Poverty and yield effects of CGIAR maize varieties in smallholder farming systems of Zambia
Material type:
ArticleLanguage: English Publication details: United States of America : Wiley Periodicals LLC., 2025.ISSN: - 2769-2485 (Online)
| Item type | Current library | Collection | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Article | CIMMYT Knowledge Center: John Woolston Library | CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection | Available |
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Open Access
Improved germplasm is a recognized adaptation strategy to climate change. We assessed the adoption, and impacts of CGIAR maize varieties on livelihoods in Zambia using fixed effects regression and a difference-in-differences framework. Three-waves of nationally representative panel data indicate that 24% of smallholders used CGIAR germplasm on about 225,000 hectares in 2019. Relative to other non-CGIAR maize varieties, the use of CGIAR maize varieties was associated with 26–35% yield increase, and 2–10% reduction in the depth of poverty on average. Thus, while improved varieties can increase crop productivity effectively, they are not substitutes for broad-based poverty reduction strategies.
Text in English
Climate adaptation & mitigation Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs Diversification in East and Southern Africa Resilient Agrifood Systems United States Agency for International Development (USAID) European Union (EU) CGIAR Trust Fund
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