Comparing and integrating farmers' and breeders' evaluations of maize varieties in East Africa

While Kenyan farmers still grow many traditional maiz e varieties, they increasingly face soil, pest and environmental constraints to crop productivity

Reducing child undernutrition through dietary diversification, reduced aflatoxin exposure, and improved hygiene practices: the immediate impacts in central Tanzania

Open Access Article; Published online: 28 Nov 2019The study aimed to quantify the immediate effects of dietary diversification, food safety, and hygiene interventions on child undernutrition in four rural villages in Kongwa district of central Tanzania. One hundred mothers with their children of less than 24 months old were recruited for this study. The difference-in-difference (DID) method was used to assess the effects of intensive intervention through a learning-by-doing process on the topic of aflatoxin free diversified food utilization and improved hygiene practices. Periodic anthropometric measurements were conducted on the 0th, 7th, 14th, and 21st days, and DID estimator showed the significant and positive average marginal effects of the intervention on Z-Scores being 0.459, 0.252, and 0.493 for wasting, stunting, and underweight, respectively. Notably, at the end of the study, the mean aflatoxin M1 level in urine samples decreased by 64% in the intervention group, while it decreased by 11% in the control group. The study provides quantitative evidence on intensive 21-day training for mothers incorporating integrated technologies yielded positive impacts on their children’s nutritional outcomes

Genetic enhancement of pigeonpea for high latitude areas in southern Africa

Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is becoming increasingly important in small-holder farming systems in southern Africa. Abiotic factors such as sensitivity to photoperiod and terminal drought frequently reduce yields in the region. Sensitivity to photoperiod results in delayed flowering and maturity which in turn leads to increased susceptibility to terminal drought stress, low winter temperatures, frost as well as interference from free-ranging domestic livestock. The objective of this study was to develop enhanced early maturing pigeonpea types that are suitable for production in the cropping systems prevalent in southern Africa. Segregating populations (through F9) were developed from crossing combinations between five parental genotypes possessing marked differences in the genetic control of period to flowering and maturity as well as good agronomic and end-use characters.Using morphological markers and agronomic performance indicators, six elite cultivars with enhanced duration to flowering (97 d), maturity (161 d) and high yield potential (3.0 t/ha) were identified following field evaluation for two consecutive seasons at a representative testing location in the prospective production region. The seed of this elite germplasm was disseminated to growers in order to facilitate adoption and to increase the flexibility of pigeonpea production in the region

Assessing the Competitiveness of Groundnut Production in Malawi: A Policy Analysis Matrix Approach

Groundnut is an important component of the national food supply. It does not only have nutritional and dietary value, groundnut also provides cash to farmers; enrich the soil with nitrogen through biological nitrogen fixation; and its haulms can be used as fodder and fuel. Groundnut production has not kept up with the demands both local and export markets especially in terms of volumes over time. This has been in part due to low average yields resulting from continuous use of unimproved seed. In turn Malawi’s groundnut exports have also generally dwindled over time. The analysis of Malawian groundnut production using the Policy Analysis Matrix methodology shows that both traditional and improved technology groundnut production are both privately and socially profitable. This leads to the conclusion that protectionist policies that would raise domestic groundnut prices above the import parity prices determined in world markets are unnecessary

Assessing Occurrence and Distribution of Aflatoxins in Malawi

Malawi is a land-locked country in southern Africa with a total land area of 118,485 square kilometers (11.78 million hectares, of which 34% is arable). Agriculture contributes over 35% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimated at about $200 per capita. The majority of Malawi’s 13 million persons are smallholder farmers and Malawi is still classified as one of the poorest countries in SSA (Action Aid International, 2006). Infant mortality in 2002 was 113 per 1,000 persons (globalis.gvu.unu.edu/indicator_detail.cfm?IndicatorID=25) compared with an average of 92 for SSA. The country relies heavily on rain-fed agriculture increasing threats in the event of variations in rainfall as well as commodity price shocks. Between 1970 and 2006, Malawi experienced 40 weather-related disasters, many leading to famines affecting the most parts of the country (Action Aid International, 2006). Average life expectancy, standing at 37 years at birth, is declining due to the impact of HIV/AIDS, which in 1999 affected 16 percent of the adult population and 31 percent of women in ante-natal care (Clay et al., 2003). Close to one million adults and children in Malawi are living with HIV/AIDS, with women representing 56.8% of HIV positive adults (15 – 49yrs), one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the World (UNAIDS, 2004)

Chlorophyll Meter Assessments of Corn Response to Nitrogen Management Practices

Environmentally sound nitrogen (N) management is necessary to simultaneously achieve high crop yields and protect surface and groundwater quality. We evaluated a hand-held chlorophyll meter as a diagnostic tool for improving management for corn (Zea mays L.). Five N fertilizer rates (0, 67, 134, 201 and 280 kg N ha-1) were evaluated in one study, and in a second study, the meter was used to evaluate the N status of corn plants grown under varying tillage (chisel plow vs no-till), crop rotation (continuous corn vs corn-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]), and N management treatments. Meter readings were taken at several plant growth stages in both studies and correlated with plant N concentrations and grain yield. The chlorophyll meter readings detected differences in corn plants receiving low and high fertilizer N rates, as well as those grown with different tillage, N fertilizer management, and crop rotation practices. We recommend taking measurements between plant growth stages V9 and V12 and conclude that chlorophyll meters can be effective tools for improving N fertilizer management

Changing Perception through a Participatory Approach by Involving Adolescent School Children in Evaluating Smart Food Dishes in School Feeding Programs – Real-Time Experience from Central and Northern Tanzania

The study aimed to test the prospects for, and acceptance of, pigeonpea and finger millet-based dishes in a school feeding program for 2822 adolescents’ in Central Tanzania. The focus was on incorporating nutritious and resilient crops like finger millet and pigeonpea through a participatory approach involving series of theoretical and practical training sessions, for the period of 6 months on the nutritional quality and sensory characteristics of these two unexplored foods in Tanzania. Sharing knowledge on the nutritional value of these crops and involving students in the acceptance study changed their negative perception of finger millet and pigeonpea by 79.5% and 70.3%, respectively. Fifteen months after the study period, schools were still continued feeding the dishes and more than 95% of the students wanted to eat the finger millet and pigeonpea dishes at school. Around 84.2% of the students wanted to include pigeonpea 2–7 times a week and 79.6% of the students wanted to include finger millet on all 7 days in school meal. The study proved that it is possible to change food perceptions and bring about behavior change by sharing knowledge on their benefits and by engaging the consumers through a participatory and culturally appropriate approach

Making seed of improved groundnut varieties more accessible to smallholder farmers: Lessons and alternative approaches in Malawi

This paper details the seed supply experiences of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Malawi. ICRISAT has developed about five high yielding, marketpreferred and well-adapted improved groundnut varieties in Malawi, but no seed companies have shown any interest in producing and marketing of seed of these varieties due to low profit margins. ICRISAT, under Irish Aid funded Malawi Seed Industry Development (MSID) project initiated two seed production and distribution models in Malawi. First, certified seed of five improved groundnut varieties was produced by use of contracted farmers of NASFAM under a “buy back” scheme facilitated by ICRISAT. At the same time, the project also facilitated certified seed production by some seed companies for marketing through available agro-dealer networks. Much of the seed from this model was channeled through the agro-dealer networks under the Government’s Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP). In three years, from 2010−2012, about 400 t of certified seed of the most preferred improved variety, CG7, was produced and distributed each year to resource-poor households in Malawi. In remote areas with poor road infrastructure, a second model of seed banks was initiated to deliver seed of improved groundnut varieties to farmers. These two seed delivery channels enhanced adoption of CG7 from 20% to about 90%. Although the MSID project established formal and informal seed production structures in Malawi, the success of the seed delivery model was mainly attributed to FISP that was able to overcome the inaccessibility constraints of seed unavailability and unaffordability. One of the main lessons learnt is that a suitable seed delivery model is location specific, and is best determined by undertaking a situational analysis to determine the constraints. Further, a public-private sector partnership, even under FISP, is important for the success of any seed delivery model in use. Continuous funding of breeder’s seed production remains critical for the success of both CSP and certified seed production models

Improved Legume Seed Demand Systems in Central Malawi: What Do Farmers’ Seed Expenditures Say About Their Preferences ?

The overall objective of this paper is to assess the demand for improved groundnut, bean, and soybean seed in central Malawi. Specifically, it examines how smallholder farmers respond to changes in market prices of improved legume seed. It also assesses factors that affect the decision to participate in improved seed technology transfer. Considering four commodities namely groundnuts, beans, soybeans and maize, a staple food, the paper estimates a multivariate probit and a linear approximate of the Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIDS) using cross section data collected by ICRISAT in 2010. Uncompensated price and expenditure elasticities are reported for the LA/AIDS model. The paper finds high own price elasticities in all four commodities considered. It also indicates that land, household size and education levels affect participation in improved technology. Cross elasticities varied across the commodities considered. As pertain expenditure elasticities, farmers would increase expenditure on improved groundnut and beans if their incomes increased. The results also reveal that if farmers’ incomes increase they would reduce soybean’s expenditure share. The results generally show that farmers are very sensitive to changes in improved legume seed prices and incomes