Characteristics of maize cultivars in Africa: How modern are they and how many do smallholder farmers grow?

Abate, Tsedeke; Fisher, Monica; Abdoulaye, Tahirou; Kassie, Girma T.; Lunduka, Rodney; Marenya, Paswel; Asnake, Woinishet

doi:10.1186/s40066-017-0108-6

Cited by 89 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Maize varieties cultivated in the SSA region are classified into three major categories: traditional/local, hybrid and open pollinated variety (OPV) Abate et al, 2017). The hybrids and OPVs are improved varieties whose breeding programme dates back to the 1930s in Zimbabwe (Magorokosho, 2007) and 1940s in Malawi (Mason and Ricker-Gilbert, 2013).…”

Section: Maize Varieties In Ssamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since then over 1,700 varieties have been released between 1950 and 2014 across countries in SSA, of which 68% are hybrids and 32% OPVs. As of 2014, improved maize occupied 57% of the land area under maize production in SSA (Abate et al, 2017). The hybrid maize varieties are high yielding while OPVs are early maturing, compared with local varieties, hence providing farmers with yield advantage .…”

Section: Maize Varieties In Ssamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Abate et al . () report adoption rates of 32% hybrids; 23% OPVs; 46% local in SSA. Farmers weigh options as to whether to allocate more land to high yielding varieties with poor post‐harvest attributes or put more weight on post‐harvest attributes at the expense of high yields.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adoption of Drought Tolerant Maize Varieties under Rainfall Stress in Malawi

Katengeza¹,

Holden²,

Lunduka³

2018

J Agricultural Economics

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We examine adoption of drought tolerant (DT) maize varieties using a four-round panel dataset from six districts in Malawi. There is an increase in adoption of DT maize from 3% in 2006 to 43% in 2015 in our data. We focus on the effect of past drought exposure on adoption and the likelihood of DT maize being distributed under the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP). Results show that past exposure to drought increases the probability of DT maize seed being distributed through FISP. Farmers who accessed maize seed subsidy coupons and were previously exposed to late season dry spells are more likely to use the seed subsidy coupon to redeem DT maize seed. The likelihood of adoption and adoption intensity (area under DT maize) are positively influenced by previous early season dry spells and access to seed subsidy. Previous late season droughts also positively affect adoption intensity. On the other hand, area share under DT maize is positively correlated with early season dry spells and past exposure to late season dry spells but negatively related to seed subsidy. FISP in Malawi appears to have stimulated adoption of DT maize directly through subsidy and indirectly through generating farmers' experiences of the performance of DT varieties under drought conditions.

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Section: Maize Varieties In Ssamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Maize Varieties In Ssamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adoption of Drought Tolerant Maize Varieties under Rainfall Stress in Malawi

Katengeza¹,

Holden²,

Lunduka³

2018

J Agricultural Economics

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“…Hassan et al (2001) estimated that hybrids occupied ∼46% of the maize area planted in SSA, whereas only 7% was planted with improved OPVs. A recent study has indicated that ∼32% of maize varieties grown in SSA are hybrids, 23% are improved OPVs, and the rest are landraces and local cultivars (Abate et al, 2017). Hybrids reportedly contributed 78% of total 103,600 metric tons of improved maize seed supplied in 2006 and 2007 in ESA (Langyintuo et al, 2010).…”

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confidence: 99%

Genetic Analysis of Tropical Midaltitude‐Adapted Maize Populations under Stress and Nonstress Conditions

et al. 2018

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Maize (Zea mays L.) yield in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) is low because of both abiotic and biotic constraints, and limited availability or use of improved seed in some areas. This study was conducted (i) to estimate combining ability and heterosis among seven stress‐tolerant populations, and (ii) to assess diversity among the populations and the relationship between diversity and heterosis. Twenty‐one hybrids developed from diallel crosses of seven populations, parents, and two checks were evaluated in 10 optimal and 11 stressed environments (drought, low N, and random stress) in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe for 2 yr. Analysis II of Gardner and Eberhart showed that variety and heterosis were significant for grain yield (GY) under optimal and managed stress, and across environments. Heterosis accounted for most of the variation for GY among populations under optimal conditions (67%) and drought stress (53%), which suggested the importance of dominance in inheritance of GY under these conditions. Genetic distance (GD) among populations ranged from 0.328 to 0.477 (mean = 0.404). The correlation between GD and heterosis was low (r = 0.14–0.40) in all environments. The simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker‐based and GY‐based clustering of parental populations showed similar patterns, with three populations distinct from the rest, suggesting significant differentiation of allelic variation in these three populations. The SSR‐based diversity and phenotypic analysis results should be useful in defining breeding strategies and maintaining heterotic patterns among these populations.

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“…Thus, genotype improvement could contribute to increase TBY, GY and SY and stover quality. Abate et al (2017) reported that the BH-540 cultivar released in 1995 is currently due for replacement with the recently released higher-yielding cultivar BH546. .…”

Section: Survey Approaches In Avoiding Survey Biasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Options for improving the yield and nutritive value of maize and grain legume residues for ruminants in East African farming systems

Dejene¹

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The role and importance of livestock in smallholder crop-livestock systems and the importance of crop residues (CR) as ruminant feedstuffs in such systems are well established. The effects of genotype (G), environment (E) and crop management (M) factors on yields of grain and CR and the nutritive value of the CR of maize (Zea mays) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were investigated in an East African context. Genotype effects were examined in early and medium maturing (EM and MM, respectively) maize hybrids and popular varieties of common bean. Environment was examined at three sites for maize in the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons and at four sites for common bean in 2013. Management effects examined were plant density (D) (5 and 7 plants/m 2 ), height of cutting at harvest in maize, and harvest at early and final seed maturity in common bean. Quality attributes (nitrogen (N), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) contents and dry matter digestibility (DMD)) were analysed using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and calibrations expanded and validated with reference samples of CR representing the experimental sample set.There was substantial variation (P<0.05 to P<0.0001) among maize genotypes in yields of grain and stover and quality of stover as a feedstuff. Dual purpose genotypes were identified but G x E interactions for some yield and quality attributes showed that the variation among genotypes can depend on environment. In general the higher D increased yields of grain by 9-15% and stover by 21-31%, but had only minor effects on stover quality attributes. Year (Y) x density (D), G x E and G x D interactions were observed for some of the yield and stover attributes.High cutting height of maize (two internodes below the lowest ear) allowed harvest of most of the stover (on average 63-72% in EM and MM genotypes, respectively) as feedstuff while leaving stubble in the field available for other uses. This is established practice by farmers in some regions. The amount and quality as a feedstuff of the upper and lower stover components varied (P<0.01) among genotypes. N and DMD were 0.05-0.09% and 1.7-3.6%, respectively higher (P<0.0001) in the upper fraction of the stover than in whole stover. Thus evaluation and estimation of the amount and quality of maize stover available as a feedstuff should consider harvest at high cutting height to increase quality. G x E interactions were observed in yield and in some stover attributes in the upper and lower fractions, but these were not consistent.ii Common bean varieties varied (P<0.05 to P<0.0001) in yields of seed and haulm and in the nutritive value of haulm fractions (leaf, stem and pod wall) when harvested at seed maturity. There was extensive leaf loss at seed maturity which decreased haulm quality.Seed and haulm yields were correlated (r=0.87). Seed yield was generally not related to haulm quality as N% or DMD%. The variation in yield and haulm feedstuff quality was also examined in common bean varieties harvested at early se...

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Characteristics of maize cultivars in Africa: How modern are they and how many do smallholder farmers grow?

Cited by 89 publications

References 28 publications

Adoption of Drought Tolerant Maize Varieties under Rainfall Stress in Malawi

Adoption of Drought Tolerant Maize Varieties under Rainfall Stress in Malawi

Genetic Analysis of Tropical Midaltitude‐Adapted Maize Populations under Stress and Nonstress Conditions

Options for improving the yield and nutritive value of maize and grain legume residues for ruminants in East African farming systems

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