Could low adoption of modern maize varieties in Malawi be explained by farmers interest in diverse seed characteristics

Abstract

This Document states that, food security in Malawi depends on production of enough maize, the country’s staple crop. In Malawi, more than 90 percent of farm households grow maize and this grain accounts for 60 percent of total calorie consumption. As opportunities for land-extensive agricultural growth are reduced, use of modern maize production technologies has become essential for producing sufficient maize to feed Malawi’s people. Although the use of high-yielding modern maize seed is important for food security, some farmers are resisting complete adoption of these varieties. Understanding how farmer preferences and circumstances influence their decisions to adopt or increase the use of modern maize seed varieties is necessary. Otherwise: (a) researchers may not develop appropriate technologies and (b) policy makers may not design and execute the most effective policies for promoting improved varieties and technologies. Policy interventions to promote the adoption and use of modern maize varieties in Malawi should be based on sound understanding of the preferences and circumstances of smallholder farmers. Lunduka et al.’s main policy recommendation is that crop breeding programs need to be well informed of the preferences and circumstances of the farmers who are meant to use the new varieties. Thus, diverse traits need to be taken into account to encourage Malawian smallholder farmers to adopt new varieties of maize. Malawian farmers have strong preferences for the ease of storage, high poundability, high flour-grain ratio, and taste of local maize varieties. These traits should be considered, in addition to grain yield, in breeding new varieties that will be widely adopted by farmers. Breeding programs should also focus on OPVs which allow recycling of seeds, which is important to Malawi smallholders who often have cash constraints and limited access to purchased seeds. In short, results of the study demonstrate that agricultural development policies should prioritize diversification of seed options, rather than emphasize modern, high-production maize varieties. Additionally, efforts should be made to conserve the genetic material of local maize varieties to allow for their use in future breeding programs.