Farmers Perception of Low Soil Fertility and Hybrid Maize and the Implications in Plant Breeding

Ribeiro, Priscilla Francisco; Badu‐Apraku, B.; Gracen, Vernon; Danquah, Eric; Ewool, Manfred; Afriyie-Debrah, C.; Frimpong, Benedicta Nsiah

doi:10.5539/sar.v6n2p1

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Farmers' preference for nitrogen use efficient varieties could be a risk coping strategy, a perceived economical way of improving their maize yields without overly depending on chemical fertilizers. The findings of Ribeiro et al (2017) revealed low soil fertility as the most dominant constraint in maize productivity in Wenchi and Ejura Sekyedumase districts in Ghana. In Angola, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, a variety's performance under poor soil fertility is an important trait considered along with yield potential in the selection of an ideal maize variety by farmers (Kassie et al 2012).…”

Section: Trait Preferences Of Maize Value Chain Actors In the Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…This allows plant breeders to interact with farmers and other actors to set breeding objectives and share responsibility for decision-making, implementation, and generation of products (Morris and Bellon 2004). Participatory plant breeding (PPB) approaches have been extensively used in cultivar development programs to address farmers' needs and their socioeconomic situation as well as consumers' preferences (Kamara et al 2006;Tetteh et al 2011;Dao et al 2015;Ajambo et al 2017;Ribeiro et al 2017). For example, Sibiya et al (2013) used the PPB approach in three villages in KwaZulu-Natal and reported that farmers preferred maize varieties with high yield and prolificacy, disease resistance, early maturity, white grain endosperm color, and drying and shelling qualities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using participatory on-farm trials and demonstrations, Etwire et al (2013) reported that farmers in the Transitional and Savanna agroecological zones of Ghana preferred maize varieties that were early-maturing and drought-tolerant. In another study, Ribeiro et al (2017) reported that farmers in some districts of Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions of Ghana preferred maize varieties that were low soil nitrogen (low-N)-tolerant and drought-tolerant as well as disease-and pest-resistant. According to earlier reports, improving farmers' access to varieties that possess traits they prefer increases the rate of variety adoption (Heisey and Smale 1995) and diffusion through farmer-tofarmer exchange (Mulatu and Belete 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trait profile of maize varieties preferred by farmers and value chain actors in northern Ghana

Adu¹,

Badu‐Apraku

Akromah

et al. 2021

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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Plant breeders’ knowledge of precise traits preferred by variety users would accelerate varietal turnover and widen adoption of newly developed maize varieties in Ghana. The objective of this research was to provide empirical evidence of trait preferences of farmers and other actors in the maize value chain in northern Ghana, based on which research strategies for maize improvement could be formulated. Participatory rural appraisal was conducted in 2016 to determine key traits preferred by maize value chain actors across the three regions in northern Ghana. A total of 279 maize value chain actors were interviewed. Different scoring and ranking techniques were used to assess the maize traits preferred by the different actors. Participatory variety selection trials were also conducted in the Tolon, West Gonja, Binduri, and Sissala East districts in northern Ghana from 2014 to 2016. The mother-baby trial approach was used to evaluate eight hybrids with 3000 farmers. Data on yield and agronomic performance of the hybrids and farmer’s selection criteria were collected. Data analyses were performed using GenStat Edition 16 and SPSS Edition 20 statistical packages. The participatory rural appraisal method identified farmers, input dealers, traders, and processors as the primary maize value chain actors in the study areas. Trait preferences of the different actors overlapped and revolved around grain quality including nutritional value, and stress tolerance and grain yield. Results of the participatory variety selection study revealed that across districts, farmers preferred high-yielding varieties with multiple cobs per plant, white grain endosperm color, and bigger and fully filled cobs. For the first time, our holistic assessment of the trait preferences of key actors of the maize value chain in northern Ghana revealed a comprehensive list of traits, which could be used by breeders to develop varieties that may be preferred by all value chain actors in northern Ghana.

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Section: Trait Preferences Of Maize Value Chain Actors In the Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Trait profile of maize varieties preferred by farmers and value chain actors in northern Ghana

Adu¹,

Badu‐Apraku

Akromah

et al. 2021

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…More than 30 improved varieties of maize were developed and released in Ghana between 1942 and 2014 (Ribeiro et al, 2017). Despite the efforts made by agricultural extension personnel in helping to make these varieties available to farmers, maize productivity is still low (Ribeiro et al, 2017;Yeboah, 2013;Ragasa et al, 2014;.…”

Section: Issues Of Compliance With Production Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adoption and compliance with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research recommended maize production practices in Ashanti region, Ghana

Wongnaa

Bakang

Asiamah

et al. 2021

WJSTSD

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PurposeThere is a huge gap between actual and achievable yields of maize which threatens household food security in Ghana. Low adoption of improved maize production technologies coupled with poor compliance with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) recommended maize production practices is identified as the cause of low yields. This study assessed farmers' compliance with CSIR recommended production practices and its effects on yield.Design/methodology/approachUsing a structured questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey of 150 respondents were interviewed for the study. Descriptive statistics, awareness and compliance indices, probit model and Garret ranking technique were the methods of analysis employed in the study.FindingsThe results showed that farmers are highly aware, have adopted and hardly comply with standards of applications of CSIR recommended production practices. Farm size, age, educational level and female gender significantly influenced compliance with recommended production practices. Also, compliance with recommended production practices increase maize yield.Originality/valuePolicies aim at addressing yield gap in maize production should be targeted at improving farmers' level of compliance with production practices by addressing some constraints through farmer credit and subsidy programmes to help farmers increase their level of compliance. The fact that farmers have adopted recommended production practices does not necessarily mean they will have higher yields. The study generates important insights about how well farmers have been adhering to standards of adoption of recommended production practices.

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“…Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), version 20 and Excel, which are widely used packages for data summarising and statistical analysis (MacDonald & Headlam, 2008). Variables were described based on the descriptive statistics namely frequency counts, percentages and graphs, an approach also employed by Ribeiro (2017). …”

Section: Data Collection Methods Sampling and Data Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Smallholder Farmer Innovation and Contexts in Maize-Based Conservation Agriculture Systems in Central Malawi

Kaluzi¹,

Thierfelder²,

Hopkins³

2017

SAR

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The increased threat of food insecurity and climate change requires more sustainable ways of agriculture intensification in African smallholder farming systems. Ample evidence confirms that maize-based conservation agriculture (CA) systems lead to increased soil health and yield enhancement yet their overall uptake remains low in Africa. An array of studies on challenges and solutions to CA systems conducted in southern Africa principally focussed on the views of scientists, often neglecting the views of CA farmers. Therefore, this study assessed farmer decision making, innovation and contexts during implementation of maize-based CA systems in communities of central Malawi. A survey involving interviews with 226 CA farmers was deployed, triangulated with key informants comprising extension workers and policy makers. The study showed that about 58% of smallholder farmers did not adapt CA practices to their circumstances because they were strictly following change agents" recommendations. The major challenge noted was competition for crop residues due to mice hunters and grazing livestock. Local by-laws initiated by the communities have started to privatise the crop residues and its grazing. However, other innovations were often not documented by extension workers, consequently neglecting more than half of the potential solutions provided by farmers. The establishments of a National Conservation Agriculture Task Force and CA guidelines are positive developments for coordination of stakeholders and harmonisation of CA messages in Malawi. However, for greater adoption, non-linear interaction and learning must be encouraged in practice by fully embracing innovative farmers and the voices of the pool of stakeholders with varying experiences.

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Farmers Perception of Low Soil Fertility and Hybrid Maize and the Implications in Plant Breeding

Abstract: In spite of efforts by national and international scientists to improve crop productivity, varieties of crops grown in Africa have low productivity.

Cited by 4 publications

References 4 publications

Trait profile of maize varieties preferred by farmers and value chain actors in northern Ghana

Trait profile of maize varieties preferred by farmers and value chain actors in northern Ghana

Adoption and compliance with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research recommended maize production practices in Ashanti region, Ghana

Smallholder Farmer Innovation and Contexts in Maize-Based Conservation Agriculture Systems in Central Malawi

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