Poor maize productivity in Zimbabwe: Can collusion in pricing by seed houses be the cause?

Chiduza, C.; Chikasha, Tinei; Manyeruke, Ngonidzaishe; Mathema, Ndabanye; Musara, Joseph P.; Dlamini, Dumisa; Mapuranga, Rangarirai; Mapanje, Olga; Banda, Annabel; Parwada, Cosmas

doi:10.1080/23311932.2019.1682230

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Furthermore, despite decades of agricultural policies that promoted the adoption of hybrid and OPV seed technologies in Malawi, the Seed Act seems to recognize the formal seed system over the farmer's seed systems and yet farmers' seed systems will continue to be the most important source of seeds for the majority of smallholder farmers [63]. Yet, common to seed systems of many countries in the region is price collusion among seed suppliers such that seed prices are high and unaffordable to smallholder farmers [64]. Based on this, there is need for the intervention of government and policymakers in regulating input prices and introduction of subsidy programs that improve access to maize hybrid seed and legume by smallholder farmers [65].…”

Section: Implications Of Study Findings and Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the interactions of genotype with environment and management (G×E×M) to maize productivity in Conservation Agriculture systems of Malawi

Mhlanga,

Gama,

Museka

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Climatic variability and soil fertility decline present a fundamental challenge for smallholder farmers to determine the optimum management practices in the production of maize. Optimizing genotype (G) and management (M) of maize under different environmental conditions (E) and their interactions are essential for enhancing maize productivity in the smallholder sector of Malawi where maize is the main staple food. Here, we evaluated over seven seasons, the performance of four commercial maize genotypes [including hybrids and one open pollinated variety (OPV)] managed under different Conservation Agriculture (CA) and conventional practices (CP) across on-farm communities of central and southern Malawi. Our results revealed significant G×E and E×M interactions and showed that hybrids such as DKC 80–53 and PAN 53 outyielded the other hybrid and the OPV in most of the environments while the OPV ZM523 had greater yields in environments with above-average rainfall and shorter in-season dry spells. These environments received a maximum of 1250 mm to 1500 mm of rainfall and yet the long-term averages were 855 mm and 1248 mm, respectively. Despite yielding lower, the OPV ZM523 also exhibited higher yield stability across environments compared to the hybrid MH 30, possibly due to its resilience to drought, heat stress, and low soil fertility conditions which are often prevalent in the target communities. Conservation Agriculture-based practices outyielded CP across the genotypes and environments. However, amongst the CA-based systems, intercropping of maize with pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.) performed less than monocropping maize and then rotating it with a legume probably due to competition for moisture between the main and the companion crops in the intercrop. The key findings of this study suggest the need to optimize varietal and management options for particular environments to maximize maize productivity in Malawi. This means that smallholder farmers in Malawi should adopt hybrids and CA-based systems for enhanced yields but could also consider OPVs where the climate is highly variable. Further rigorous analysis that includes more abiotic stress factors is recommended for a better understanding of yield response.

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Section: Implications Of Study Findings and Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the interactions of genotype with environment and management (G×E×M) to maize productivity in Conservation Agriculture systems of Malawi

Mhlanga,

Gama,

Museka

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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“…It is an important crop alongside rice and wheat, serving as a staple for many households (Shiferaw et al, 2011). In Zimbabwe, maize cultivation is widespread, even in areas with low agricultural potential, re ecting its importance as a subsistence and cash crop (Tibugari et al, 2019). The multifaceted uses of maize, including its use as food and feed, as well as its industrial uses, underscore its signi cance in both local and global contexts (Karl, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing Food Security in a Changing Climate: Evaluating Yield Performance and Trait Correlations of Experimental Double Cross Maize Hybrids in Zimbabwe

Maziriri,

Mutimaamba,

Marowa

2024

Preprint

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Maize (Zea mays L.) is a cornerstone crop for global food security, yet smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe face formidable challenges due to climate change impacts and the prohibitive costs of maize seeds. This study assessed the grain yield and yield components of experimental double cross maize hybrids (DCH) derived from diverse heterotic combinations, while also exploring correlations between yield and its components. The field experiment which was conducted at Tocek Investments research field in Harare, Zimbabwe comprised of 156 treatments which were laid in an Alpha (0.1) lattice design with two replications. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed across various traits. ENT 156 (a single cross commercial check) recorded the highest yield of 16.21 t/ha. This yield was however not significantly different from the yield recorded in ENT 142, ENT 41, ENT 32, and ENT 63. These 4 were all DCH hybrids with yields of 15.1 t/ha, 15 t/ha, 15 t/ha and 14.5 t/ha respectively. Additionally, ENT 63 (DCH) exhibited the highest number of kernels per row (NKR) at 42, while ENT 32 (DCH) recorded the highest number of kernel rows per cob (NKRC) at 15.5. However, no significant differences were detected for the number of ears per plant (NEP) among genotypes. Positive and significant genotypic correlation of grain yield with CL, NKRC, NKR, AD and SD serve as reliable indicators and selecting for them in double cross maize hybrid populations may lead to a substantial improved grain yield. It revealed that such traits strongly influenced grain yield. The genotypic correlation coefficients exhibited greater magnitudes for the majority of the traits in relation to grain yield than the phenotypic correlation coefficients. These findings underscore the potential of high-yielding DCH hybrids in addressing food insecurity among smallholder farmers. It is recommended that further validation of these hybrids under actual farming conditions be conducted to verify their performance and guide adoption strategies, thus offering a promising pathway towards enhanced agricultural resilience in the face of climate change.

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“…Maize ( Zea mays ) is the staple food in the Southern African region, and 90% of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe grow maize under rain-fed conditions across ecological regions ( Tibugari et al., 2019 ). Despite widespread cultivation of maize by smallholder farmers, yields are low, averaging 1.5 Mg ha −1 , which is far below the 8 Mg ha −1 average yields obtained by commercial farmers ( Rugare, 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term impacts of soil nutrient management on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity and weed dynamics along a toposequence in Eastern Zimbabwe

Chipomho

Rugare

Mabasa

et al. 2020

Heliyon

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Poor soil fertility and weed infestation are among major constraints to maize production in southern Africa. Nutrient and weed management strategies that are products of empirical research, are needed to improve efficiencies on farms. A field experiment was carried out in Eastern Zimbabwe on three smallholder farms positioned on upper, middle and lower catena. The farms differed in soil organic carbon (SOC) content, 3.9, 6.4 and 8.9 g kg À1 (hereafter referred to as low, medium and high), respectively, and are located within one km distance. The objective of the study was to investigate short-term (6 years) repeated application of soil nutrient amendments on maize productivity and weed dynamics across a soil fertility gradient. Treatments included strategic combinations of NPK fertiliser, cattle manure, and lime. On each farm, a randomised complete block design with three replicates was used. Multivariate, Principal Component Analysis, was used to establish the relationship between season, SOC content, nutrient management, and weed density. Maize yield was strongly linked to SOC content, with six-year mean maize grain yields of 1.31, 2.47, and 2.75 Mg ha À1 for low, medium, and high SOC content, respectively. Maize grain yields with cattle manure (CM) or NPK application were only 0.25 and 0.60 Mg ha À1 , respectively for the poorest SOC content field. However, when manure was combined with NPK fertiliser, yields at the site substantially increased to 1.5 Mg ha À1 while in medium and high SOC recorded 2.47 and 2.75 Mg ha À1 respectively. Weed density, and biomass were larger in the medium, and high SOC content. Richardia scabra, Melinis repens, and Cyperus sp. were associated with low SOC. Luecus martinicensis, Bidens pilosa, and Galinsoga parviflora were linked to medium and high SOC content. Results from this study suggest site-specific weed management approach. On soils critically poor in SOC content, maize yield gains are only achieved when organic and mineral fertilisers are combined. Our results also suggest that farmers must increase vigilance and intensity of weed management in soils with medium and high SOC content, particularly after application of CM.

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Poor maize productivity in Zimbabwe: Can collusion in pricing by seed houses be the cause?

Cited by 8 publications

References 6 publications

Understanding the interactions of genotype with environment and management (G×E×M) to maize productivity in Conservation Agriculture systems of Malawi

Understanding the interactions of genotype with environment and management (G×E×M) to maize productivity in Conservation Agriculture systems of Malawi

Enhancing Food Security in a Changing Climate: Evaluating Yield Performance and Trait Correlations of Experimental Double Cross Maize Hybrids in Zimbabwe

Short-term impacts of soil nutrient management on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity and weed dynamics along a toposequence in Eastern Zimbabwe

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