Adoption of maize production technologies in Western Tanzania
Kaliba, A.R.M.
Adoption of maize production technologies in Western Tanzania - Mexico, DF (Mexico) : CIMMYT *The United Republic of Tanzania *SACCAR, 1998 - 40 pages - Printed|Computer File
This study of the adoption of maize production technologies in Western Tanzania forms part of a larger study to evaluate the impact of maize research and extension throughout Tanzania over the past 20 years. Using a structured questionnaire, researchers and extension officers interviewed farmers in June-November 1995. Survey data were grouped by agroecological zone into the high rainfall zone and low rainfall zone. A two-stage least squares procedure was used to analyze factors affecting farmers' allocation of land to improved maize varieties and use of inorganic fertilizer across zones. The analysis showed that extension, short-maturing varieties, and rainfall were significant factors affecting the proportion of land allocated to improved maize. Extension increased the probability of allocating land at the means by about 30%. Short-maturing maize varieties increased the probability of allocating land at the means by about 24%. Farmers in the high rainfall zone are 14% less likely to allocate land to improved maize. An increase in the wealth index by one unit increased the probability of using fertilizer by 13%. Research should give priority to developing or screening varieties that yield well and tolerate drought stress and field pests, especially stalk borers. Flexible integrated management packages that combine a drought-tolerant variety with improved cultural practices such as timely planting and weeding can increase yields. More research should be directed to strategies for improving soil fertility and soil conservation, because the use of chemical fertilizer is likely to remain low in the foreseeable future. Extension should direct more effort toward appropriate soil fertility recommendations. An efficient marketing system for inputs and outputs will benefit farmers by paying higher practices for maize and reducing the cost of fertilizer. Studies on the economics of seed and fertilizer use should also be undertaken , especially now that input and output markets have been liberalized. In collaboration with the government and other stakeholders, the formal credit system needs to address the credit problems faced by small-scale farmers.
English
970-648-016-1
Credit policies
Crop management
Cropping patterns
Cropping systems
Cultivation
Demography
Development policies
Diffusion of research
Disease control
Drought resistance
Economic analysis
Economic viability
Environments
Extension activities
Fertilizer application
Harvesting
Highlands
Innovation adoption
Inorganic fertilizers
Input output analysis
Land resources
Land use
Lowland
Maize
Marketing policies
Mechanization
Pest control
Pest resistance
Plant production
Plant water relations
Planting date
Prices
Production economics
Production factors
Research projects
Seed industry
Seed production
Shelling
Small farms
Socioeconomic environment
Spacing
Statistical analysis
Stem eating insects
Storage
Tanzania
Technology transfer
Transport
Varieties
Weed control
Yield increases
Zea mays
Soil fertility
Yields
Plant breeding
Agroecological zones CIMMYT Ministry of Agriculture, Research and Training Institute Probit analysis Rainfall zone SACCAR Tobit analysis Western Tanzania
Adoption of maize production technologies in Western Tanzania - Mexico, DF (Mexico) : CIMMYT *The United Republic of Tanzania *SACCAR, 1998 - 40 pages - Printed|Computer File
This study of the adoption of maize production technologies in Western Tanzania forms part of a larger study to evaluate the impact of maize research and extension throughout Tanzania over the past 20 years. Using a structured questionnaire, researchers and extension officers interviewed farmers in June-November 1995. Survey data were grouped by agroecological zone into the high rainfall zone and low rainfall zone. A two-stage least squares procedure was used to analyze factors affecting farmers' allocation of land to improved maize varieties and use of inorganic fertilizer across zones. The analysis showed that extension, short-maturing varieties, and rainfall were significant factors affecting the proportion of land allocated to improved maize. Extension increased the probability of allocating land at the means by about 30%. Short-maturing maize varieties increased the probability of allocating land at the means by about 24%. Farmers in the high rainfall zone are 14% less likely to allocate land to improved maize. An increase in the wealth index by one unit increased the probability of using fertilizer by 13%. Research should give priority to developing or screening varieties that yield well and tolerate drought stress and field pests, especially stalk borers. Flexible integrated management packages that combine a drought-tolerant variety with improved cultural practices such as timely planting and weeding can increase yields. More research should be directed to strategies for improving soil fertility and soil conservation, because the use of chemical fertilizer is likely to remain low in the foreseeable future. Extension should direct more effort toward appropriate soil fertility recommendations. An efficient marketing system for inputs and outputs will benefit farmers by paying higher practices for maize and reducing the cost of fertilizer. Studies on the economics of seed and fertilizer use should also be undertaken , especially now that input and output markets have been liberalized. In collaboration with the government and other stakeholders, the formal credit system needs to address the credit problems faced by small-scale farmers.
English
970-648-016-1
Credit policies
Crop management
Cropping patterns
Cropping systems
Cultivation
Demography
Development policies
Diffusion of research
Disease control
Drought resistance
Economic analysis
Economic viability
Environments
Extension activities
Fertilizer application
Harvesting
Highlands
Innovation adoption
Inorganic fertilizers
Input output analysis
Land resources
Land use
Lowland
Maize
Marketing policies
Mechanization
Pest control
Pest resistance
Plant production
Plant water relations
Planting date
Prices
Production economics
Production factors
Research projects
Seed industry
Seed production
Shelling
Small farms
Socioeconomic environment
Spacing
Statistical analysis
Stem eating insects
Storage
Tanzania
Technology transfer
Transport
Varieties
Weed control
Yield increases
Zea mays
Soil fertility
Yields
Plant breeding
Agroecological zones CIMMYT Ministry of Agriculture, Research and Training Institute Probit analysis Rainfall zone SACCAR Tobit analysis Western Tanzania