Determinants of Maize Varieties Selection for Climate Change Adaptation: Safeguarding maize production in rural societies

Abstract

Climate change has brought about a disruptive impact on the food systems, and the production of maize is not exempted. Mechanisms such as the adoption of cost-friendly adaptive strategies and the use of specific seed varieties are used by farmers for desired benefits in the face of climate change. With maize being a staple food for rural inhabitants, the study sought to investigate the determinants of maize seed varieties selection for climate change adaptation among emerging farmers. The study was conducted in the Mopani district of Limpopo province, South Africa. Face-to-face interviews were held with 208 respondents, where structured questionnaires were administered. Descriptive Statistics was used to give an insight into the distribution of the socio-economic characteristics among farmers within the study sample. The Multinomial Logit Model was used to determine factors significantly influencing the selection of maize seed varieties for climate change adaptation. The study revealed that most farmers had six to ten years of farming experience. The results also revealed that yellow seed attributes were preferred for climate change adaptation compared to other varieties. The study recommended that farmers be equipped with various harvesting skills and equipment to preserve the quality and grades required in the market.