Abstract
Kenya has increasingly relied on modern agricultural technology to increase productivity since land extensification is no longer a feasible option to satisfy national food demands. Hybrid maize varieties have been one of the more successful technologies developed, responsible for dramatic yield increases in the developed world since World War II and more recently as an integral part of the Green Revolution. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that affect the adoption of hybrid maize varieties in Kenya. A household survey was conducted to collect data on demographic and socioeconomic factors, as well as to elicit farmers’ perceptions of the agronomic and consumption benefits of hybrid maize compared to open pollinated varieties. Using econometric (discrete choice) models, results showed that farmers’ perceive that hybrid maize provides significant benefits in obtaining higher yields, but are less effective protecting against drought. Several other demographic and socioeconomic variables also had positive effects on hybrid maize adoption including access to modern farm equipment, distance to market, age, gender, education level and occupation of the household head. As Kenya and other African countries look to biotechnology as a means to increase productivity, the seed industry will need to continue finding ways to develop genetically modified maize to improve drought protection. Key words: Hybrid maize, adoption, open pollinated variety, farmer’s preference, Kenya.
Highlights
Maize is the most important staple food in Kenya, accounting for 65% of total staple food caloric intake and 36% of total food caloric intake (Ariga et al, 2010)
In Africa, hybrid maize varieties will continue to play an important role in securing food needs for growing populations that are becoming affluent and demanding more food products
Hybrids are expected to play an important role in the 21st century as Africa transforms its agriculture from the traditional land abundant agricultural paradigm to a new paradigm science-based under conditions of shrinking land and labor supply
Summary
Maize is the most important staple food in Kenya, accounting for 65% of total staple food caloric intake and 36% of total food caloric intake (Ariga et al, 2010). Domestic maize production is not keeping pace with the growth in national demand for maize. Imported maize has been increasingly filling the gaps left by insufficient domestic production, approaching an average of one million metric tonnes in an average year. Land extensification and advanced agricultural technologies are two main paths to increase crop yields. With the supply of arable soil suitable for maize production exhausted by population pressure, Kenya will increasingly rely on modern agricultural technology to increase productivity since land extensification is no longer a feasible option to satisfy national food demands. One of the most important methods to enhance maize
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