Almost a decade ago, Surya Nath heard that researchers were in the area setting up a project to examine how farmers grew six crops: rice, finger millet, taro, sponge gourd, pigeon pea, and cucumber. He approached them with a notion of crossing domestic rice with a wild variety. With their advice he embarked on the task, but “my vision was a bit weak and my hand was shaky and I worried that I would fail. So I taught my wife the practical aspects of crossing varieties.” Today, that project has since ended, but its lessons continue to guide the Adhikaris and other Begnas farmers, who meet regularly to discuss the performance of their crops. And when they decide that a particular line could be improved by cross-breeding, they ask Saraswati to take out her scalpel and get to work. International Development Research Centre (IDRC) http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-110870-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
