@article{3472,
author = "Hannatou O. Moussa and Charles I. Nwankwo and Ali M. Aminou and Ludger Herrmann",
abstract = "In semi-arid West Africa, enhancing crop yields in a sustainable manner is complex. This is partly related to harsh climatic conditions and wrong assumptions of plant breeders and developers in the context of what farmers really need. In the integrated research and development project in West Africa (CODE-WA), covering an agroecological gradient with sites from 400 -1100 mm annual rainfall in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana, a dual approach was followed to determine farmer-requested traits for major crops with emphasis on pearl millet. Researcher-managed multi-location trials were conducted at all sites over three seasons (2008-10). In parallel the Opposite Pyramid Approach was developed and applied to allow farmers base varietal selection based on their needs. Field testing and interview results on farmer-preferred traits are presented here. Conclusions were drawn for adapted breeding strategies under the climate variability paradigm. Under extreme environmental conditions as given in the Sahel, considering farmers’ views, local strategies and adaptation potential are mandatory. According to agroecological zones, different breeding objectives need to be set.",
issn = "23191473",
journal = "IJAIR",
keywords = "G X E Trials;Farmers Preference;Short Duration Varieties;Opposite Pyramid Approach",
month = "January",
number = "4",
pages = "145-160",
title = "{T}raits in {M}ajor {C}rops {R}equested by {F}armers: {F}ocus on {P}earl {M}illet in {W}est {A}frica's {C}limate {G}radient",
volume = "12",
year = "2024",
}