Rapid gains in food security from new maize varieties for complex hillside environments through farmer participation

Food Security ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thakur Prasad Tiwari ◽  
Guillermo Ortiz-Ferrara ◽  
Dil B. Gurung ◽  
Ramesh Dhakal ◽  
Ram B. Katuwal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Farmer Participation ◽  
Maize Varieties

scholarly journals Potentials of hybrid maize varieties for small-holder farmers in Kenya: A review based on swot analysis

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (57) ◽  
pp. 7562-7586
Author(s):  
C Schroeder ◽  
◽  
T Onyango K’Oloo ◽  
NB Ranabhat ◽  
NA Jick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Marginal Areas ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Hybrid Maize

Maize is the primary staple crop in Kenya and plays an important role in the livelihood of the people of Kenya. Its availability and abundance determines the level of welfare and food security in the country. In Kenya, future increases in maize production to meet domestic demand will have to rely on improvements in yield per hectare rather than on the expansion of maize production area. Enhanced maize productivity can be achieved by increased use of modern production techniques such as the adoption of hybrid maize varieties, the use of chemicals and fertilizer application. Small-scale maize prodcution plays a major role in Kenya’s maize economy and adoption of hybrid technology by small-scale farmers would have the potential to address sustainability and supply issues. However, such modern technologies are still rarely used by Kenya’s small-scale farmers, particularly by those in marginal areas. This study, therefore, tries to review the reasons for the low rate of adoption of hybrid maize varieties among small-scale farmers with focus on those smallholders in Kenya’s marginal areas. Lack of awareness of existing or newly released hybrid varieties, lack of hybrid varieties adapted to marginal areas, lack of confidence in the quality of some hybrid maize seeds, poor access to stockists, low profitability due to high seed cost, inadequate access to credit, the need for fertilizer application and low literacy level have been found to be important factors explaining the low adoption rates by smallholder maize producers in marginal areas. In addition, these constraints might also explain the widespread practice of recycling hybrid grain among small-scale farmers once they have adopted hybrid maize varieties. Therefore, it is hoped that by overcoming these constraints, the adoption of hybrid maize varieties among smallholder farmers could be greatly enhanced, which in turn could lead to a significant positive impact on the country’s food security situation.

scholarly journals Impact of improved maize varieties on food security in Eastern Zambia: A doubly robust analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1709-1728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julius Manda ◽  
Cornelis Gardebroek ◽  
Elias Kuntashula ◽  
Arega D. Alene
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Robust Analysis ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Doubly Robust

scholarly journals Improving farm productivity through the reduction of managerial and technology gaps among farmers in Rwanda

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jules Ngango ◽  
Seungjee Hong
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Maize Productivity ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Maize Varieties

Abstract Background Rwanda and most parts of sub-Saharan Africa face severe challenges of increasing maize productivity, which has direct consequences on food security. Due to these challenges, policy-makers have paid particular attention to finding the cost-effective strategies of boosting maize production. In an effort to increase productivity, the literature suggests that the adoption of yield-enhancing technologies and production efficiency should be given priority. The objective of this study is to examine and compare the technical efficiency and technological gaps of maize farms that grow different seed varieties in Rwanda. Methods The data used in this study were obtained from a survey of 360 household farmers conducted in the Eastern Province of Rwanda during the 2018–2019 cropping season. The study applies the stochastic meta-frontier production function approach to estimate the technical efficiency and technological gaps of maize farms operating under heterogeneous production technologies. Results Results indicate that there are differences in technical efficiency measures among the three groups of farmers (i.e., adopters of hybrids, open-pollinated varieties, and local maize varieties). In particular, we find that on average, farms growing hybrid maize varieties appear to have higher values of technical efficiency, technology gap ratio, and meta-frontier technical efficiency than farms growing OPVs and local maize varieties. Thus, the analysis shows that there are significant technological and managerial performance gaps among farmers. Conclusions From a policy perspective, the results of this study suggest the development of policy measures that may reduce the managerial and technological gaps existing among farmers to improve productivity and food security. Based on the results of this study, one of the crucial avenues to close this gap would be to improve access to improved agricultural technologies such as certified hybrid seeds. Additionally, policies aiming to enhance technical efficiency and productivity should focus on expanding the delivery of extension services and strengthening the technical assistance provided to farmers’ cooperatives.

scholarly journals Environmental impact and genetic expressions of new drought tolerant maize genotypes in derived savannah agro-ecology

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 10691
Author(s):  
Paul INYANG ◽  
Chikezie O. ENE ◽  
Ankrumah EMMANUEL ◽  
Uchechukwu P. CHUKWUDI ◽  
Ugochukwu N. IKEOGU
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
International Institute ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Maize Genotypes ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Sub Saharan

Reduced water resources in sub-Saharan Africa will not only pose threat to the livelihood of poor resource farmers, but also food security in the region. Drought tolerant (DT) maize varieties hold promise to reducing poor resourced farmers’ vulnerability and improve food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Ten maize genotypes obtained from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), were evaluated in 2015 and 2016 using a randomized complete block design experiment with three replications to estimate their genetic variability and predict their genetic advances in the derived savannah agro-ecology. Growth, phenological and yield data were collected from 10 middle row plants. Genetic advance, genotypic, phenotypic and environmental coefficients of variations and their variances were estimated. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses were also performed. The dendrogram showed that at 80% dissimilarity point, the genotypes were grouped into clusters A, B and C in both years. The first two principal components explained 91.8% and 93.3% of the total variation in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Number of grains cob-1, plant height and number of days to physiological maturity were consistent in explaining the variations observed in the maize population. Heritability estimates in broad sense ranged from 1.35% for number of leaves to 87.43% for grain yield per hectare. The genetic parameters studied showed significant variations among the growth, phenological and yield data collected that warrants selection and maize improvement program using the DT maize inbred lines in derived savannah agro-ecology.

scholarly journals Determinants of Food Security Status amongst Smallholder Farmers Utilizing Different Maize Varieties in OR Tambo District, South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 133-139
Author(s):  
Ardinesh Kambanje ◽  
Amon Taruvinga ◽  
Abbyssinia Mushunje ◽  
Charles Mutengwa ◽  
Saul Ngarava
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Maize Varieties

Maize is an important staple crop for poverty reduction and global food security in Sub Saharan Africa. Food insecurity can be combated through adoption of productivity improving technologies, which include improved maize varieties. In that endeavour, South Africa has promoted various improved maize varieties which include open pollinated varieties (OPVs), hybrids, and genetically modified (GM) varieties. Despite this, the traditional landrace varieties have also been dominating in the country. However, the household food insecurity problem in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa may signify a mis-match between maize varieties being promoted amongst smallholder farmers’ and their needs. It therefore necessitates a scrutiny of the food security status among users of different maize varieties, and the determinants of such food security. A cross sectional survey was conducted in Port St Johns, Mqanduli and Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Data was purposively collected from a sample of 650 smallholder farmers using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Household Food Insecurity Access Score and ordinal logistic regression model were employed to characterize, examine the household food insecurity status and the determinants, respectively. Fifty-six percent of the respondents were utilizing land race maize varieties, whilst 29% GMs, 10% combining GMs and landrace, 4% improved OPVs and 1% convectional hybrids. The average land area under maize was 1.09 hectares with average yields (t/ha) of 1.9, 0.5, 1.7 and 1.6 for GM, landrace, conventional hybrids and improved OPVs respectively. Fifty-five percent of households utilizing GM varieties and 61% of those combining maize varieties were food secure. The regression model showed that maize variety had significant influence on food security. The study found that GM maize, improved OPV, white maize and combination effects of GM maize was associated with reduction of household food insecurity. From the study, it can be put into perspective that use of white and improved maize varieties reduces household food insecurity. Therefore, to address household food insecurity, the study recommended targeting white maize varieties, especially GM white maize varieties which are highly productive and a positive influence on household food security.

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