Knowledge Center Catalog

Farmers' adoption of improved maize technologies in Mbeya region of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublication details: Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) CIMMYT : 1997ISBN:
  • 92-9146-025-7
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 633.15 EAS No. 5
Summary: The major objective of this study was to determine the level of adoption of maize technologies in Mbeya region. The basic primary data were drawn from 100 households of which 63 were male headed households and 37 were female headed households. The male headed households were randomly selected while the female headed ones were purposively selected. The results of the study showed that male headed households had more access to land, education and information on new technologies. Farmers were found to adopt the recommended package of improved maize production technologies in a stepwise manner starting with those components which required less cash outlay, such as row planting. There was a strong association between the gender of the household head and adoption of the recommendations. The main factors constraining the adoption of the improved maize technologies were expense, environmental stress, lack of availability and/or timely availabilib, and lack of information on new technologies. Research needs to address the problem of the stalk borer by developing maize varieties tolerant of this pest. The range of hybrid maize varieties that are acceptable and affordable to farmers needs to be widened. The extension service needs to improve its contact with farmers and research-extension linkage needs to be strengthened. Policy-makers need to address the issue of seed-fertilizer price subsidy very carefully given the low adoption rates of seed-fertilizer technology and its critical role in increasing maize production. They should also address the possibility of providing appropriate credit for seed and fertilizer to small-scale resource poor maize producers. Lack of availability and/or timely availability of technology are major constraints to adoption and policy-makers should create a favorable environment for provisions of these inputs by facilitating the development of a viable private sector. Policy-makers should examine the imbalance between male and female farmers in terms of access to land, education and information on new technology.
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The major objective of this study was to determine the level of adoption of maize technologies in Mbeya region. The basic primary data were drawn from 100 households of which 63 were male headed households and 37 were female headed households. The male headed households were randomly selected while the female headed ones were purposively selected. The results of the study showed that male headed households had more access to land, education and information on new technologies. Farmers were found to adopt the recommended package of improved maize production technologies in a stepwise manner starting with those components which required less cash outlay, such as row planting. There was a strong association between the gender of the household head and adoption of the recommendations. The main factors constraining the adoption of the improved maize technologies were expense, environmental stress, lack of availability and/or timely availabilib, and lack of information on new technologies. Research needs to address the problem of the stalk borer by developing maize varieties tolerant of this pest. The range of hybrid maize varieties that are acceptable and affordable to farmers needs to be widened. The extension service needs to improve its contact with farmers and research-extension linkage needs to be strengthened. Policy-makers need to address the issue of seed-fertilizer price subsidy very carefully given the low adoption rates of seed-fertilizer technology and its critical role in increasing maize production. They should also address the possibility of providing appropriate credit for seed and fertilizer to small-scale resource poor maize producers. Lack of availability and/or timely availability of technology are major constraints to adoption and policy-makers should create a favorable environment for provisions of these inputs by facilitating the development of a viable private sector. Policy-makers should examine the imbalance between male and female farmers in terms of access to land, education and information on new technology.

Global Maize Program

English

9712|AGRIS 9702|anterior|R97-98PROCE|FINAL9798

Jose Juan Caballero

INT1320

CIMMYT Publications Collection


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