b'INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTMixing Underused Crops into Mainstream CropsAFTER RETURNING FROMa Plant Breedersare fewer labor units available due to people looking Without Borders project in Nepal, I was struck byfor an income outside the village. Therefore, we have some of the challenges that Ive seen in plant breed- to think of breeding traits that could decrease the ing. In particular, one thing I saw was the difficulties welabor costs. An example of this in Nepal was to use a face in integrating underused crops into mainstreamsingle row planter, such as an earth way planter, rather crops. The project looked at the following species: than broadcasting seed. A new variety would haveFinger millet (Eleusine coracana) improved emergence vigor to outcompete weeds atFoxtail millet (Setaria italic) the seedling stage. This would then make it easier forSweet buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) farmers to weed the crops in rows as they can iden- Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) tify the finger millet plants at an early stage from the ANTHONY LEDDINThe concept of the project was to train farmers onweeds that are between rows.Inspired afterhow to develop their own varieties of underused cropsI explained to the farmers that plant breeding in reading Thein partnership with the local group managing the pro- underutilized crops is like a three-legged stool. One leg Coming Famine,ject, Librid Nepal. is varietal improvement, the next is improved agron-this AustralianBy showing farmers the steps of variety develop- omy practices and the last is value adding. For the plant breeder setment, they can be involved in the process. We hopestool to stand you need all three legs to be balanced.out to make afor a twofold result: that there will be a greater uptakeFor farmers to make a greater profit from improved difference. Plantof varieties that are developed as the farmers areyielding underused crops they must think about how Breeders Withoutinvolved in the whole process from the beginning, andthey can value add to them, so that everyone is not just Borders encouragesthat farmers will see the value in plant breeding andselling the raw product. Understanding more about the plant breeders andthe importance of variety development so that this willnutrition of an underused crop and how it can improve students to volunteerencourage them to buy seed in the future.a persons health could lead to greater demand. their time for inter- The concept is to move from the informal to theEducation of these traits to the consumer is the key. national breedingformal seed sector. By developing new varieties thatAs an example, Nepal uses an underused crop projects. are adapted to local conditions and are higher yielding,called finger millet and its malting characteristics. we hope that this will encourage investment and theWhen finger millet is germinated and roasted, the malt development of a formal seed sector, where farm- that is formed is just behind barley in its quality and ers will start their own seed companies in underusedquantity. This malt has enzymes that can aid in the crops. breaking down of more complex carbohydrates, which However, my experience in Nepal showed me thatmakes them easily digested. This is important for the there are many steps involved in this journey andtransition period for infants moving from milk to solids. breeding is just part of the bigger picture.No one in the course in Nepal knew that they were If better yielding, new varieties are developed,working with a superfood that could improve the diet they need to be combined with an agronomy pack- of their infants! age that helps the variety achieve these greater yields.So you can now see that underused variety devel-Therefore, education of improved agronomy practicesopment is just one part of a package that must be goes hand-in-hand with improved seed. Not only that,delivered to the developing world. Moving these but understanding the local conditions is also impor- crops into becoming a mainstream crop would help to tant. What inputs can the farmers afford or access?make the world more resilient to the effects of climate For example, in Nepal, most of the farming is on ter- change. SWraced country so it is not possible for mechanization. This makes the process more labor intensive and there 92/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2019'