seed at a lower cost than the commercial hybrid seed.

Keywords : Zea mays L.; advanced generations; farmer-researcher; on farm strip trails; participatory plant breeding.