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Gartaula HN, Gebremariam G, Jaleta M. Gender, rainfall endowment, and farmers' heterogeneity in wheat trait preferences in Ethiopia. Food Policy 2024; 122:102584. [PMID: 38314438 PMCID: PMC10830438 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2023.102584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Wheat is a vital cereal crop for smallholders in Ethiopia. Despite over fifty years of research on wheat varietal development, consideration of gendered trait preferences in developing target product profiles for wheat breeding is limited. To address this gap, our study used sex-disaggregated survey data and historical rainfall trends from the major wheat-growing regions in Ethiopia. The findings indicated heterogeneity in trait preferences based on gender and rainfall endowment. Men respondents tended to prefer wheat traits with high straw yield and disease-resistance potential, while women showed a greater appreciation for wheat traits related to good taste and cooking quality. Farmers in high rainfall areas seemed to prioritize high straw yield and disease resistance traits, while those in low rainfall areas valued good adaptation traits more highly. Most of the correlation coefficients among the preferred traits were positive, indicating that farmers seek wheat varieties with traits that serve multiple purposes. Understanding men's and women's preferences and incorporating them in breeding and seed systems could contribute to the development of more targeted and effective wheat varieties that meet the diverse needs of men and women farmers in Ethiopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hom N. Gartaula
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), New Delhi, India
| | | | - Moti Jaleta
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Oumer AM, Diro S, Taye G, Mamo T, Jaleta M. Agricultural lime value chain efficiency for reducing soil acidity in Ethiopia. Soil Secur 2023; 11:None. [PMID: 37435407 PMCID: PMC10332288 DOI: 10.1016/j.soisec.2023.100092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Soil acidity is challenging agricultural production in Ethiopia. Above 43% of the farmland is under soil acidity problem and it leads to low crop yields and production losses. Ag-lime is widely considered as an effective remedy for amending soil acidity. This study assesses the current structure of ag-lime value chain and its functionality focusing on central parts of Ethiopia where lime is produced and channeled to acidity affected areas. The study uses Ethiopia as a case study and applies qualitative methods such as key informant interviews and focus group discussions to collect data from different actors in the ag-lime value chain. Key findings indicate that both public and private ag-lime producing factories are operating below their capacity. Due to limited enabling environments, the engagement of private sector in ag-lime value chain is minimal. In addition, farmers have a good awareness of soil acidity problem on their farms, and its causes and mitigation strategies in all regions. However, the adoption of ag-lime by smallholders was minimal. Overall, the current structure of the ag-lime value chain appears fragmented and needs improvement. Addressing soil acidity challenge through efficient ag-lime value chain could narrow lime supply-demand mismatches and increase widespread adoption by farmers to enhance crop productivity and food security in acidity-prone areas of the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali M. Oumer
- Holetta Agricultural Research Centre (HARC), Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Rue Hedi Karray, CP 2049, Ariana, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Samuel Diro
- Holetta Agricultural Research Centre (HARC), Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Geremew Taye
- Holetta Agricultural Research Centre (HARC), Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tadele Mamo
- Holetta Agricultural Research Centre (HARC), Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Moti Jaleta
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Silva JV, Jaleta M, Tesfaye K, Abeyo B, Devkota M, Frija A, Habarurema I, Tembo B, Bahri H, Mosad A, Blasch G, Sonder K, Snapp S, Baudron F. Pathways to wheat self-sufficiency in Africa. Global Food Security 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
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Hodson DP, Jaleta M, Tesfaye K, Yirga C, Beyene H, Kilian A, Carling J, Disasa T, Alemu SK, Daba T, Misganaw A, Negisho K, Alemayehu Y, Badebo A, Abeyo B, Erenstein O. Author Correction: Ethiopia's transforming wheat landscape: tracking variety use through DNA fingerprinting. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2617. [PMID: 36788260 PMCID: PMC9929056 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29767-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- D. P. Hodson
- grid.433436.50000 0001 2289 885XInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - M. Jaleta
- grid.512343.2International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - K. Tesfaye
- grid.512343.2International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - C. Yirga
- grid.463251.70000 0001 2195 6683Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - H. Beyene
- Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency (CSA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - A. Kilian
- Diversity Array Technologies (DArT), Canberra, Australia
| | - J. Carling
- Diversity Array Technologies (DArT), Canberra, Australia
| | - T. Disasa
- grid.463251.70000 0001 2195 6683Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Holeta, Ethiopia
| | - S. K. Alemu
- grid.463251.70000 0001 2195 6683Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Holeta, Ethiopia
| | - T. Daba
- grid.463251.70000 0001 2195 6683Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - A. Misganaw
- grid.463251.70000 0001 2195 6683Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Holeta, Ethiopia
| | - K. Negisho
- grid.463251.70000 0001 2195 6683Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Holeta, Ethiopia
| | - Y. Alemayehu
- grid.512343.2International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - A. Badebo
- grid.512343.2International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - B. Abeyo
- grid.512343.2International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - O. Erenstein
- grid.433436.50000 0001 2289 885XInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico City, Mexico
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Jaleta M, Euler M, Gartaula H, Krishna V. Gender differences in smallholders' socioeconomic networks and acquisition of seed of improved wheat varieties in Ethiopia. Front Sustain Food Syst 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.1080401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhancing farmers' access to improved seeds is essential to increase productivity and ensure food security in the Global South. However, for many socially marginalized groups, seed access is constrained by the weak institutions governing the input supply chains and the dissemination of information. Using cross-sectional survey data collected from 1,088 farming households in three major wheat-growing regional states of Ethiopia in 2021, this paper assesses empirically how participation in different socioeconomic institutions by men and women farmers shapes their access to and acquisition of seed of improved wheat varieties. The results show that the seed market in the study area is largely informal, where the recycling of wheat seeds from the previous season is a common practice among both male- and female-headed households. However, a significant difference exists between male- and female-headed households regarding patterns of varietal use, with male farmers growing newer wheat varieties more frequently. Men are also more active than women in local social and economic institutions, and their participation is positively associated with the adoption of new wheat varieties. Thus, strengthening the local social and economic institutions and supporting equitable participation of both male- and female-headed households in these institutions could facilitate the diffusion of quality seeds of improved and recently released wheat varieties in countries where the informal seed system plays a major role in seed acquisition.
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Marenya P, Wanyama R, Alemu S, Westengen O, Jaleta M. Maize variety preferences among smallholder farmers in Ethiopia: Implications for demand-led breeding and seed sector development. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274262. [PMID: 36174004 PMCID: PMC9522265 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Among smallholder maize farmers in Ethiopia (and similar areas in Africa), yield and stress tolerance traits in maize varieties are important. While high yields remain a major objective, breeding and seed system development programs are increasingly based on the recognition that farmers also have an interest in other agronomic and consumption traits. In this paper we illustrate these issues by measuring the trade-offs farmers may be willing to make for specific traits in the mid-altitude maize markets in Ethiopia. Based on Choice Experiments among 1499 respondents, we estimate the preference for a set of agronomic and consumption traits relative to yield. by capturing farmers’ “willingness to sacrifice yield”. The results suggest a significant willingness to sacrifice yield for drought tolerance among both male and female household members, but not for early maturity per se. There was also a high willingness to sacrifice yields for plant architecture traits like closed tip and lodging resistance among male participants, but not among females. Heterogeneity in responses according to gender, education and land area under maize cultivation suggests that market segmentation is necessary for seed system development to become more demand-led and inclusive. Final and realistic segmentation will depend on the commercial viability or social impact potential of each segment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paswel Marenya
- Sustainable Agrifood Systems Program, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya
- * E-mail:
| | - Rosina Wanyama
- Enabling Impact Flagship, World Vegetable Center, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Solomon Alemu
- Standing Panel on Impact Assessment, CIAT-Bioversity Alliance, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ola Westengen
- Faculty of Landscape and Society, Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, Ås, Norway
| | - Moti Jaleta
- Sustainable Agrifood Systems Program, CIMMYT, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Bentley AR, Donovan J, Sonder K, Baudron F, Lewis JM, Voss R, Rutsaert P, Poole N, Kamoun S, Saunders DGO, Hodson D, Hughes DP, Negra C, Ibba MI, Snapp S, Sida TS, Jaleta M, Tesfaye K, Becker-Reshef I, Govaerts B. Near- to long-term measures to stabilize global wheat supplies and food security. Nat Food 2022; 3:483-486. [PMID: 37117944 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00559-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alison R Bentley
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico.
| | - Jason Donovan
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
| | - Kai Sonder
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
| | - Frédéric Baudron
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Harare, Zimbabwe
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Janet M Lewis
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
| | - Rachel Voss
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Pieter Rutsaert
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | | | - David Hodson
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
| | - David P Hughes
- Current and Emerging Threats to Crops Innovation Lab, The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | | | - Maria Itria Ibba
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
| | - Sieglinde Snapp
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
| | | | - Moti Jaleta
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kindie Tesfaye
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Inbal Becker-Reshef
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Bram Govaerts
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
- Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Abstract
AbstractSince its domestication some 9,000 years ago, maize (Zea mays L.; corn) has played an increasing and diverse role in global agri-food systems. Global maize production has surged in the past few decades, propelled by rising demand and a combination of technological advances, yield increases and area expansion. Maize is already the leading cereal in terms of production volume and is set to become the most widely grown and traded crop in the coming decade. It is a versatile multi-purpose crop, primarily used as a feed globally, but also is important as a food crop, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, besides other non-food uses. This paper reviews maize production, consumption, and international trade to examine the changing trends in global supply and demand conditions over the past quarter century and the implications for research and development (R&D), particularly in the Global South. The inclusiveness and sustainability of the ongoing transformation of agri-food systems in the Global South merit particular attention. There is a need for further investments in R&D, particularly to enhance maize’s food and livelihood security roles and to sustainably intensify maize production while staying within the planetary boundaries.
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Meyer M, Bacha N, Tesfaye T, Alemayehu Y, Abera E, Hundie B, Woldeab G, Girma B, Gemechu A, Negash T, Mideksa T, Smith J, Jaleta M, Hodson D, Gilligan CA. Wheat rust epidemics damage Ethiopian wheat production: A decade of field disease surveillance reveals national-scale trends in past outbreaks. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245697. [PMID: 33534869 PMCID: PMC7857641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wheat rusts are the key biological constraint to wheat production in Ethiopia-one of Africa's largest wheat producing countries. The fungal diseases cause economic losses and threaten livelihoods of smallholder farmers. While it is known that wheat rust epidemics have occurred in Ethiopia, to date no systematic long-term analysis of past outbreaks has been available. We present results from one of the most comprehensive surveillance campaigns of wheat rusts in Africa. More than 13,000 fields have been surveyed during the last 13 years. Using a combination of spatial data-analysis and visualization, statistical tools, and empirical modelling, we identify trends in the distribution of wheat stem rust (Sr), stripe rust (Yr) and leaf rust (Lr). Results show very high infection levels (mean incidence for Yr: 44%; Sr: 34%; Lr: 18%). These recurrent rust outbreaks lead to substantial economic losses, which we estimate to be of the order of 10s of millions of US-D annually. On the widely adopted wheat variety, Digalu, there is a marked increase in disease prevalence following the incursion of new rust races into Ethiopia, which indicates a pronounced boom-and-bust cycle of major gene resistance. Using spatial analyses, we identify hotspots of disease risk for all three rusts, show a linear correlation between altitude and disease prevalence, and find a pronounced north-south trend in stem rust prevalence. Temporal analyses show a sigmoidal increase in disease levels during the wheat season and strong inter-annual variations. While a simple logistic curve performs satisfactorily in predicting stem rust in some years, it cannot account for the complex outbreak patterns in other years and fails to predict the occurrence of stripe and leaf rust. The empirical insights into wheat rust epidemiology in Ethiopia presented here provide a basis for improving future surveillance and to inform the development of mechanistic models to predict disease spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Meyer
- Visual Data Analysis, Center For Earth System Research and Sustainability, Regional Computing Center, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Epidemiology and Modelling Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (MM); (DH); (CAG)
| | - N. Bacha
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - T. Tesfaye
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Y. Alemayehu
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - E. Abera
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Dept. of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - B. Hundie
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - G. Woldeab
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - B. Girma
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - A. Gemechu
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - T. Negash
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - T. Mideksa
- Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Sinana, Ethiopia
| | - J. Smith
- Epidemiology and Modelling Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - M. Jaleta
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - D. Hodson
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
- * E-mail: (MM); (DH); (CAG)
| | - C. A. Gilligan
- Epidemiology and Modelling Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (MM); (DH); (CAG)
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Osanya J, Adam RI, Otieno DJ, Nyikal R, Jaleta M. An analysis of the respective contributions of husband and wife in farming households in Kenya to decisions regarding the use of income: A multinomial logit approach. Women's Studies International Forum 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wsif.2020.102419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Jaleta M, Tesfaye K, Kilian A, Yirga C, Habte E, Beyene H, Abeyo B, Badebo A, Erenstein O. Misidentification by farmers of the crop varieties they grow: Lessons from DNA fingerprinting of wheat in Ethiopia. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235484. [PMID: 32634144 PMCID: PMC7340313 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate identification of crop varieties grown by farmers is crucial, among others, for crop management, food security and varietal development and dissemination purposes. One may expect varietal identification to be more challenging in the context of developing countries where literacy and education are limited and informal seed systems and seed recycling are common. This paper evaluates the extent to which smallholder farmers misidentify their wheat varieties in Ethiopia and explores the associated factors and their implications. The study uses data from a nationally representative wheat growing sample household survey and DNA fingerprinting of seed samples from 3,884 wheat plots in major wheat growing zones of Ethiopia. 28-34% of the farmers correctly identified their wheat varieties. Correct identification was positively associated with farmer education and seed purchases from trusted sources (cooperatives or known farmers) and negatively associated with seed recycling. Farmers' varietal identification thereby is problematic and leads to erroneous results in adoption and impact assessments. DNA fingerprinting can enhance varietal identification but remains mute in the identification of contextual and explanatory factors. Thus, combining household survey and DNA fingerprinting approaches is needed for reliable varietal adoption and impact assessments, and generate useful knowledge to inform policy recommendations related to varietal replacement and seed systems development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moti Jaleta
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kindie Tesfaye
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Chilot Yirga
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Endeshaw Habte
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Bekele Abeyo
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ayele Badebo
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Olaf Erenstein
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
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Zeng D, Alwang J, Norton G, Jaleta M, Shiferaw B, Yirga C. Land ownership and technology adoption revisited: Improved maize varieties in Ethiopia. Land use policy 2018; 72:270-279. [PMID: 29503492 PMCID: PMC5810309 DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.12.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The lack of land ownership can discourage agricultural technology adoption, yet there is scarce evidence of the impact of land rental contracts on the adoption of improved crop varieties in developing countries. The current study investigates such impact using a nationally representative survey of Ethiopian maize farmers. In contrast to many previous studies, we show in a simple model that cash-renters are as likely to adopt improved maize varieties as owner-operators, while sharecroppers are more likely to adopt given that such varieties are profitable. Empirical analysis reveals a significant impact of sharecropping on improved maize variety adoption, and no significant impact from cash-rental, lending support to the above hypotheses. These results imply that improvements in land rental markets can potentially enhance household welfare through crop variety adoption in agrarian economies where land sales markets are incomplete or missing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zeng
- Centre for Global Food and Resources, 6.24 Nexus 10, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Jeffrey Alwang
- Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 215I Hutcheson Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
| | - George Norton
- Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 205B Hutcheson Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
| | - Moti Jaleta
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Bekele Shiferaw
- World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433, United States
| | - Chilot Yirga
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Tesfaye K, Jaleta M, Jena P, Mutenje M. Identifying potential recommendation domains for conservation agriculture in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Malawi. Environ Manage 2015; 55:330-346. [PMID: 25331642 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-014-0386-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/11/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Conservation agriculture (CA) is being promoted as an option for reducing soil degradation, conserving water, enhancing crop productivity, and maintaining yield stability. However, CA is a knowledge- and technology-intensive practice, and may not be feasible or may not perform better than conventional agriculture under all conditions and farming systems. Using high resolution (≈1 km(2)) biophysical and socioeconomic geospatial data, this study identified potential recommendation domains (RDs) for CA in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Malawi. The biophysical variables used were soil texture, surface slope, and rainfall while the socioeconomic variables were market access and human and livestock population densities. Based on feasibility and comparative performance of CA over conventional agriculture, the biophysical and socioeconomic factors were first used to classify cultivated areas into three biophysical and three socioeconomic potential domains, respectively. Combinations of biophysical and socioeconomic domains were then used to develop potential RDs for CA based on adoption potential within the cultivated areas. About 39, 12, and 5% of the cultivated areas showed high biophysical and socioeconomic potential while 50, 39, and 21% of the cultivated areas showed high biophysical and medium socioeconomic potential for CA in Malawi, Kenya, and Ethiopia, respectively. The results indicate considerable acreages of land with high CA adoption potential in the mixed crop-livestock systems of the studied countries. However, there are large differences among countries depending on biophysical and socio-economic conditions. The information generated in this study could be used for targeting CA and prioritizing CA-related agricultural research and investment priorities in the three countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kindie Tesfaye
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
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