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The results from farmers' participatory varietal selection of two bean diversity fairs celebrated in different Cuban rural communities as well as the analysis of farmers' criteria to perform the selection process are presented in this paper. Participatory varietal selection proved to be a single, fast and efficient way for introducing a large number of bean varieties showing good behaviour under local conditions. Also, farmers demonstrated to be very able of selecting their favourite varieties in a wide range, which in turn show better agronomical characteristics in terms of yields, crop cycle and disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local maize and bean seed systems were characterized in “El Tejar-La Jocuma” community, as part of a diagnostic stage from the participatory plant breeding program through farmers’surveys. Farmers produce, exchange, select and conserve seeds by apparently maintaining and preserving diversity. They have little access to seeds derived from formal system, their primary seed source being exchanged with other farmers within the community. Most farmers have only one maize landrace, «criollo» cv, that has been selected and maintained by local farmers for many years. This variety produces moderate yields under low input conditions and shows resistance to the primary diseases and pests of maize in the area. In contrast, beans present high varietal diversity on farm, although there is a lack of resistant genes to diseases like rust, whose occurrence has exponentially increased in the last five years. Facilitating farmers continuous access to new varieties may be an important means to support the incorporation of disease resistant genes into the local seed system via gene flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey was conducted in Cuenca del Papaloapan, with the purpose of knowing how to manage rice genetic resources. It was aimed at scanning the possible relationship existing between farmers’ application of technological packages and their management of rice genetic resources in two cooperatives: “Héctor Montes Parra” and “Juan Pacheco Alemán” from Veracruz, Cuenca del Papaloapan. It was proved that by increasing the use of technology in rice, higher yields are recorded than when employing agrochemicals, which are not even related to farmers’ profits. There was a poor crop diversity, since most growers use ‘Milagro Filipino’ as a single variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se presentan los resultados de un estudio de la diversidad genética de variedades locales de frijol común (Phaseolus vulgaris) en La Palma, Pinar del Río, Cuba. El estudio enfoca en la participación campesina en una feria de diversidad agrícola llevada a cabo en diciembre de 2001 en San José de las Lajas, La Habana. Se analizan los criterios de selección usados por los campesinos y se consideran las características y el rendimiento de las variedades más seleccionadas.

Local Agrobiodiversity Fairs started in Cuba late in 1999 by the I Maize Fair celebrated at the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences (INCA), signed up by the Cuban Project of Participatory Plant Breeding (CPPPB). This methodological guide was motivated by the significance of agrobiodiversity fair development on the varietal base diversification supporting food security and growers´ market as well as its further generalization in different crops and regions of the country. The objective of such a guide was to share the experience acquired by a staff of researchers from INCA, in such a way that it permits to preserve and widen plant genetic resource diversity of Cuban growers. The document is subdivided into two main sections: the first one which is entitled “General comments on agrobiodiversity fairs” gives a summarized information about different topics, as definition and kinds of fairs, experiences got on fairs in other countries, agrobiodiversity fairs celebrated in other countries, in Cuba and terms associated to them, whereas the second section refers to a strictly detailed way of organizing and developing fairs in our country, so that the reader may find the exact information of the most important aspects to be taken into account. Every subject is logically arranged to provide an easier work to readers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se presentan los resultados de varios casos de estudio sobre el fitomejoramiento de especies de maíz y frijol y la experimentación campesina en la provincia de La Habana, Cuba. Se cita la efectividad de las ferias de diversidad agrícola y la participación de campesinos en la selección y producción de semilla. Se describen los resultados de dos casos de estudio en cooperativas agrícolas con especies de maíz y de frijol y se evalúa el impacto de las nuevas variedades introducidas.

El artículo considera, desde una perspectiva social, el impacto de varias experiencias de fitomejoramiento participativo (FP) llevadas a cabo por investigadores del Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas (INCA) de Cuba en cooperativas cubanas. Los autores consideran los cambios sociales generados por la autogestión y participación comunitaria en el proceso de desarrollo y suministro de insumos de agricultura (semillas de frijol y maíz).

Se presentan los resultados de un estudio, desde las perspectivas de género, de la participación campesina en ferias de diversidad agrícola en Cuba. Se considera la participación relativa de hombres y mujeres, se describe la variación en sus criterios de selección de variedades de maíz y frijol y se analiza la participación e integración de las mujeres campesinas en los proyectos de fitomejoramiento participativo en comunidades de la provincia de La Habana, Cuba.

Se presentan los resultados de un proyecto de fitomejoramiento participativo de cultivos de frijol en la provincia de La Habana, Cuba. Se analiza el efecto de la época de siembra y la microlocalización sobre las variedades y se considera la incidencia de la participación campesina en la ampliación de la diversidad varietal y el autoabastecimiento de semilla.