Person: Lunduka, Rodney
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Rodney
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Lunduka, Rodney
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- Adoption of drought tolerant maize varieties under rainfall stress in Malawi(John Wiley and Sons, 2019) Katengeza, S.; Holden, S.T.; Lunduka, RodneyWe examine adoption of drought tolerant (DT) maize varieties using a four‐round panel dataset from six districts in Malawi. There is an increase in adoption of DT maize from 3% in 2006 to 43% in 2015 in our data. We focus on the effect of past drought exposure on adoption and the likelihood of DT maize being distributed under the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP). Results show that past exposure to drought increases the probability of DT maize seed being distributed through FISP. Farmers who accessed maize seed subsidy coupons and were previously exposed to late season dry spells are more likely to use the seed subsidy coupon to redeem DT maize seed. The likelihood of adoption and adoption intensity (area under DT maize) are positively influenced by previous early season dry spells and access to seed subsidy. Previous late season droughts also positively affect adoption intensity. On the other hand, area share under DT maize is positively correlated with early season dry spells and past exposure to late season dry spells but negatively related to seed subsidy. FISP in Malawi appears to have stimulated adoption of DT maize directly through subsidy and indirectly through generating farmers’ experiences of the performance of DT varieties under drought conditions.
Publication - Impact of adoption of drought-tolerant maize varieties on total maize production in south Eastern Zimbabwe(Taylor & Francis, 2019) Lunduka, Rodney; Mateva, K. I.; Magorokosho, C.; Manjeru, P.Drought is a huge limiting factor in maize production, mainly in the rain-fed agriculture of sub-Saharan Africa. In response to this threat, drought-tolerant (DT) maize varieties have been developed with an aim to ensure maize production under mild drought conditions. We conducted a study to assess the impact of smallholder farmers’ adoption of DT maize varieties on total maize production. Data for the study came from a survey of 200 randomly sampled households in two districts of Chiredzi and Chipinge in southeastern Zimbabwe. The study found that 93% of the households were growing improved maize varieties and that 30% of the sampled households were growing DT maize varieties. Total maize yield was 436.5 kg/ha for a household that did not grow DT maize varieties and 680.5 kg/ha for households that grew DT maize varieties. We control for the endogeneity of the DT adoption variable, by using the control function approach to estimate total maize production in a Cobb–Douglas model. The results show that households that grew DT maize varieties had 617 kg/ha more maize than households that did not grow the DT maize varieties. Given that almost all farmers buy their seeds in the market, a change in varieties to DT maize seeds gives an extra income of US$240/ha or more than nine months of food at no additional cost. This has huge implications in curbing food insecurity and simultaneously saving huge amounts of resources at the household and national levels, which are used to buy extra food during the lean season.
Publication - Performance of elite drought tolerant maize varieties: across eastern and southern Africa, season 2015-16(CIMMYT, 2016) Setimela, P.; Lunduka, Rodney; Zaman-Allah, M.; Ndoro, O.; Cairns, J.E.Maize is grown on over 35 million hectares across all agro-ecological zones in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (FAO, 2017). Maize accounts for almost 60% of the area under cereal production in eastern Africa and 80% in southern Africa (FAO, 2010). It is well ada
Publication - On-farm yield gains with Stress-Tolerant Maize in Eastern and Southern Africa(American Society of Agronomy, 2017) Setimela, P.; Magorokosho, C.; Lunduka, Rodney; Gasura, E.; Makumbi, D.; Tarekegne, A.T.; Cairns, J.E.; Ndhlela, T.; Erenstein, O.; Mwangi, W.M.Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important staple food in eastern and southern Africa (ESA) with human maize consumption averaging 91 kg capita–1 yr–1. Current maize yield averages 1.2 t ha–1 and is barely suffi cient for the region’s requirements due to drought and low N stresses. Th e objective of this study was to compare new drought tolerant (DT) maize hybrids and open pollinated varieties (OPVs) against the best commercial varieties in ESA under farmer management conditions and to validate on-station results. Maize varieties were simultaneously selected on-station in four types of environments across 44 locations in ESA during the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons. During the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons, 20 promising DT maize hybrids and OPVs were selected from the on-station based on their mean grain yield and stability. Th ese selected varieties were compared with the best commercial check varieties on-farm across 80 locations in ESA in a randomized complete block design for two seasons. The genotype + genotype × environment comparison biplot showed variety CZH0616 together with other new DT hybrids to be stable and high yielding across 44 locations on-station in the ESA region compared to the commonly grown checks such as SC513. Th e new DT hybrids showed a yield advantage over the commercial check varieties both in the early and medium-late maturing categories by 4 to 19%, and the gains were bigger under stress conditions. Under farmers’ fi elds CZH0616, CZH0837, CZH0935, and CZH0928 were high yielding and stable across locations.
Publication - Characteristics of maize cultivars in Africa: How modern are they and how many do smallholder farmers grow?(Springer Verlag, 2017) Abate, T.; Fisher, M.; Abdoulaye, T.; Kassie, G.; Lunduka, Rodney; Marenya, P.P.; Asnake, W.Maize is the most important cereal and most widely cultivated staple that plays a key role in the food security of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Although some countries have achieved significant gains in maize productivity, the SSA average yields are far below what could be obtained with improved cultivars under good crop management. Low cultivar turnover is one among many contributing factors to low maize yields in SSA. At present, there is a critical knowledge gap on the identity, number, and age of maize cultivars currently grown by smallholder farmers on the continent. This study revealed that nearly 500 maize cultivars were grown in 13 African countries surveyed in the 2013/2014 main crop season. Sixty-nine percent of the cultivars each occupied <1% of the total maize area; only two cultivars occupied >40% and four occupied >30% area. Approximately 32% of all the cultivars were hybrids, 23% were improved open-pollinated varieties (OPVs), and 46% were locals. Eastern Africa (EA) and southern Africa (SA) accounted for about 43 and 38%, respectively, of all the cultivars reported, whereas West Africa’s (WA) share was 19%. The average area planted to modern cultivars in the surveyed areas was estimated at 57%—with EA, SA, and WA estimates of 82, 55, and 36%, respectively; however, increased adoption was not necessarily always related to improved productivity, as the latter depends on many additional factors. Each household planted an average of 1.781 cultivars (range 1–8). The overall weighted average age of the cultivars was 15 years, with hybrids and OPVs being 13 and 18 years, respectively. Conclusions: Maize variety turnover in SSA is slower than what is practiced in the USA and other world regions such as Latin America and Asia. The substantial variations among regions and countries in all parameters measured suggest a tailored approach to mitigation interventions. Findings of this current study pave the way for replacing the old cultivars with more recent releases that are tolerant or resistant to multiple stresses and are more resilient.
Publication - Scaling up maize production through weather resilient processes: examples from Sub-Saharan Africa(CIMMYT, 2016) Lunduka, Rodney
Publication - Country Report – DT Maize Adoption Monitoring Survey- Angola. Socio-Economics Program Country report(CIMMYT, 2014) Kiakanua, M.; Chindongo, P.I.; Morais, O.; Vuvu Kua Nzambi; Kassie, G.; Lunduka, Rodney; Erenstein, O.Angola has an economy heavily dominated by crude oil export. On the other hand agriculture, which is dominated by smallholder farming, directly contributes only 6-10% of Angola’s gross domestic product (GDP). However, it is estimated that 70% of the country’s population is involved in agricultural activities. This makes the agricultural sector very important as it supports livelihood of the majority of the population. Among the many crops grown by smallholder farmers in Angola, maize is the most important agricultural commodity although production often falls below requirements due to various factors, of which erratic and below normal rains recorded across much of the country stand out as the most important factors. The adoption of drought tolerant (DT) maize varieties is one opportunity currently available for the farmers to avoid the potential threats of the erratic rains and frequent dry spell during the rain season. Under severe drought stress, drought tolerant hybrids have a 40% yield advantage compared to commercially available hybrids in farmers’ fields. These new DT varieties possess genes that can reduce yield loss during the flowering and grain-filling periods under drought conditions. They are also tolerant to low-Nitrogen helping farmers reduce the instability of maize yields. This study provides information on maize production in six provinces of Angola, including improved maize varieties grown, preferred traits by farmer households, and factors that can enhance adoption of improved DT maize varieties. The mean total farm size was about 2.4 hectares per household. Sample households in Kwanza Norte, Lunda Norte and Malange provinces own farm sizes less than the sample average and hence allocate less than 0.50 hectares of land to maize. About 32.3% of the sample households applied fertilizer on their plots for crop production. Only 14.2% of the sample households reported to have access to irrigation. Both management practices are less used in “Planalto de Malange” provinces. The maize grain yield harvested in 2011/12 agricultural season was comparable to that in 2012/13. The average grain yield harvested per household in 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons was 405 kg and 420 kg, respectively. About 65% of households did not have enough maize from the 2011/12 harvest season. On average, each household runs short of maize for the household for two months. Adoption and use of improved maize varieties was found to be very low (13.8%) in the study areas. About 38% of the sample households reported to have been using recycled seed. The inquiry about the exposure to drought revealed that 93% of the sample households reported to have experienced drought twice or less over the last 10 years. Local maize varieties are the most commonly planted in the study areas. Hybrids maize varieties are known only by farm households of Bié, Huambo and Kwanza Sul provinces. Recycled seeds are the main source of maize varieties followed by local market purchased varieties. Only 33% of households received information on new maize varieties from various sources mainly in Bié, Huambo and Kwanza Sul. Government extension services were reported as nearly the sole information source in “Palnalto de Malange” provinces. Key factors that positively influenced adoption of new improved hybrid maize varieties included age of the head of household, literacy level of the head of household, members of household engaged in agricultural activities, total maize area planted and frequence of drought experienced . Whereas number of household members engaged in agricultural activities and drought experience have positive influence on intensity of adoption of improved maize varieties. 35% of the sample households indicated that they were aware of DT maize varieties. No farm household reported awareness of DT maize in Kwanza Norte, Lunda Norte and Malange. Farmers consider some of the varieties they are growing as drought tolerant. 5.3% of 72 farmers reported that they were first exposed to DT maize in 1963. DT maize varieties currently being grown in the study areas are Catete, Branco Redondo, Amarelo, Vermelho, ZM521 and SAM3. DT maize varieties grown in Bié province were Vermelho (14.1%), ZM521 (7.1%), SAM3 (5.9%) and Amarelo (5.2%). DT maize varieties identified in Huambo were Vermelho (12.5%), Branco Redondo (6.3%) and Amarelo (6.3%). Those identified in Kwanza Sul were Catete (25.9%), Amarelo (8.6%) and Branco Redondo (3.4%). Early maturity (43% households) was the most frequently mentioned characteristic of drought tolerant maize as perceived by farmers followed by ability to tolerate dry spells. Farm households learned about DT maize varieties mainly through self experience (57%), from fellow farmers (33%), and government extension services (32%). Lack of access to seed (92.5%, n=600) mainly in Planalto de Malange was mentioned as the key reason for not trying to grow DT maize varieties. Other reasons mentioned were high levels of fertilizer required to grow the maize and the expected low yield as perceived by farmers. Interestingly, despite this lack of awareness, all sample households were willing to try DT maize varieties. The results from a linear regression showed that as the number of exposures to drought over the last 10 years increases, households with more income were less willing to pay for OPV DT maize varieties. Farmers in Bié and Huambo provinces are less willing to pay for OPV DT maize seeds compared to Kwanza Sul. This is contrary to farmers in Kwanza Norte, Lunda Norte and Malange who solely depend on government extension services.
Publication - Country Report – DT Maize Adoption Monitoring Survey- Mozambique. Socio-Economics Program Country report(CIMMYT, 2014) Quinhentos, M.; Kandiwa, V.; Lunduka, RodneyThe agricultural sector is the main driver for socio-economic development in Mozambique. It employs 80% of the working population and contributes 90% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Majority of the farmers are subsistence smallholders who practice their farming under rain-fed conditions with low use of improved technologies and experience low productivity. These smallholder farms account for nearly 90 percent of domestic food supplies. Farmers grow cassava and maize as their main crops, with millet, rice and beans as extra food crops. Mozambique’s major cash crops are cashew nuts, cotton, copra, sugar, tea, and cassava. Maize is the main staple food and is grown throughout the country. The total area used to cultivate maize is about 1.4 million hectares and the yield seldom exceeds 1.0 t/ha. Most households still grow local maize varieties. Uaiene et al (2011) found that 91% of the rural households still grow local maize varieties while 32 percent and 14%grew openpollinated variety (OPV) and hybrid varieties, respectively. This contributes greatly to low yields. Other constraints affecting maize production in Mozambique includes low soil fertility, frequent droughts, weeds, pests and crop diseases (IFDC, 2011). Drought episodes have intensified in the recent years affecting the already low maize yield levels. This is affecting livelihoods of many rural households. Apart from the effects of climate change causing droughts in Mozambique, the island of Madagascar and the Comoros lie to the east of Mozambique. These act as a natural weather barrier, preventing southern Mozambique from experiencing the full force of tropical storms resulting in many parts of the country receiving low annual rainfall. In a bid to help smallholder farmers overcome the negative impact of drought in Mozambique and many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project, funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and jointly implemented by for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with national agricultural research organizations and 13 sub Saharan Africa countries, have developed several Drought Tolerant (DT) maize varieties. These varieties have been released in several countries including Mozambique since 2007. The first step of the variety release made several strides particularly in southern Africa where a number of varieties have been released. In Mozambique, nine improved varieties have been released since 2000.
Publication - Country Report – DT Maize Adoption Monitoring Survey- Zimbabwe. Socio-Economics Program Working Paper(CIMMYT, 2014) Chikobvu, S.; Kassie, G.; Lunduka, RodneyMaize is a very important crop in Zimbabwe both for food and income. Even though Zimbabwe is one of the countries with highest adoption rates of hybrid varieties, threats from climate change and other stresses have been responsible for a reduction in maize productivity. Given the importance of maize not only in Zimbabwe but the whole subSaharan Africa, CIMMYT under the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project has been developing Drought tolerant (DT) maize varieties to reduce maize production vulnerability to climate change and improve food security. This study aims to assess the levels of adoption of the new DT maize varieties by smallholder farmers and draw lessons on the constraints that are affecting farmers to adopt these new maize varieties. This study was carried out in 6 of 60 districts in Zimbabwe. This covered five (out of eight) provinces namely Masvingo, Midlands, Matebeleland North ,Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central. The study has shown that maize productivity is low across all districts and there is limited irrigation in communal area. There is also limited fertilizer use across all districts except for Chivi and Umguza given the types of the soils that exist in these areas. In terms of food self- sufficiency, results show that households are not self-sufficient in maize and a high proportion of the households did not produce maize to last them at least 12 months. The study found out that 20.2% of sampled farmers had started growing DT maize varieties in 2010. It was interesting to note that there was a varied definition DT maize varieties. There was a high proportion of farmers who thought DT maize were varieties that were able to tolerate dry spells (39%) while others thought DT varieties tolerate dry spells and mature early (40%). Only 20% thought that they were varieties with early maturity period. Such diversity on knowledge of the DT maize varieties has implication on the adoption decision of the households. The importance of information on new maize seed was found to be positive and highly significant (p < 0.001) in influencing adoption. Other important factors affecting adoption of the new DT maize varieties were availability of the new varieties on the market and high cost of the seed that made the varieties unfordable. The key issue emerging from this study is that people are interested in using the DT maize but there seems to be a gap in knowledge on these varieties that are available on the market. There is need for increased information dissemination on the DT maize varieties that have been released to date. Price reduction could be addressed by increasing number of seed companies thereby increasing competition and efficiency of seed production. This is likely to lower the seed prices on the market.
Publication - Drought tolerant maize for farmer adaptation to drought in sub-Saharan Africa: determinants of adoption in eastern and southern Africa(Springer Verlag, 2015) Fisher, M.; Abate, T.; Lunduka, Rodney; Asnake, W.; Alemayehu, Y.; Madulu, R.B.In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Bmaize is life,^ due to its importance to food security and economic wellbeing. Around 40 % of Africa’s maize-growing area faces occasional drought stress, resulting in yield losses of 10–25 %. Around 25 % of the maize crop suffers frequent drought, with losses of up to half the harvest. To reduce vulnerability and improve food security, the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project has made releases of 160 drought tolerant (DT) maize varieties between 2007 and 2013. These have been tested in experimental and farmers’ fields, and disseminated to farmers in 13 African countries through national agricultural research systems and private seed companies. Yields of the new varieties are superior to those of currently available commercial maize varieties under both stress and optimum growing conditions. Although the benefits of DT maize for African farmers have been repeatedly predicted, realization of those benefits depends on farmer uptake, which has received limited empirical study. We use new plot-level data from surveys of 3,700 farm households in six countries (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) to country variation in farmer uptake of DT maize, from 9 % of maize plots in Zimbabwe to 61% in Malawi. The major barriers to adoption include unavailability of improved seed, inadequate information, lack of resources, high seed price, and perceived attributes of different varieties. Based on the results, we recommend that seed companies and agro-dealers ensure adequate supply of DT maize seed in local markets and sell seed in affordable micro-packs (1 or 2 kg). Furthermore, the DTMA project and partners should ramp up promotional efforts to ensure widespread awareness and understanding of the benefits of the new DT maize varieties.
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