Manmeet KaurFaisal, Hassamuddin2017-02-152017-02-152016http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810001071The study entitled "Perception of breeders and farmers regarding Participatory Plant Breeding in Punjab" was undertaken with the objectives to study the awareness of the breeders and farmers regarding various aspects of Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB), ascertain the extent of PPB best suited under Punjab conditions and determine the problems perceived by the breeders and farmers regarding PPB in Punjab. All the fifty breeders from the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, PAU and its research station in Bathinda and Faridkot were selected for this study. Also, fifty farmers were randomly selected from Seed Producers and Nursery Growers Association (SAPNA), Ludhiana for this study. The data were collected with the help of questionnaire as a data collection tool. Findings of the study revealed that all the breeders were aware about the concept of PPB while all the farmers were unaware for the same. Meetings of the SAPNA, Ludhiana were the major linkage mechanism used by the farmers to meet the breeders whereas field days, front line demonstrations and adaptive trials were found to be the biggest linkage mechanism used by the breeders to connect with the farmers. Majority of the farmers linked with the breeders to seek information regarding varieties of different crops although the extent of linkages of the farmers with the breeders was found to be low. High yield was the most preferred characteristics of an ideal variety by the farmers and breeders. A little less than two-third of the farmers perceived that PPB can be a suitable breeding option under Punjab conditions while more than half of the breeders perceived that conventional breeding option is best for Punjab state. More than two-third of the farmers and a little more than half of the breeders perceived that collaborative form of participation can be a form of PPB in the state of Punjab. Majority of the farmers and breeders perceived that PPB will improve the rate of adoption of the varieties among the farmers, increase the farmers’ organizational and social participation, increase resource poor farmers’ access to improved varieties and allow the farmers with freedom of choice of traits in the varieties of the crops. All the farmers and more than one-third of the breeders showed willingness to participate in the PPB programme. Lack of farmers knowledge, finding assistance to support PPB programmes, added cost in conducting training/workshops for PPB and ownership problems among the breeders and farmers regarding the varieties production and the distribution of its seeds were found to be the major anticipated problems that may occur with PPB programmes. The Kendall’s coefficient of concordance analysis showed that there was a moderate and significant agreement among the farmers pertaining to their preference of traits in an ideal variety. Similarly, agreement was seen among the breeders also for their preference of traits in an ideal variety. On similar lines, a moderate and significant agreement could be seen among the breeders according to their preference of the socio-economic and psychological profile of the farmers who can participate in the PPB programme.ensowing, intercropping, wheats, tillage equipment, seed drilling, crops, mustard, fertilizers, land resources, chickpeasThesis