Adoption Of Improved Varieties Research Articles

Breeding dryland legumes for diverse needs: Using multi‐location trials and participatory variety selection to develop farmer‐preferred groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) varieties

AbstractAgriculture in Sub‐Saharan Africa is primarily smallholder‐based, employing up to 60% of the workforce and accounting for 14%–23% of GDP. The smallholders grow crops for domestic and off‐farm markets, necessitating crop variety attributes for which trait mismatches may limit adoption. Indeed, improved variety adoption is varied and limited, especially for self‐pollinated crops, in part due to the mismatch in characteristics of commercialised varieties. The international research community leads breeding of varieties for under‐invested crops, especially legumes. These varieties are often resilient and productive, but the dynamisms in target agri‐food systems may limit their relevance. Gaining a better understanding of the trait profiles that crop value chain actors consider will increase their adoption. This study combined multi‐location trials and participatory variety selection (PVS) of pigeon pea and groundnut across different environments to evaluate the efficacy of both processes in the breeding of desired varieties. The present study shows improvement in the new materials regarding performance and preference by farmers. Additionally, PVS showed that men prioritised productivity and market‐enhancing traits, whereas women ranked food security traits highest.

ASSESSMENT ON ADOPTION OF IMPROVED MAIZE VARIETY AND MAIZE PRODUCTION PRACTICES IN BAITADI, NEPAL

The main objective of this study is to assess the status of adoption of improved maize varieties and cultivation practices of maize in Baitadi district. This study aims to identify the determinants of adoption of improved maize variety (IMV) among farmers and their cultivation practices in Baitadi district and subsequently ascertain the factors influencing the intensity of IMV adoption. The study areas; Dashrathchand-2, Dashrathchand-9, Patan-4 and Pancheshor-6 were selected purposively as these were under the command area of maize zone. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, independent samples t-test, probit model and index score ranking method were used for the data analysis. The productivity of local variety was found 2mt/ha and improved variety was 3.51mt/ha. Majority of farmer preferred to cultivate local and improved variety with Manakamana being the most adopted improved variety. Membership of agricultural groups and training related to maize cultivation were the major determinants of improved variety adoption. Unavailability of seed in vicinity followed by higher cost of seed were the major constraints faced by the farmers in adopting improved maize variety. Distant market and gap between fragment and retail price are the major marketing problem faced by the farmers. Thus, the study concluded that improving farmers’ education, expanding coverage and depth of extension services and firming up farmer associations are suitable policy actions for promoting adoption of improved maize varieties. It is also important to address availability, accessibility and affordability issues constraining adoption of improved varieties and technologies, enhance credit access for farmers and mitigate risk perceptions.

Socio-Economic Constraints of Adopting New Cowpea Varieties in Three Agro-Ecological Zones in the Senegalese Peanut Basin

Socio-economic constraints like gender, education, age, and income significantly affect the adoption of improved agricultural technologies. The objective of this study was to determine socio-economic factors that affect the adoption of improved cowpea varieties in the Senegalese peanut basin. The study was conducted in three (Bambey, Kebemer, and Kaffrine) of six regions of the peanut basin based on regional importance of cowpea production and rainfall gradient. In each study region, ten villages were selected, and random sampling was used to select eight heads of agricultural households within each village. The questionnaires were administered to 240 randomly selected farmers across the three study regions, 7 communes, and 30 villages. Results showed most heads of households were middle-aged (52–54 years old), married (95–100%), illiterate (84%), and men (95–100%). Households were mostly agriculture dependent (87%), low literacy rates (26% least primary school), and large family sizes (average of 15 members). The median cowpea yields across the study area varied from 35–100 kg ha−1, well below the ~300–400 kg ha−1 average yields reported for Senegal and Sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of farmers (67%) in the study regions did not use improved varieties, and the main reasons were low seed availability (78.8%) and limited access to technical knowledge and information (76.3%), but only 5.8% indicated seed price as a barrier to improved variety adoption. Major uses of cowpea in the study area were for marketing, livestock feed, and human consumption. In Kaffrine, fodder production was the major (85%) criterion for cowpea variety selection, whereas in the north (Bambey and Kebemer), taste, maturity date, and grain yield were major selection criteria. Factors that had positive effect on the likelihood of using improved cowpea varieties include; access to extension services, membership in farmers’ organization, cowpea being the main crop of production, organic farming, market, and livestock-oriented production systems, access to farmland and credit, dependence on agriculture as the main source of household income, and education of head of household. We conclude that there is a critical need for training, access to improved seeds, awareness, and financial support to producers to increase the adoption of new improved cowpea varieties, yields, profitability, and nutritional security among smallholder farmers in the Senegalese peanut basin.

Does food security exist among farm households? Evidence from Ghana

BackgroundFood security exists when households have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food at all times that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Food security remains a serious challenge for many households in Ghana and the situation is even more prevalent among smallholder farmers. Therefore, this study had its objectives to assess food security status and also estimate their determinants for policy recommendations.MethodologyUsing data collected from 2,603 farm households across Ghana and employing an ordered probit model the determinants of food security among farm households were assessed. The food security indicator, Food Consumption Score (FCS) which combines diet diversity, frequency of consumption and relative nutritional importance of different food groups was used to determine food security status of farm households.ResultsResults showed that farm households (76%) across Ghana were within the acceptable household food consumption groups. Nonetheless, 19% and 6% of farm households, respectively, were within the borderline and poor food consumption groups, respectively. Determinants of food security included experience, gender, improved variety adoption, access to credit and location.ConclusionFood security risk is prevalent among farm households in Ghana. Based on the results on determinants of food security, the suggestions are that government and private institutions should create an enabling environment to enhancing credit access and encouraging adoptions of improved crops varieties for increased production.

Socio-economic drivers of improved sweet potato varieties adoption among smallholder farmers in South-Kivu Province, DR Congo

Promotion of improved crop varieties is an effective means of increasing farm productivity and alleviating poverty in rural areas. A successful dissemination of such varieties requires a deep understanding of target farmers’ attitudes, preferences and socio-economic status. This study aimed at assessing factors linked to smallholder farmers’ adoption decision for improved sweet potato varieties (ISPVs) in South-Kivu. A household survey was conducted on 360 smallholder farmers from four South-Kivu territories, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including Idjwi, Kabare, Kalehe and Walungu, and data were analyzed using a logit regression model. The adoption decision was negatively affected by farmers’ age and the field-to-house distance. In contrast, the ISPVs adoption was favored by farmers’ education level, reduced farm size, off-farm incomes, high monthly income and use of hired farm labor. Besides, farmers’ cooperative membership, access to credit and planting materials, and contacts with extension services were instrumental in adopting improved sweet potato varieties in South-Kivu. This study highlighted the need to strengthen extension services, seed delivery systems, and amending the credit systems for increased impact on improved varieties adoption among South-Kivu sweet potato farmers.

DOES FARMER GROUP MEMBERSHIP ENHANCE TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION? EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM TOLON DISTRICT OF GHANA

The low adoption of improved technologies by farmers has been identified as one of the major factors affecting agricultural production and food security in many developing countries including Ghana. Farmer-based organizations have been identified as important channels for information and technology dissemination to farmers. The effect of these groups on farmers’ adoption decisions has important implications for agricultural production and food security in many developing countries. This study therefore sought to examine the effect of farmer group membership on improved variety adoption by smallholder maize farmers in the Tolon District of Ghana using cross-sectional data from a sample of 160 farmers. A recursive bivariate probit (RBP) model was used to estimate the effect of group membership on adoption. The results indicate that membership in farmer groups is associated with lower adoption of improved maize varieties, which is contrary to generally held view that farmer groups promote adoption by farmers. Adoption is higher for the married and farmers with access to agricultural extension but decreases with size of herd size and cultivated land. The results underscore challenges confronting farmer-based organizations such as increasing politicization, decreasing effectiveness, and lack of support from both public and private institutions. Incentivizing farmer groups, including the apex body responsible for supervision of these groups will enhance effectiveness of farmer groups.

Joint Determination of Improved Variety Adoption, Productivity and Efficiency of Pulse Production in Bangladesh: A Sample-Selection Stochastic Frontier Approach

Pulses are an important source of protein and have recently gained international prominence. This paper jointly identifies the determinants of improved variety adoption, productivity and efficiency of 2700 pulse producers from 10 pulse-growing districts of Bangladesh using a Sample-selection Stochastic Production Frontier model. Result revealed that the decision to adopt improved pulse technology is significantly influenced by yield, farming experience, education and extension contact while subsistence pressure discourages adoption. Land, fertilizer, mechanical power, pesticides and labour are the significant determinants of improved pulse productivity. Productivity is significantly lower for improved varieties of lentil, blackgram and chickpea as compared to mungbean and for farmers who use own-sourced seed. Location of the growing area does matter. Improved pulse productivity is significantly higher in five of the ten districts. The mean level of technical efficiency of improved pulses is estimated at 0.73, implying that productivity can be substantially improved by eliminating inefficiency. Policy implications include investments in R&D and extension services by involving farmers in R&D endeavours and enhancing farmer-based seed production and distribution schemes to develop and disseminate improved pulse technology, improving farmers’ education and tenurial reforms to facilitate smooth operation of the land market and mechanical power services to increase pulse productivity and production in Bangladesh.

ROLE OF IMPROVED SEEDS TOWARDS IMPROVING LIVELIHOOD AND FOOD SECURITY AT ETHIOPIA

Seed is a key input for improving crop production and productivity. Increasing the quality of seeds can increase the yield potential of the crop by significant folds and thus, is one of the most economical and efficient inputs to agricultural development. Generation and transfer of improved technologies are critical prerequisites for agricultural development particularly for an agrarian based economy such as of Ethiopian. In Ethiopia, for instance, a unit increase in GDP derived from agriculture has a potential of reducing poverty annually by 1.66% as compared to 0.73% poverty reduction expected from non-agricultural sector. Agriculture, particularly crop farming, has a greater effect on both the rural and the urban poor who spend more than a half of their incomes on food. When there are different seed sources available and farmers get access to them there is high probability of adoption of improved varieties .An enhanced seed availability though formal or informal or both sources will improve smallholder farmer’s access to seed and enhance improved variety adoption. In practice, whenever a farmer is talking about getting a new seed it implies that she or he is deciding to adopt a new variety. The ultimate goal of a farm household in a risk prone agro-ecology is to obtain seed with characteristics suitable to farmers’ agro-ecological and socio-economic condition. Similarly, seed is pivotal in the improvement of food security and farm household livelihood.

Total Factor Productivity of Major Pulse Crops in India: Implications for Technology Policy and Nutritional Security

Improving TFP of pulse crops, the major sources of protein, is important to achieve food and nutritional security in India. In this context the paper has examined the consumption pattern of pulses in India and has estimated the TFP growth of major pulses (chickpea, pigeon pea, green gram and black gram) in the country. The study carried out for the period of 1994-95 to 2012-13, has used Malmquist productivity approach to estimate the TFP. The study has also explored the role of technology change in improving pulse productivity by studying the case of chickpea in Andhra Pradesh. The study has noted that per capita consumption of pulses has declined over the years. The consumption of pulses is far less by the lowest income group vis-a-vis the highest income group households. The yield of pulses in general has stagnated over the years. Among the pulses studied, only chickpea and green gram have exhibited improvement in TFP. The study has revealed that pulses are the cheapest source of proteins among all foods and therefore, have a significant place in improving nutrition at individual level as well as country level. It is the development of short-duration and heat-tolerant varieties and better management that have helped in yield improvement. The case study on chickpea in Andhra Pradesh has shown that productivity improvement is directly related to the share of improved varieties adoption. The study has concluded that the development of affordable technologies suitable for marginal environments and emerging cropping patterns would help improve the productivity of pulses in India, thereby may contribute to addressing the under-consumption of protein.

An Ex-Post Analysis of Ginger (<i>Zingiber officinalis</i>) Research and Extension Investment in Bangladesh

The study estimated the benefit and rate of returns to investment on ginger research and extension in Bangladesh. The Economic Surplus Model with ex-post analysis was used to determine the returns to investment and their distribution between production and consumption. Several discounting techniques were also used to assess the efficiency of ginger research. The adoption rate was found increasing over the period. The yield of modern varieties of ginger developed by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) was 78 per cent higher than that of the local varieties. Society got net benefit of Tk. 432.31 million by investing in ginger research and extension. The net present value (NPV) and present value of research cost (PVRC) were estimated to be Tk. 135.01 and 81.15 million, respectively. The internal rate of return (IRR) and benefit cost ratio (BCR) were estimated to be 32 per cent and 3.75, respectively indicating that investment on ginger research and development was profitable. Ginger seed production programme should be taken largely to increase production by increasing improved variety adoption area.The Agriculturists 2014; 12(2) 103-115

Fertilizer adoption, credit access, and safety nets in rural Ethiopia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of access to credit and safety nets on fertilizer adoption in rural Ethiopia. Design/methodology/approach – A panel data set collected in 2005 and 2007 on 278 households and over 5,700 plots from the Southern Highlands of Ethiopia is examined. The authors developed a theoretical model relating input use and credit contract under third-party credit collateral agreement. The estimation is based on instrumental variables regressions to account for the endogeneity of credit access, and safety nets in fertilizer demand equation. Findings – Despite increasing trends in fertilizer and improved varieties adoption since mid-2003, only 22 percent of the plots in the sample is actually received fertilizer. Households with more assets measured by livestock wealth are more likely to adopt fertilizer but less likely to participate in the local credit market as they have better savings that could be used to buy fertilizer/improved seeds without credit contract. This suggests poorer farmers heavily depend on credit than wealthier. Participation in safety nets programs did not contribute for increased use of fertilizer suggesting that the program either competes with agricultural labor or the low wage income was not enough to pay for farm inputs. Practical implications – The findings show that with a heavier reliance on credit by poorer farmers it appears that much might be gained by targeting policies toward increasing credit access to this group. Originality/value – Studies that utilize repeated plot- and household-level observations are limited. To the knowledge, this is the first study showing the relationship between credit accesses, public work program and fertilizer adoption over time in rural Ethiopia.

Farmers' preferences for crop variety traits: Lessons for on-farm conservation and technology adoption

Although in-situ conservation is increasingly considered an efficient way of conserving plant genetic resources, little is known about the incentives and constraints that govern conservation decisions among small farm holders in developing countries. Using a choice experiment approach, we investigated Ethiopian farmers' crop variety preferences, estimated the mean willingness to pay for each crop variety attribute, and identified household-specific and institutional factors that governed the preferences. We found that environmental adaptability and yield stability are important attributes for farmers' choice of crop varieties. Farmers are willing to forego some extra income or yield to obtain a more stable and environmentally adaptable crop variety. Among other things, household resource endowments (particularly land holdings and livestock ownership), years of farming experience, and contact with extension services are the major factors causing household heterogeneity of crop variety preferences. Based on our experimental results, we derived important policy implications for on-farm conservation, breeding priority setting, and improved variety adoption in Ethiopia.

Farmer and formal breeding of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and the implications for integrated plant breeding

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is the fifth most important cereal crop worldwide and it is the fourth most important crop in Ethiopia. The national average yield amounts 1302 kg/ha. In order to assess the achievement in farmer breeding various types of research were undertaken. These include survey research to quantify the trend in productivity, the level of and reasons for adoption of improved varieties, yield performance and preference evaluation of farmers’ varieties (FVs) and improved varieties (IVs). As per the trend analysis over the last four decades, total production and yield per hectare has increased by 11.63 and 14.2%, respectively. However, area allocated to sorghum has decreased over years by −2.93%. The lack of consistent productivity is attributed to the fluctuation of environmental factors. Sorghum production in Ethiopia is predominantly based on varieties developed by farmers. The share of IVs is very low. FVs and IVs are adopted by 87.3 and 12.7% of the farmers, respectively. Besides, the adoption of IVs is limited to the lowland crop ecology. The comparative yield of FVs is higher than IVs by 132%. On top of yield, farmers do prefer their varieties for other multipurpose values namely feed, fuel wood and construction material. FVs under production are identified in each wereda. Farmer breeding has been successful compared to four decades of formal breeding. On the other hand, both farmer and formal breeding are not without weaknesses; a comparative balance sheet is outlined for both. Ideotypes for the three major crop ecologies are suggested and integrated plant breeding is anticipated to develop the proposed ideotypes thereby increase sorghum productivity in the region.