Improved Wheat Varieties Research Articles

On-farm genetic diversity of wheat (Triticum aestivum spp.) in Digalu Tijo District, Arsi zone, Ethiopia

On-farm genetic diversity is the relative distribution of plant species. This study was undertaken to assess the on-farm genetic diversity of wheat Landraces (Triticum aestivum spp) in Digalu and Tijo District. For this study, three farmer households' kebeles were selected by cluster sampling (area sampling) method because they are found in the most dominant wheat landraces growing agro ecological areas. Data for this study was collected using questionnaires, field observation, interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. In total, 27 wheat landraces were reported to be grown two decades ago to the present day. Of these, only 9 wheat landraces are still cultivated by farmers. Among these, ‘Qamadi guracha’ is the most common growing landraces in the study area. The Shannon diversity index (H′) of growing wheat landraces ranges from 1.09 to 1.37 among the groups. The estimated genetic erosion for wheat landraces was found to be 66.7% due to the major factors: improved wheat varieties; the introduction of other more productive crops and wheat landraces low productivity. Food quality, Pests (for example, birds), disease resistance, market value, and straw quality were factors that initiated the farmers to maintain the genetic diversity of landraces on their farmlands. However, the preservation of wheat landraces is influenced by bottlenecks like the seed selection system, and insufficient crop yield. Regeneration of soil fertility, restoration of lost landraces, improvement of landraces, on-farm conservation by re-sowing, saving of seeds for the future, and ex-situ conservation are suggested for the restoration of wheat landraces diversity in Digalu and Tijo District.

Genetic dissection of the roles of β-hydroxylases in carotenoid metabolism, photosynthesis, and plant growth in tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.)

Key messageFunctional redundancy and subfunctionalization of β-hydroxylases in tetraploid wheat tissues open up opportunities for manipulation of carotenoid metabolism for trait improvement.The genetic diversity provided by subgenome homoeologs in allopolyploid wheat can be leveraged for developing improved wheat varieties with modified chemical traits, including profiles of carotenoids, which play critical roles in photosynthesis, photoprotection, and growth regulation. Carotenoid profiles are greatly influenced by hydroxylation catalyzed by β-hydroxylases (HYDs). To genetically dissect the contribution of HYDs to carotenoid metabolism and wheat growth and yield, we isolated loss-of-function mutants of the two homoeologs of HYD1 (HYD-A1 and HYD-B1) and HYD2 (HYD-A2 and HYD-B2) from the sequenced ethyl methanesulfonate mutant population of the tetraploid wheat cultivar Kronos, and generated various mutant combinations. Although functional redundancy between HYD1 and HYD2 paralogs was observed in leaves, HYD1 homoeologs contributed more than HYD2 homoeologs to carotenoid β-ring hydroxylation in this tissue. By contrast, the HYD2 homoeologs functioned toward production of lutein, the major carotenoid in mature grains, whereas HYD1 homoeologs had a limited role. These results collectively suggested subfunctionalization of HYD genes and homoeologs in different tissues of tetraploid wheat. Despite reduced photoprotective responses observed in the triple hyd-A1 hyd-B1 hyd-A2 and the quadruple hyd-A1 hyd-B1 hyd-A2 hyd-B2 combinatorial mutants, comprehensive plant phenotyping analysis revealed that all mutants analyzed were comparable to the control for growth, yield, and fertility, except for a slight delay in anthesis and senescence as well as accelerated germination in the quadruple mutant. Overall, this research takes steps toward untangling the functions of HYDs in wheat and has implications for improving performance and consumer traits of this economically important global crop.

Adoption of improved wheat varieties at Kanchanpur, Nepal

Usage of improved varieties raises the crop yield. To assess the adoption status of improved wheat varieties in the Kanchanpur district, this study investigated the varietal coverage of wheat along with factors affecting the adoption of improved varieties. A pre-tested interview schedule was administered to interview 90 randomly selected wheat-producing households in Bhimdutta, Bedkot and Dodhara Chandni (Mahakali) municipality. A binary logistic regression was used for triangulating the effect of different variables on the adoption of improved wheat varieties. Besides, descriptive statistics and indexing were also applied. The findings revealed that 80.97% of the area was under improved varieties, two-thirds of which were released varieties. In addition, of the released varieties, Vijay had the highest area coverage (27.97%), followed by Aditya (19.47%), Gautam (18.76%), NL971 (16.42%), BL4341 (13.65%) and others (3.73%), respectively. Further, the adoption of improved wheat varieties was found to be significantly driven by input subsidy (5% level) and access to extension services (10% level). Nevertheless, the adoption was impeded by problems namely; timely unavailability of improved variety seeds followed by lack of knowledge about improved varieties, unavailability of improved variety seeds in local markets, high cost of seeds and poor quality of seeds respectively, as identified and ranked by indexing. In light of these findings, input subsidies to the smallholding farmers, regular advisory and extension services along with participatory training programs relevant to the adoption of improved practices and timely availability of improved seeds are suggested to increase the adoption of improved wheat varieties among the farmers.

Effects of Blended NPSB Fertilizer Rates on Growth, Yield and Yield Components of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties on Jimma Arjo District, Western Ethiopia

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia, however the yield of the crop is low mainly due to low soil fertility management, lack of using balanced fertilizer and lack of using improved wheat varieties. The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of varieties, fertilizer rate and their interaction on yield and yield components and to determine the economic feasibility of application of fertilizer for optimum yield of bread wheat varieties. The experiment was conducted in Jimma Arjo district with four levels of NPSB fertilizer rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1) and 64/20 NP and three bread wheat varieties (Ogolcho, Huluka and Hidase) combined factorially and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The soils of the experimental area exhibited high sand (36%) but relatively low clay fractions (30%). Before sowing, the soils of the experimental site showed mean soil pH (H2O) value of 5.52, organic carbon content of 2.21%, total N (0.19%) available P (10.02%), organic matter content (3.80%), and available boron of 0.99 ppm.. The main effect of varieties and NPSB fertilizer application were significant for all parameters of bread wheat varieties except harvest index and only seed per spike and thousand seed weight were significant for interaction. The highest mean grain yield of 5801 kg ha-1 was obtained for Huluka bread wheat variety with applications of 150 kg NPSB ha-1 and 200 kg urea ha-1 fertilizers. The lowest 1599 kg ha-1grain yield was recorded from Hidase with no fertilizer. The highest net benefit ETB 154288 ha-1 with marginal rate of return of 3210% and value to cost ratio of ETB 66.19 per unit of investment for bread wheat production was obtained from application of 150 kg NPSB ha-1 and 200 kg Urea ha-1. In conclusion, application of 150 kg ha-1 NPSB enhanced bread wheat yield and, therefore, recommended for bread wheat production.

GENETIC EVALUATION OF INDIGENOUS AND EXOTIC WHEAT GERMPLASM BASED ON YIELD RELATED ATTRIBUTES

Wheat is highly self-pollinated crop and main staple food of the world. Yield is one of the main breeding objectives in the wheat crop. Plant breeders are focusing on the development of new lines with increased yield, resistant against biotic and abiotic factors and having more nutritional values. The goal of the current research was to identify acceptable crossings for further investigation by determining the type of gene action (genetic effects) and combining ability of parental genotypes for morphological features. This approach was used to evaluate three lines, namely Ujala-2016, Johar-2016, Galaxy-2013 and four testers’ viz. XJ22, XJ23, XJ24 and XJ25. Collected data were subjected to line × tester analysis. Among parents as lines genotype Johar-2016 found good general combiner for studied traits. While among testers XJ25 proved to be the best general combiner for studied traits. Similarly, cross combinations hybrid XJ25 × Galaxy-2013 performed best as specific combiner. It was noticed that SCA variance was greater than GCA variance for all factors studied in wheat except for grains/spike. The superior genotypes and crosses can be further tested in yield for development of improved wheat varieties.

Gender, wheat trait preferences, and innovation uptake: Lessons from Ethiopia and India

During the post-Green Revolution era, numerous improved wheat varieties were released and disseminated to enhance tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses and increase productivity. Still, in the wheat-based farming systems of the Global South, gender-based and other social inequalities continue to undermine equitable access to improved varieties, especially for women, poor, and marginalized farmers. Here, we present a case for gender-sensitive technology development, dissemination, and evaluation as part of wheat varietal improvement programs. We take stock of the various challenges that persist in the uptake of modern wheat varieties by male and female smallholders. We focus on Ethiopia and India, two geographies with substantive wheat economies, widespread poverty, and gender inequalities. The socio-economic literature on wheat is relatively thin with limited and dated gender-sensitive evaluation studies on varietal technologies in these countries. Varietal technology evaluations could ideally cover gender differences in relation to wheat varietal trait preferences, technology adoption, and associated decision-making and labor-use changes related to new varieties and complementary technologies, as well as nutritional and economic benefits. The paper calls for a need to change the institutional arrangements in wheat research-and-development (R&D) programs to understand and pursue better paths for wheat improvement to proactively contribute toward gender equity and inclusivity.

Quantifying the Determinants of Improved Wheat Variety Adoption in Egypt: Binary Response Models

Quantifying the Determinants of Improved Wheat Variety Adoption in Egypt: Binary Response Models

Adoption of improved wheat varieties by smallholder farmers in Bale Zone, Ethiopia

Adoption of improved wheat varieties by smallholder farmers in Bale Zone, Ethiopia

The Impact of Adopting Improved Wheat Technology on the Productivity and Income of Households in Misha District, Southern Ethiopia

Wheat rust disease is a major constraint of wheat production in Ethiopia. Thus, this study is carried out to examine the impact of rust resistant wheat varieties on the productivity and income of households in Misha district in Southern Ethiopia. Using a household survey, cross-sectional data were collected from 387 randomly selected households. Descriptive statics and propensity score matching methods were used for data analysis to achieve the objectives of the study. Propensity score matching method was used to measure the impact of adopting rust-resistant improved wheat varieties on productivity and income of households. The study has found that age and education level of household head, land size, livestock holding, frequency of extension contact, and access to credit services were factors that significantly affected adoption of rust-resistant improved wheat varieties. Using the propensity score matching method, the study found that the adoption of rust-resistant improved wheat had a positive impact on average wheat productivity and income of households. Moreover, the results were insensitive to unobserved heterogeneity bias. This indicates that adoption of the technology has a positive contribution to households' wellbeing. Therefore, government and concerned bodies should better give due attention to the development, dissemination, and scaling up of rust-resistant improved wheat varieties. Keywords: Adoption, Impact, Propensity Score Matching, Wheat. DOI: 10.7176/DCS/12-6-03 Publication date: June 30 th 2022

Factors that Influence Adoption of New Improved Wheat Varieties by Farmers in Nakuru and Narok, Kenya

This study examines the factors that influence the adoption of new improved wheat varieties (NIWV) by wheat farmers in Nakuru and Narok counties in Kenya. Cross-sectional data from 344 randomly selected wheat farmers from the Njoro and Rongai sub-Counties in Nakuru County; and Narok South and Narok North sub-counties in Narok County, Kenya were investigated. Probit model was run to estimate the factors influencing the adoption rate of improved new wheat varieties. Results derived from model estimates indicate that farmers' adoption of improved wheat varieties in the study area is positive due to education, availability of information, off-farm income, distance to inputs and produce markets, and exposure to extension advice services and access to credits. The study recommends that the public and private sectors promote access to advisory services to improve the dissemination of certified wheat seeds to farmers through training, workshops, and seminars.

Adoption and impact of improved wheat varieties on productivity and welfare among smallholder farmers in the Arsi Highland of Ethiopia

ABSTRACT This article evaluates the adoption and impact of improved wheat varieties on rural farm household welfare measured by consumption expenditure per adult equivalent and productivity per hectare in rural Ethiopia. The study utilises cross-sectional farm household-level data collected in 2017/2018 from a randomly selected sample of 323 farmers in Arsi Highland of Ethiopia. We estimate the adoption and causal impact of improved varieties by utilising endogenous switching regression complemented with a binary propensity score matching methodology. This helps us estimate the productivity and welfare effect of technological adoption by controlling for the role of selection bias problem stemming from both observed and unobserved heterogeneity. Our analysis reveals a consistent result across models indicating that adoption enhances wheat productivity per hectare by 0.63 tons/ha and household welfare by 31%. Even farm households that did not adopt would benefit significantly had they adopted. Education, wheat price, farm machineries, crop rotation, row planting, social capital (such as informal network, core trust, and institutional trust), training on varieties selection, and information on seed availability are found to be the main drivers behind the adoption of improved wheat varieties.

Determinants of Farmers’ Awareness and Adoption of Extension Recommended Wheat Varieties in the Rainfed Areas of Pakistan

Scientific evidence suggests that there is room for eradicating poverty and hunger by increasing food production through the adoption of modern agricultural practices by farmers. This study aimed, first, to explore the relationship between the farmers’ awareness and adoption of improved wheat varieties. Second, it aimed to find the key factors that govern the farmers’ awareness and adoption of extension-recommended innovations in the rainfed cropping system of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Data were collected from 395 respondents. A binary logit model was used to analyze the effect of the farmers’ socioeconomic and farm-specific characteristics on their awareness and adoption of the extension-suggested wheat varieties. Moreover, qualitative data from 40 key informants were collected for in-depth analysis. The results show a strong association between the farmers’ awareness of a technology (improved wheat varieties) and its adoption. The results of the logit model show that their extension contacts, income from agriculture, and access to credit positively affected the farmers’ awareness, whereas their education and household sizes negatively affected their awareness. Moreover, the factors that positively influenced the farmers’ decision to adopt the technology included the extension contact, the confidence in the extension, the risk-bearing attitude, and the credit access, whereas the household size and education negatively affected it. The results of the key informant interviews reveal that the high incidence of poverty, the low soil fertility, the farmers’ inability to make effective decisions, the lack of accurate weather predictability in the rainfed farming system, the lack of government interest, and the asymmetric information in the inputs markets contributed to the farmers’ low levels of awareness and to their poor adoption of improved agricultural technologies. These results indicate that any intervention aimed at the awareness and adoption by farmers of improved technologies, such as new wheat varieties, should recognize the heterogeneity in the farmers’ socioeconomic and farm-specific characteristics.

Impacts of Adopting Improved Wheat Varieties on Food Security in Girar Jarso Woreda, North Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Agriculture is expected to play an important role in ensuring food security. Ethiopia is attempting to increase agricultural production and productivity that combat food insecurity. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of adopting improved wheat varieties on food security in Girar Jarso Woreda, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Three kebeles were selected randomly from Girar Jarso. A sample of 192 households, 90 adopters, and 102 non-adopters, were selected. Primary and secondary sources were used to obtain both qualitative and quantitative data. A logit model was used to identify factors influencing the adoption of improved variety. Household Food Balance Model (HFBM) was utilized to calculate net available food at the household level. A Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique is also employed to quantify the impact of improved wheat varieties on households' food security. The findings demonstrated that education level, involvement in training, demonstration, and field day events, distance to market, and farmer cooperative membership all had a substantial influence on the adoption of improved wheat varieties. The findings also demonstrate that adopting improved wheat varieties increases household food availability. Adopting improved wheat varieties has the potential to increase food availability at the household level, which is a good indicator of food security. Governments and non-governmental organizations should pay close attention to the adoption of improved varieties to reduce the problem of food insecurity in the study area. Keywords: Impact, improved variety, grain crop, Household Food Security DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/78-01 Publication date: March 31 st 2022

Adoption of Improved Wheat Varieties by Wheat Producers in the Bale Zone of Ethiopia

Wheat is a strategic food security crop in the Ethiopia. Improving production and productivity of smallholder farmers through adoption of improved wheat varieties is one of the measures presumed to bridge the persistent food gap in the country. There are several socio-economic and institutional factors that constraint farmers from adoption of improved wheat varieties and empirically unidentified in the study area. The objective of this study was to analyze the factors influencing farmer’s decision in adoption of improved wheat varieties in the study area. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods such as household survey, key informant interview and focused group discussion were utilized for this study. The probit model result showed that sex of household head, land holding size, livestock holding size, access to credit, access to market information, frequency of extension contacts, educational level of household head, membership in cooperatives and perception on yield capacity significantly influenced adoption decision of improved wheat varieties. Therefore, policy and development interventions should give emphasis towards the improvement of such economical and institutional support system so as to achieve wider adoption of improved wheat varieties, increased production and productivity of smallholder farmers.

Farmers’ Varietal Preferences and Impact of Farmers Participatory Wheat Seed Production in North Western Himalayan Region

This paper examines the impact of farmers’ participatory seed production (FPSP) of improved wheat varieties suitable for North Western Himalayan region. A wide gap exists in wheat productivity in hills and plains region of Uttarakhand, with productivity in the plains being nearly double that in the hills. Before undertaking large seed production, farmers’ preference with respect to different improved wheat varieties was recorded. The Wheat Preference Index (WPI) for VL 804, VL Gehun 829, VL Gehun 907 and VL Gehun 953 was found to be 3.64, 3.99, 4.59 and 4.61, respectively. The WPI of variety VL Gehun 953 (4.61) ranked highest majorly because of its higher productivity and superior seed quality. The cumulative growth of these varieties through FPSP was found to be 4777.2 ha in rabi 2021 from 457.2 ha in rabi 2016. The area diffusion effect of these improved wheat varieties through farmers participatory seed production was thus 10.4 times. In the year 2019-20, 145.8 quintal of seed of improved wheat variety was procured which is 10.4 times higher than the amount procured in 2015-16. Farmers earned 8.7 to 23.1 per cent higher economic gain from seed production of VL wheat varieties.

An economic study of wheat crop production using improved wheat varieties and Laser Leveling Technology in Egypt

The main objective of the paper was to conduct an econometric analysis of the technologies used in wheat production, whether it was in individual form or in technological packages, with a statement and clarification of the effect of using the technology of modern varieties of seeds and the use of lasers on increasing wheat productivity. Descriptive and quantitative analysis was used, where production functions were estimated, which showed, that the most important factors affecting wheat production were the amount of municipal fertilizer, the number of seeds, the amount of human labor and the amount of nitrogen fertilizer, as increasing the previous elements by one unit leads to an increase in wheat production by about 0.078, 0.014, 0.029, 0.075, ardeb respectively. There was an extravagance in the use of phosphate. This study suggests increasing interest to provide good extension service, providing agricultural requirements to associations in the appropriate time and place, providing agricultural associations with mechanical technology from modern agricultural machines, and working to increase supply prices to encourage producers to increase their wheat production.

Impact of agricultural extension services on the adoption of improved wheat variety in Ethiopia: A cluster randomized controlled trial

Although many studies have shown that sub-Saharan African countries could increase agricultural productivity and output through better technologies and improved crop varieties, the adoption of yield-enhancing technologies by smallholder farmers in the region still remains very low. In this paper, we use a cluster randomized controlled trial to examine whether improved extension services influence smallholder farmers’ decisions to try a newly introduced improved wheat variety in Ethiopia. The experiment involved demonstration trials and field days, and improved capacity of Development Agents in facilitation and communication skills. The empirical results revealed that farmers’ decisions to try the newly introduced wheat variety were highest in the villages where demonstration trials and field days, and improvements in the Development Agents’ facilitation and communication capacity were introduced simultaneously. We also found a positive effect of improved extension services on yields, and the use of chemical fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides, but only the use of herbicides and pesticides were statistically significant. Our findings provide some insights into the significance of revisiting the curriculums of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and Farmers’ Training Centers.

Resistance Breeding Increases Winter Wheat Gross Margins–An Economic Assessment for Germany

Improved wheat varieties have ameliorated our food production. Intensive cropping systems, as in Germany, achieve very high grain yields and thus contribute greatly to global food security. As diseases, especially fungal pathogens, pose major threats in winter wheat production, disease management is crucial to uphold high production levels and to avoid economic losses. Yet, the economic value of breeding varieties with increased resistance to fungal pathogens has not been analyzed with comprehensive data. Our analysis fills this gap by quantifying the economic effects of 50 years of resistance breeding for winter wheat production in Germany. Based on field trials and agronomic production data, we analyze how resistances have influenced the economic profitability of the crops. Thereby, we can isolate the pure breeding-induced effects of increased resistance to fungal pathogens, which cause leaf and stripe rust, powdery mildew, and Fusarium head blight. We calculated the gross margins of 176 varieties according to nitrogen and fungicide applications in field trials. Regression models show that resistance breeding had a strong positive and statistically significant effect on the gross margins of the varieties. In comparison, the specific meta-environment of the season had a larger effect, while the effect of high nitrogen as well as fungicide treatments was lower. The gross margin increased over time along with higher resistances. Simultaneously, the difference in gross margins between the fungicide-treated and untreated variants decreased, indicating an increased contribution of resistances to yield stability. Resistances have increased gross margins greatly, as the health levels of varieties remain high without the need for fungicide applications and thus production costs can be saved. We conclude that resistance breeding has increased the economic profitability and sustainability of crop production due to a reduction in the costs for fungicides. In fields of farmers, these positive effects of resistance breeding can be fully realized by an optimal variety choice and a variety- and situation-specific disease management. Such an agronomic practice would not only further improve winter wheat gross margins but also mitigate some of the pressures on agricultural productions, such as reduced disease management options and adverse climate change impacts.

Institutional and farm-level challenges limiting the diffusion of new varieties from public and CGIAR centers: The case of wheat in Morocco

Low adoption of agricultural technologies slows efforts to increase agricultural productivity and enhance rural livelihoods in developing countries. A large body of literature has sought explanations for the problem, but the focus has been mainly on micro-level farm and community factors affecting adoption. Institutional factors such as policies and market conditions, which are also important, have been largely overlooked and, few, if any, studies combine the two levels of analysis. We use Morocco as a case study to analyze institutional and farm-level factors affecting diffusion and adoption of improved wheat varieties. Results show both sides to be important. Institutional factors such as overly stringent variety testing procedures, imbalance of power among actors in the seed sector and ill-conceived variety licensing contracts limit access to seeds of more recently released varieties. Adoption of older new varieties is found to be affected by farm and farmer characteristics, but imperfect access to new seeds, sometimes associated with the failings identified above, is also a constraint. Findings signal the need for increased private engagement in seed multiplication; revised variety testing procedures; alternative royalty mechanisms; and enhanced linkages between public research and private seed companies.

Growth and Yield Performance of Selected Wheat Genotypes at Variable Irrigation Management

Growth and Yield Performance of Selected Wheat Genotypes at Variable Irrigation Management