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Moshi, A.J.

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Moshi
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Moshi, A.J.

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  • Adoption of maize production technologies in the Lake Zone of Tanzania
    (The United Republic of Tanzania, 1999) Mafuru, J.; Kileo, R.; Verkuijl, H.; Mwangi, W.M.; Anandajayasekeram, P.; Moshi, A.J.
    This study of the adoption of maize production technologies in the Lake Zone of 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 classified by agroecological zone (the low, intermediate, and high rainfall zones). Major factors affecting the adoption of improved maize practices were technical innovation characteristics and external influences. Tobit analysis showed that education, farmers' experience, farm size, family labor, extension, livestock units, and use of hand hoe were significant factors affecting the proportion of land allocated to improve maize varieties. With respect to adoption of fertilizer, logit analysis showed that the odds of adopting fertilizer increased by a factor of 6.2 if a farmer received and extension visit. The use of improved varieties in the study area was low, especially in the low and intermediate rainfall zones. Suitable maize varieties should be developed for the farmers in the high rainfall zone. Flexible integrated management packages that combine a drought tolerant variety with improved cultural practices to control diseases and pests could increase yields. An efficient marketing system for inputs and outputs would benefit farmers by paying higher prices for maize and reducing the cost of fertilizer. Extension should be strengthened to increase the adoption of fertilizer, and farmers should receive more advice about using organic manure to supplement chemical fertilizer. Extension efforts should also be directed towards promoting the adoption of improved varieties, weeding, and management practices for controlling diseases and field and storage pests. In collaboration with the government and other stakeholders, the formal credit system needs to address the credit problems faced by small-scale farmers, especially their lack of knowledge (information) about formal credit and the bureaucratic procedures that often impede access to credit.
    Publication
  • Adoption of maize production technologies in Eastern Tanzania
    (The United Republic of Tanzania, 1998) Kaliba, A.R.M.; Verkuijl, H.; Mwangi, W.M.; Moshi, A.J.; Chilagane, A.; Kaswende, J.S.; Anandajayasekeram, P.
    This study of the adoption of maize production technologies in Eastern 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 classified by agroecological zone (the lowlands and the intermediate zone). The two-stage least squares analysis showed that the availability of labor, extension intensity, and variety characteristics were significant factors affecting how much land a farmer was likely to allocate to improve maize. Short-maturing and medium-maturing varieties increased the probability of allocating land at the means by about 15% and 21%, respectively. Labor and extension increased the probability of allocating land at the means by about 3% and 22%, respectively. Farmers in the lowlands are less likely (by about 3%) to allocate land to improved maize. An increase in the intensity of extension by one unit increased the probability of using fertilizer by 40%. Research needs to develop maize that yields well and can tolerate moisture stress and field pests, especially stalk borers, and should also develop recommendations for fertilizer levels under various weather and soil conditions. Flexible integrated pest management packages that combine a drought-tolerant variety with improved cultural practices can increase yields. An efficient marketing system for inputs and outputs will benefit farmers by providing higher prices for maize and reducing the cost of fertilizer. Research and extension need to be linked and strengthened to increase the flow of information to farmers. Research and extension should also focus on creating off-farm employment that can generate income to meet farmers' short-term needs. In collaboration with the government and other stakeholders, the formal credit system needs to address the credit problems faced by small-scale farmers, especially their lack of knowledge (information) about formal credit systems.
    Publication
  • Adoption of maize production technologies in Southern Tanzania
    (United Republic of Tanzania, 1998) Katinila, N.; Verkuijl, H.; Mwangi, W.M.; Anandajayasekeram, P.; Moshi, A.J.
    This report of the adoption of maize production technologies in Southern 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. Maize is the major food and cash crop in the study area. Farmers have easily adopted improved maize technologies that required little cash (row planting, weeding), but only a few farmers had adopted the more costly technologies such as fertilizer, herbicide, and disease control measures. Additional efforts by research and extension are important for increasing the adoption of improved maize technologies. Research should give high priority to developing varieties that yield well, tolerate drought stress, and resist field pests. More research should be conducted on soil fertility and conservation practices, because the use chemical fertilizer is likely to remain low in the foreseeable future. Many respondents in the sample were unaware of improved maize technologies, especially the use of fertilizers, use of ox-drawn implements, herbicide use, and disease control measures. Farmers' low rate of contact with the extension service and agricultural research may be a constraint on the use of these technologies. Communication between farmers, research, and extension could be improved through on-farm trials and field days. Poor infrastructure and untimely delivery of inputs were also important constraints on the adoption of improved maize technologies in Southern Tanzania. Policy makers should support the promotion of an efficient affecting system (especially rural access roads) for outputs and inputs. Such a system would offer higher maize prices to farmers and reduce the cost of fertilizers. Also, studies on the economics of fertilizer use should be undertaken, especially now that input and output markets have been liberalized. Formal credit is not available to farmers, although providing credit to farmers becomes increasingly important with rising input prices. the formal credit system needs to address the credit problems faced by small-scale farmers, especially their lack of knowledge (information) of formal credit systems.
    Publication
  • Adoption of maize production technologies in Central Tanzania
    (The United Republic of Tanzania, 1998) Kaliba, A.R.M.; Verkuijl, H.; Mwangi, W.M.; Mwilawa, A.J.T.; Anandajayasekeram, P.; Moshi, A.J.
    This study of the adoption of maize production technologies in Central 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: the lowlands, intermediate zone, and high lands. A two-stage least squares procedure was used to analyze factors affecting farmers' allocation of land to improve maize varieties and use of inorganic fertilizer across zones. Germplasm characteristics, production potential of the area, and extension were the most important factors affecting the amount of land allocated to improved maize and use of inorganic fertilizer. Later maturity in a variety increased the probability that a farmer would plant improved maize by about 22%. Extension increased the probability of allocating land to improved maize by about 14% and increased the probability of using fertilizer by 115%. Several issues require closer attention from research, extension, and policy makers. Research and extension efforts need to be linked and strengthened to increase the flow of information to farmers. In developing improved maize varieties, researchers must consider yield as well as other important traits: drought resistance/tolerance, resistance to storage pests, shelling quality, and taste. For this to occur, farmers must participate in the research process. The formal credit system needs to be altered to address the credit problems faced by small-scale farmers. A more efficient marketing system for inputs and outputs would benefit farmers by providing higher maize prices and reducing fertilizer costs. Such a system would require supporting policies from the government. Studies of the economics of seed and fertilizer use should be undertaken, especially now that input and output markets have been liberalized.
    Publication
  • Adoption of maize production technologies in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania
    (The United Republic of Tanzania, 1998) Bisanda, S.; Mwangi, W.M.; Verkuijl, H.; Moshi, A.J.; Anandajayasekeram, P.
    This report of the adoption of maize production technologies in the Southern highlands of 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, research and extension officers interviewed farmers in June-November 1995. Survey data were grouped by agroecological zone: the intermediate zone and highlands. A tobit analysis was used to analyze factors affecting the adoption of land allocated to improve maize varieties and the amount of inorganic fertilizer used. The tobit analysis showed that the proportion of land allocated to improved maize varieties was significantly influenced by zone (intermediate), extension, and number of livestock units. The tobit analysis also showed that farm size, hand hoe use, and farmers' experience were significant factors affecting the amount of fertilizer used. Future maize research should address the problem of stalk borers, cutworms, and maize streak virus by developing tolerant varieties, and these new varieties should be developed and promoted through participatory on-farm research. Extension services should increase their educational contacts with farmer, especially on topics such as herbicide and oxen use, because appropriate technologies could reduce the labor bottlenecks confronting farmers during land preparation and weeding. With rising input prices, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that farmers have access to credit, and policy makers and bankers should seek ways of providing loans to small-scale maize farmers in ways that will ensure a high rate of loan recovery and low cost of credit. More information should be provided to farmers about credit schemes, and the requirements for collateral should be reviewed. Finally, policy makers should continue to encourage and support the private sector to invest in input acquisition and distribution so that inputs are available when farmers need them.
    Publication
  • Adoption of maize production technologies in Western Tanzania
    (The United Republic of Tanzania, 1998) Kaliba, A.R.M.; Verkuijl, H.; Mwangi, W.M.; Byamungu, D.A.; Anandajayasekeram, P.; Moshi, A.J.
    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.
    Publication
  • Adoption of maize production technologies in Northern Tanzania
    (CIMMYT, 1998) Nkonya, E.M.; Xavery, P.; Akonaay, H.B.; Mwangi, W.M.; Anandajayasekeram, P.; Verkuijl, H.; Martella, D.; Moshi, A.J.
    The impact of maize research and extension in Tanzania's Northern Zone during the past 20 years was evaluated through a formal survey in 1995. Data were grouped into two major agroecological zones: the intermediate and the lowland sub-zones. Sample farmers were also categorized based on land preparation method. A two-step Heckman's procedure was used to simultaneously analyze factors affecting adoption of improved maize seed and inorganic fertilizer. The study found that demand for composite seed was less than that for hybrids, although the National Maize Research Program had released more composites, which can be recycled. Farming experience was the only factor that significantly influenced the probability of adoption improved maize in the intermediate zone. No factor significantly influenced intensity of adoption of improved seed. About 80% of farmers recycled improved varieties, including hybrids, contrary to recommendations. The rate of adoption of chemical fertilizers was low, influenced only by the number of livestock units. No farm characteristic influenced intensity of fertilizer adoption. Recommendations on fertilizer placement were poorly followed, which magnifies the negative impact of the poor management of crop residues in the zone. Formal credit is not available to maize farmers; with rising input prices, this dynamic will become more critical. Adoption of recommendations on land preparation, frequency and timing of weeding and fertilizer application, and plant spacing have been successfully adopted in both zones. Recommendations based on survey results include the development of additional hybrids for the Northern Zone and/or village level production of composite seed; research on the economics of recycling improved varieties (including both composites and hybrids); more research and extension effort direct toward efficient use of fertilizers (manure, chemical fertilizer, and crop residues); and encouraging measures by banks and policy markers to make credit more available to small maize farmers with high rate of loan recovery and low cost of administration.
    Publication