Participatory varietal selection of white corn as alternative staple food

Farmers' evaluation through participatory approaches of the performance of improved open pollinated white corn varieties was conducted in wet season 2011 in selected municipalities of Quezon, Bohol, and North Cotabato [Philippines]. Eleven improved open pollinated white corn varieties and farmers' variety, as local check, were included in participatory varietal selection researcher-managed (PVS RM) trials. This study aims to increase productivity, yield and income of farmers utilizing the PVS approach and technology innovation systems. Using the PVS RM trials, preference analysis (PA) involving male and female farmers was conducted at physiological maturity. Based on visual evaluation, the following characteristics were mostly preferred: resistance to pests and diseases, plant height, ear size and weight, grain quality, and good root anchorage. PA further revealed that both male and female farmers have very weak to strong correlation on their preferences for the best performing varieties (r=0.141; r=0.63). Of the 11 varieties evaluated, Bioseed, IPB Var 8, and IES 8910 were highly preferred by farmers. The agreement of farmers' preference scores and grain yield showed that there is no association between farmers' perception of good-performing varieties and the research-calculated grain yields (r=0.386; r=0.480). In addition to PVS, sensory evaluation (SE) was also conducted to solicit farmers' opinion on the eating quality of the different white corn varieties. Northland and the farmers' local (check) varieties, particularly in Quezon (Takuro) and Bohol (Katorsa), were consistently chosen because of their taste, color, aroma, milling size, and softness. This process of selecting the most preferred varieties involving farmers facilities varietal improvement, adoption, and dissemination. Findings from this study also revealed that PVS approach requires an understanding of the biophysical, socio-cultural, and economic circumstances of white corn farming communities. This could contribute to addressing food security and nutrition, as well as providing farmers with suitable varieties in their locality.