Resumo

FERRO, E. M et al. ENTENDIENDO EL SISTEMA INFORMAL DE SEMILLA DE MAÍZ CUBANO. LA SELECCIÓN DE VARIEDADES DE MAÍZ (ZEA MAYS, LIN) POR CAMPESINOS DE LA PALMA, PINAR DEL RÍO. cultrop [online]. 2008, vol.29, n.1, pp.61-68. ISSN 0258-5936.

This research work was aimed at understanding the principles regulating farmers’ maize varietal selection and adoption in poorly-benefited agricultural systems by the formal seed system. The experiment was conducted in a grower’s farm from La Palma, Pinar del Río. Free selection of 55 maize genotypes from six provinces of the country, both of the formal and informal sectors, was available. Then, 70 kg.ha-1 of a mixture of 20 % NPK and 80 % organic manure were fertilized. Irrigation was applied twice, so that the field remained without weed. 83 farmers participating in the selection process were surveyed, in order to gather some information about their most important selection criteria and, at the same time, evaluate 20 descriptors, such as yield and its components, tolerance to weevil and plant height. As a complement of all data recorded, individual interviews were performed to farm selectors, to deepen on their knowledge background about the selection process. For data processing, the analysis of proportions, Kendall’s non-parametric correlation and graph representations were used. Farmers select their own varieties by ‘practical correlation’, with the help of qualitative characters as the biological markers of their main objective and insect resistance after harvest. The ‘ear shape’ character is the most important selection criteria in this maize production system

Palavras-chave : maize; Zea mays; selection criteria; participation; farmers.

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