scholarly journals The cassava seed system in Nigeria: Opportunities and challenges for policy and regulatory reform

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Regulatory Reform ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Weak State ◽  
Planting Material ◽  
Regulatory Systems ◽  
Seed System ◽  
Planting Materials

In many African countries south of the Sahara, farmers depend on the cultivation of vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs) for both consumption and commercial purposes. Yet yields for these crops remain at low levels due, in part, to the persistent use of low-quality planting material. Efforts to improve the quality of planting material exchanged in markets or through other channels are often hampered by the unique biological and economic characteristics of vegetative propagation—characteristics that distinguish VPCs from the major cereal crops that drive and shape the policy and investment choices made in many of these countries. This suggests that continued investment in new technologies and systems to produce, package, and distribute VPC planting materials will require customized policies and policy support if these systems are to supply farmers with quality planting material at any significant and sustained scale. This paper explores these issues in the context of the cassava seed system in Nigeria by drawing on (1) prior research, public policy documents, and government statistics; (2) key informant interviews and focus group discussions with seed system actors; and (3) a unique dataset from the 2015 Cassava Monitoring Survey of Nigeria (CMS). The paper examines the production and supply of cassava planting material, the influence of various quality assurance systems on production and supply, and the implications for smallholder farmers in Nigeria. We describe the market, non-market, and regulatory systems that shape the cassava seed market in Nigeria, focusing on effectiveness, influence, and reach. We then explore the ground realities—how farmers actually acquire and use cassava planting material—given the (weak) state of markets and regulation. This is followed by a discussion of alternative policy and regulatory approaches to managing and expanding the cassava seed system, emphasizing a more decentralized approach that prioritizes investment in innovative capacity at the community and enterprise levels.

scholarly journals Not only the seed matters: Farmers’ perceptions of sources for banana planting materials in Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fleur BM Kilwinger ◽  
Pricilla Marimo ◽  
Anne M Rietveld ◽  
Conny JM Almekinders ◽  
Ynte K van Dam
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Cultural Norms ◽  
Production Scale ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Planting Material ◽  
Chain Analysis ◽  
Traditional Cultivars ◽  
Variety Traits ◽  
Planting Materials ◽  
Laddering Interviews

The adoption of improved seed and other planting material in developing countries shows mixed results despite their potential to increase agricultural productivity. To arrive at a better understanding of the observed adoption rates, a lot of research is focused on finding the cultivars and variety traits that are attractive to farmers. Given smallholder farmers’ seed sourcing practices are often influenced by social ties and cultural norms, it is also relevant to understand where and why farmers seek to acquire planting material. In this study, means-end chain analysis was applied to understand farmers’ perceptions of formal and informal sources of banana planting material. Means-end chain analysis allows respondents to select and verbalize their own constructs to evaluate a product or service. These personally relevant constructs are subsequently linked to their personal goals via laddering interviews. We interviewed 31 Ugandan banana farmers from Western and Central region. Farmers associated formal sources mainly with improved cultivars, tissue culture plantlets and low levels of diversity. Informal seed sources were mostly associated with traditional cultivars, suckers and high levels of diversity. The goals farmers pursued while acquiring planting material, such as financial gains, food security, and to sustain and develop the household, were fairly similar among different groups of farmers. The means through which farmers aimed and preferred to pursue these goals differed and could be related to aspects such as gender, production scale and production goals. These differences among farmers preferences for particular sources indicate that not only cultivar traits should be tailored to farmers’ preferences and needs, but also the characteristics of the sources from which farmers access planting material.

scholarly journals Using Oil Palm Segregation Genetics to Decipher Illegitimate Seed Distribution Channels to Smallholder Farmers in Cameroon

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-62
Author(s):  
Walter Ajambang Nchu ◽  
Paul Koona
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Distribution Channels ◽  
Segregation Ratio ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Planting Material ◽  
Planting Materials ◽  
Quality Material

Planting material or seed is the most determinant factor for oil palm productivity alongside agro climatological and management considerations. A study was conducted to determine the different varieties of oil palm planted in smallholders’ plantations, the distribution channels for oil palm seeds and all the actors involved in the seed trade sector in Cameroon. This is a bid to secure the supply of only improved planting materials to smallholder farmers. 230 oil palm smallholder plantations were surveyed and individual palms were subjected to varietal determination. The Chi-Square Test (c2) for Fixed Ratio Hypothesis (= 0.05) was used to determine whether the observed ratio deviates significantly from the Mendelian hypothesized genetic segregation ratio. Up to 65% of smallholder farms were found to be planted with poor planting material distributed in the different Mendelian ratios; 100% Dura, 50% Tenera and 50% Dura (1:1), 25% Dura, 50% Tenera and 25% Pisifera (1:2:1). The source of this poor quality planting material for these farms was deduced to come from private nursery entrepreneurs and workers of industrial plantations such as the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), Cameroon Palm Oil Company (SOCAPALM), Common Initiative Groups (CIG’s) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s). Farmers supplied by government services especially the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and some of its specialized development projects all received good quality material. Thus, this is the only means now available which can assure the distribution of seeds good quality seeds

scholarly journals Adoption of Improved Mungbean Production Technologies in Selected East African Countries

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 528
Author(s):  
Frank Mmbando ◽  
Emmanuel Mbeyagala ◽  
Papias Binagwa ◽  
Rael Karimi ◽  
Hellen Opie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Women Farmers ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
East African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Household Asset ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Household Assets ◽  
Production Technologies

This study analyzes the factors that influence the probability and extent of the adoption of mungbean production technologies in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, using multivariate probit and Poisson regression models. The results show that the probability and extent of the adoption of mungbean production technologies are influenced by gender of the household, household size, farm size, livestock size, household assets, access to extension services and access to credit. The study suggests that policy interventions that aimed at targeting women farmers, increasing household asset and information dissemination, such as field demonstrations and training programs, are crucial in enhancing technology adoption among smallholder farmers.

Contextualizing private sector-based seed system development: The case of sorghum in Eastern Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 003072702110563
Author(s):  
Caroline Hambloch ◽  
Jane Kahwai ◽  
John Mugonya
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
System Development ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Improved Varieties ◽  
Seed System ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Farming Households

Private sector-based seed system development remains a key development intervention in Sub-Saharan Africa. Seed system interventions promoting the adoption of improved varieties through the private sector generally follow a linear, market-oriented technological adoption logic. A qualitative case study of the sorghum seed system in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania demonstrates that this model may not be able to drive the broad-scale adoption of improved sorghum varieties and to generate significant benefits for small sorghum-farming households. The findings suggest that the agro-ecological, social, and political-economic contexts critically determine the role improved varieties and the private sector can play in rural development. Improved sorghum varieties promoted by both the public and private sectors may not suit the needs, preferences and contexts of farming households. Seed companies hold sorghum as an add-on in their portfolio, investing less resources and research into sorghum compared to more profitable crops such as vegetable and maize seeds. Significant political-economic obstacles exist that favor the support of cash crops such as maize and rice, limiting the growth and development of the private sector in the sorghum seed system. We conclude that future interventions should build on approaches that aim to develop more diverse channels of seed delivery in both the formal and informal seed systems, adopt a livelihoods perspective to evaluate the costs, benefits, and risks associated with the adoption of new technologies, and acknowledge that seed system interventions are only one out of a portfolio of interventions to generate rural development.

scholarly journals Planting Materials Seed Systems of Finger Millet, Rice and Taro in Jumla, Kaski and Bara Districts of Nepal

1970 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 10-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bimal K Baniya ◽  
Radha K Tiwari ◽  
Pashupati Chaudhary ◽  
Surendra K Shrestha ◽  
Pushpa R Tiwari
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Finger Millet ◽  
Rice Seed ◽  
Seed Selection ◽  
Seed Supply ◽  
Millet Seed ◽  
Seed System ◽  
Rice Seeds ◽  
Planting Materials ◽  
Informal Seed Supply

Formal and informal seed supply systems of rice (Jumla, Bara and Kaski), finger millet and taro(Kaski) were studied in three ecosites of Nepal during 1999-2001 to understand the processes ofseed flow, seed production, seed selection and storage systems. A survey was conducted at 48 to96 households. Informal seed supply was the only system in Jumla and Kaski and formal systemexisted only in Bara. The main sources of seed were farmer's own saved seed (67-91%), seedfrom neighbors and relatives. Exchange of germplasm was the main basis of fulfillment fromother sources. All farmers obtained seed from their own village, while farmers introducedmaterials occasionally from outside village. Most of the farmers followed seed selection beforeor after crop harvest. Rice field selection and plant selection based on a fixed set of criteria wasthe common practice. Non lodged plants with more grain per panicle, bold grains, well-maturedand uniform plants, long panicle, true to type, good looking grains, free from diseases andinsects were the main rice seed selection criteria. All farmers from both sites stored rice seeds bylocal methods in the locally available containers. Mor and Mudkothi are the special strawcontainers to store rice seed in Bara. Dhara is a special mud structure used to store rice seeds inJumla. Finger millet seed supply system was mostly similar to that of rice seed system. Ninetyone percent farmers saved seed for their own use; however, many of them changed finger milletseeds lots or varieties regularly for their particular plot. Ears selection during harvest by setcriteria for seed purpose was the common practice. Farmers stored finger millet seed carefully insmall locally available containers and tried their best to maintain the quality of seed duringdifferent stage of seed production. Taro has diverse planting materials: cormels, corms witheyes, suckers and corm with small cormels. Taro planting materials management is totallyinformal and almost 89% farmers saved these materials for their use and replaced them mostlyafter 3 years. Farmers had fixed criteria of corms and cormels selection for planting purpose andfocus and more on disease free. Storage of planting materials was locally by using localmaterials and methods. Understanding of seed system in various crops helps to developconservation strategy.Key words: Seed flow; seed production; seed selection; seed storage; seed systemDOI: 10.3126/narj.v6i0.3343Nepal Agriculture Research Journal Vol.6 2005 pp.39-48

scholarly journals Ground-based “Pot-in-Pot” system and its effectiveness in growing Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd” planting material in a nursery

2021 ◽  
Vol 875 (1) ◽  
pp. 012092
Author(s):  
A N Tseplyaev ◽  
A A Tseplyaeva
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
High Survival ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Thuja Occidentalis ◽  
Planting Material ◽  
Favorable Temperature ◽  
Intensive Growth

Abstract For the sparsely wooded regions of Russia, and in particular, the Central forest-steppe, new technologies for growing seedlings and seedlings of tree species are extremely important. It provids rapid growth and high survival rate, which is compared to classic technologies. The purpose of our experiment was to establish the effect of temperature screens from pots of various sizes on the temperature in the root zone of the substrate, and, as a consequence, on the growth and productivity of Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd” in plastic pots for three seasons. The most favorable temperature conditions for plants are formed in large pots, which is facilitated by smooth temperature drops in the substrate and a large area of contact between the substrate and the root system. Agrotechnical methods of growing plants have shown the main advantages of “Pot-in-Pot” technology. This is accelerated plant growth due to more efficient use of water and fertilizers on a specially prepared substrate under conditions of minimal temperature fluctuations. Plants, especially large ones, will have a favorable presentation due to better leafing, a well-developed crown, and a large crown diameter. High safety during wintering also increases the efficiency of the technology providing a higher yield and subsequent more intensive growth.

scholarly journals Public Opinion in Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Conroy-Krutz
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Political Development ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Political Competition ◽  
Political Campaigns ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Health And Economic Development

Projects to measure public opinion in Africa have increased considerably in the last two decades. Earlier data-collection efforts focused on health and economic development, with limited attempts to gauge public opinion before the late 1990s. Possibilities expanded as a wave of political liberalizations swept the continent after the Cold War, and as government limitations on speech freedoms and survey research loosened. Knowledge about public opinion remains uneven, however; more surveys are conducted in wealthier, more stable, and more democratic countries. Various actors are leading these efforts. Academic and research organizations have been at the forefront, with Afrobarometer, which has conducted surveys in about two-thirds of African countries since 1999, the most prominent. The majority of studies are conducted by for-profit companies, media houses, and political campaigns, and many results are never publicly released. The growth in surveys of public opinion in Africa has had important ramifications across a number of realms. Academics have developed and tested new theories on how Africans respond to and shape their political and economic systems, and some long-standing theories have been challenged with newly available empirical evidence. Candidates and parties attempt to measure public opinion as they develop mobilizational and persuasive campaign strategies. Election observers have used survey data collected before and after voting to assess whether official results comport with citizens’ preferences. And international and domestic policymakers have increasingly used public opinion data from Africa to determine economic and political development priorities, and to assess the effectiveness of various programs. However, there is evidence that the survey enterprise in Africa is becoming increasingly politicized, with some officials attempting to block the release of potentially embarrassing results, or preventing surveys from being conducted altogether, and other political actors attacking survey organizations when they do not like what the data show. As organizations conducting public opinion surveys in Africa modify their strategies in the face of new technologies and changing political contexts, the ever-increasing availability of data on what Africans think about how their countries are and should be governed continues to fundamentally change academic understanding, policymaking, and actual political competition.

Food for All in Africa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Conway ◽  
Ousmane Badiane ◽  
Katrin Glatzel
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Sustainable Intensification ◽  
Rural Poor ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Agricultural Transformation

Africa requires a new agricultural transformation that is appropriate for Africa, that recognizes the continent's diverse environments and climates, and that takes into account its histories and cultures while benefiting rural smallholder farmers and their families. This book describes the key challenges faced by Africa's smallholder farmers and presents the concepts and practices of sustainable intensification as opportunities to sustainably transform Africa's agriculture sector and the livelihoods of millions of smallholders. The way forward, the book indicates, will be an agriculture sector deeply rooted within sustainable intensification: producing more with less, using fertilizers and pesticides more prudently, adapting to climate change, improving natural capital, adopting new technologies, and building resilience at every stage of the agriculture value chain. This book envisions a virtuous circle generated through agricultural development rooted in sustainable intensification that results in greater yields, healthier diets, improved livelihoods for farmers, and sustainable economic opportunities for the rural poor that in turn generate further investment. It describes the benefits of digital technologies for farmers and the challenges of transforming African agricultural policies and creating effective and inspiring leadership. The book demonstrates why we should take on the challenge and provides ideas and methods through which it can be met.

Ambiguity Aversion Decreases the Impact of Partial Insurance: Evidence from African Farmers

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1428-1469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gharad Bryan
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Ambiguity Aversion ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Limited Liability ◽  
Comparative Statics ◽  
Reduce Risk ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Credit Contracts ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Partial Insurance

Abstract Indemnifying smallholder farmers against crop loss is thought to play an important role in encouraging the adoption of new technologies and facilitating productivity growth, but to be infeasible due to information problems. Consequently there is interest in developing alternative, partial, insurance products. Examples include rainfall insurance and the limited liability inherent in credit contracts. I argue that although these products may reduce information asymmetry, ambiguity averse farmers struggle to assess whether the contracts reduce risk. This problem is most pronounced when the production technology is ambiguous, as is likely the case for new technologies. I formalize this argument and test the theory using data from two RCTs, conducted in Malawi and Kenya. Comparative statics from the theory are consistent with both sets of data, and I argue that income losses from ambiguity aversion may be substantial.

Use of crop residues and agro-industrial by-products in ruminant production systems in developing countries

1993 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 47-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. N. Jayasuriya
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Mixed System ◽  
Crop Failure ◽  
Cropping Patterns ◽  
By Products

AbstractRuminant production systems in developing countries could be classified into three categories: the extensive systems, systems incorporating arable cropping and systems integrated with tree cropping. Systems have evolved in response to the agro-ecological environment, the availability and type of land, nature of cropping patterns, frequency and intensity of cropping, area of uncultivated land and animal species and animal numbers.Smallholder livestock farmers in most developing countries appear to have adopted a mixed system that incorporates the traditional extensive system and the system that combines arable cropping with livestock. Both in Africa and in Asia, livestock production is an important component of traditional agriculture, complementing arable cropping. Livestock utilize existing food resources such as communal grazing lands which are marginal for arable cropping, crop residues and agro-industrial by-products. Besides supplying meat and milk, organic manure and draft power, livestock are an investment and an insurance against crop failure.Crop residues and agro-industrial by-products are a major source of nutrients for ruminant livestock in developing countries, especially during periods of fodder shortage. Despite the large research effort on upgrading crop residues in recent years, there has been little improvement in the utilization of crop residues in developing countries. Reasons for this are many but include, the absence of detailed production patterns of crop residues within countries, including when and where they are produced, the difficulties of transporting and storing crop residues, inappropriate technology and the near absence of extension services.Both in the African and Asian continents, smallholder farmers who rear livestock for supplementary income are rather reluctant to change their traditional practices, when new technologies call for extra labour, time and capital, since the methods may be too demanding in relation to the benefit produced. The more likely application of any new technology will be with larger-scale operations where benefits are clearer and sufficiently large to warrant the extra efforts.

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