Person: Mwangi, W.M.
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Mwangi
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W.M.
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Mwangi, W.M.
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- 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 - Characterization of maize production sub-systems in mossourize and sussungenga Districts, Manica, Mozambique(IIAM, 2011) Uiane, R.; Mazuze, F.; Mwangi, W.M.; Langyintuo, A.S.; Kassie, G.A household survey was carried out in July and August 2007 in Sussundenga and Mossurize districts of Manica Province in Mozambique under the auspices of the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) Project of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). The insights presented in this report are based on 350 households randomly selected among the communities in both districts and information cordially provided by the extension officials and representatives of the Administration Office, Services for Economic Activities, Health and Education Directorates at district level. This diagnostic study focused on collecting baseline data on farm households to construct indicators that could be used to measure the impact of the adoption of improved maize varieties in Mozambique. The study was conducted on respondents composed of 60% males and 40% females. Most (67.5%) of the respondents are household heads and 40% of the respondents are female. Nonetheless, 85.1% of the sample households are male headed. Average family size of the sample households was found to be slightly more than 7 persons with the average number of female family members a bit higher than that of males. The land size owned by sample households ranges from zero to 84 hectares, with mean of 7.9 and standard deviation of 7.35 hectares. Irrigation is not that common and on average only 0.93% of the farm land holding of the sample households is irrigated. Most of the farmland is allocated to annual crops – specifically maize. Of the different maize varieties, most of the land is allotted to local maize varieties. The study communities have limited access to extension services. For instance, in the 2006/7 season, of those surveyed only 12%, 10.9%, 8.9%, and 15.1% have attended field days, demonstration plot visits, maize related discussions, and made interactions with extension service providers, respectively. This level of access is much lower than comparable communities at least in DTMA project countries. The average number of public-extension-organized field days attended was 0.30 per household. The number of field demonstrations hosted by agricultural extension averaged 0.29 and ranged from no demonstrations to a maximum of 24 demonstrations. Different maize varieties are being produced by the sample households. The varieties with high frequencies are either local or old improved varieties. Matuba, NdauouChindau, SC 513, and Pannar varieties are grown by many households in the study area. One third of the maize planted in the two districts was an open pollinated variety, Matuba. The second most popular maize variety was SC513. The sample households generate about 70% of their income from paid employment, crop sales, livestock and livestock product sales, and petty trading. On average, 60% of the members of the sample households are engaged in off-farm activities. The main expenditure item for the sample populations in the study areas is food. Food items claim 48% of the annual expenditure of the sample households. The data generated also show that clothing is the second important expenditure item. The most important challenge in the study communities is low productivity of the agricultural sector. One crucial component of improving livelihoods is therefore improving the productivity of agriculture. Discussions with sample households have revealed that increasing area under cultivation is considered to be the most feasible way to increase agricultural production. This must have emanated from the fact that the average land holding is high and the extent of fallowing shows that there is still a lot of land that can be cultivated if the need arises. Increasing cultivated area was followed by application of manure and the use of improved seeds. The low productivity and production of agriculture has a direct bearing on the food economy of the households. The sample households have indicated different coping mechanisms to mitigate the food shortages they face now and then. The coping strategies include increased engagement in offfarm activities, selling small animals, reducing other expenditures, reduced frequency of food intake, selling other assets, selling cattle, withdrawing children from school, working for food, and receiving food aid. Particularly, drought, frost or hail, land slide, livestock death, and flood or excess rain were mentioned to be the five most important livelihood shocks the community is facing. Drought is particularly an important agricultural risk in Sussundenga and Mossourize districts. About 60% of the respondents indicated drought as the most serious shock in the past 10 years. The 2001/2 and 2005/6 cropping seasons were indicated to be the driest over the last 10 years. Maize was heavily affected by drought. More than 90% of respondents indicated that maize was negatively affected by drought. All kinds of maize varieties - local, improved open-pollinated, and hybrid - , were reported to be very risky in terms of yield variability compared to all other crops. The wide ranging coping strategies include all activities farmers consider relevant given their resources, expectations, and understanding of the risk they are facing. In the study districts, sample households emphasized the importance of, among others, agricultural diversification, agricultural intensification, asset accumulation, and program participation. The riskiness of maize was also emphasized in terms of the price variability in the market. Once again, all kinds of maize were reported to embody higher market risk than other crops produced by the farming community. Asset accumulation, program participation, contract farming, informal insurance, and other activities comprise the price risk management activities of the farming communities in the study areas. Location, age of household head, maize related extension services, and proportion of land allocated to maize were found to be important factors influencing adoption of improved maize varieties. The extent or intensity of adoption of improved maize varieties in these two rural districts of Mozambique was found to be influenced by location, average literacy level of the household, proportion of land allocated to maize, and fertilizer use.
Publication - Characterization of maize producing households in Balaka and Mangochi Districts in Malawi(CIMMYT, 2011) Mangisoni, J.H.; Katengeza, S.; Langyintuo, A.S.; La Rovere, R.; Mwangi, W.M.Current global climatic changes have resulted in frequent occurrences of droughts and floods, a scenario that has affected agricultural production, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This study reports on the results from a household survey in the Balaka and Mangochi Districts of Malawi. The overall objective of the study was to characterize the maize producing households and to assess the adoption of improved maize varieties in Malawi, through an understanding of the households’ access to assets, household livelihood strategies, and the production and price risks that farmers face. The study has shown that households’ access to livelihood capitals such as human, natural, physical, financial and institutional is limited in the two districts with increasing land scarcity. Maize is the most popular crop. The most common maize varieties are local open pollinated varieties (OPVs) and hybrids. The major input sources for crop production are the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC), Agora, Kulima Gold, and traders/vendors. Major shocks are droughts and floods while prominent production risks are price and yield fluctuations, and fertilizer availability and affordability. To mitigate such risks, farmers change cropping area of a given crop, and engage in crop diversification and off-farm activities. The key issue emerging from this study is that climatic factors such as droughts and floods pose a challenge to agricultural production in Mangochi and Balaka, and Malawi as a whole. The continued changes in the global climate are a serious threat to Malawi’s food security and poverty reduction objectives. As such, there is need to support actions that facilitate the ability of the agricultural sector to cope with climate changes. The promotion of improved drought tolerant and early maturing maize varieties seems a good entry point.
Publication - Impediments to new improved maize variety testing and release in selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa(David Publishing, 2010) Setimela, P.; Badu-Apraku, B.; Mwangi, W.M.Before farmers can benefit from new improved maize varieties with novel genetic information, new maize varieties have to undergo performance testing, registration and approval. The registration procedures require that new maize varieties must pass the tests for value for cultivation and use (VCU) and standardized tests for distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS). To meet the minimum requirements for variety release, public and private sector maize breeding programs routinely assemble breeding nurseries and evaluate variety performance in National and Regional Performance Trials (NRPT) with the objective of generating important agronomic data to identify the best maize varieties for release. In spite of intensive variety evaluation in regional and national trials, only few maize varieties have been registered and released annually in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) denying farmers access to new improved varieties. The purpose of this study was to identify constraints hampering the registration and release of elite maize germplasm and make recommends on how to quicken the deployment of elite germplasm to smallholders? farmers. A survey was conducted on the varietal testing and release systems in 14 selected countries (Angola, Benin, Ethiopia, Malawi, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) in SSA. The results from the study show that regulations on variety testing and release procedures in the various countries are overlapping and rigid hindering the deployment and commercialization of new improved maize germplasm. The study also showed that varietal release rates fluctuated between countries with South Africa having the highest number of varietal release rates per year and some countries failing to release a single variety per year.
Publication - Factors influencing adoption of stress-tolerant maize hybrid (WH 502) in western Kenya(Academic Journals, 2007) Salasya, B.; Mwangi, W.M.; Mwabu, D.; Diallo, A.O.Non-adoption of suitable maize varieties was identified as the second most important constraint responsible for low maize yields in western Kenya. In order to increase adoption of suitable varieties it is important to know the factors that influence the choice of variety and adoption. This study aimed at identifying varietal, socio-economic and institutional factors that influence adoption of the maize hybrid, WH 502. Data were collected from a random sample of 504 households and 68 stockists from three districts of western Kenya. Results showed that the main attributes of WH 502 that influenced its adoption were high yield, early maturity and non-lodging, whereas the important socio-economic factors were farm size, cattle ownership, education level of the farmer and locality specific characteristics. The attributes of WH 502 that farmers disliked were poor storability and poor husk cover. Neighbors were found to play a more important role than the public extension service in making WH 502 variety known to farmers. Breeders need to improve on storability and husk cover attributes of WH 502 so as to sustain or improve adoption. Policy makers should support informal ways of extending new technologies to farmers and also support farmers through provision of adult education
Publication - Drivers of improved maize variety adoption in drought prone areas of Malawi(Academic Journals, 2012) Katengeza, S.; Mangisoni, J.H.; Kassie, G.; Sutcliffe, C.; Langyintuo, A.S.; La Rovere, R.; Mwangi, W.M.This study identifies the determinants of adoption and adoption-intensity of improved maize varieties in Malawi. We estimated a double hurdle model based on household-level survey data collected in the districts of Balaka and Mangochi in 2008 and found that labour endowment, access to rural credit, livestock wealth, access to agricultural extension, farm size and access to off-farm employment all significantly increase the likelihood of adoption. Households where the head had membership of a social group were also found to be less likely to have adopted. The intensity of adoption was found to be negatively related to livestock wealth and fertilizer use. Conversely, the age of the household head, the labour endowment of the household and the proportion of household members engaged in off-farm activities were factors that were found to be positively related to intensity of adoption. The study suggests the need to enhance adoption and intensity of adoption of improved maize varieties in Malawi among other things improving access to rural finance through credit and improving access to agricultural extension. Agricultural extension enhances provision of timely and quality agricultural information which is vital to smallholder farmers? production and marketing decisions and hence, key to decisions to adopt new and improved technologies such as improved maize varieties.
Publication - Adoption and continued use of improved maize seeds: Case study of Central Ethiopia(Academic Journals, 2010) Tura, M.; Aredo, D.; Tsegaye, T.; La Rovere, R.; Kassie, G.; Mwangi, W.M.; Mwabu, G.The literature on agricultural technology is limited on the issue of the continued use of an agricultural technology after it is adopted. This paper analyzes the factors that explain adoption as well as continued use of improved maize seeds in one of the high potential maize growing areas in central Ethiopia. Using a bivariate probit with sample selection model approach, the study provides insights into the key factors associated with adoption of improved maize seed and its continued use. The result revealed that human capital (adult workers, off-farm work and experience in hiring labor), asset endowment (size of land owned), institutional and policy variables (access to credit, membership in cooperatives) all strongly influence farmers? decisions to adopt improved maize varieties, while continuous use of the seed is influenced by the proportion of farmland allocated to maize, literacy of the household head, involvement in off-farm work, visits by extension agents, farmers? experience, household land size, and fertilizer usage. Accordingly, policies and interventions that are informed about such factors are required to accelerate adoption and continued use of improved maize seeds in order to increase farm yields and remedy shortage of food and fight food poverty and insecurity more effectively and more sustainably.
Publication - The maize seed system in Ethiopia: challenges and opportunities in drought prone areas(Academic Journals, 2008) Alemu, D.; Mwangi, W.M.; Nigussie, M.; Spielman, D.This study examines how the performance of the maize seed system in Ethiopia affects small-scale farmers’ access to and use of improved maize varieties. Particular emphasis is given to the drought-prone agro-ecologies of the Rift Valley region and the specific maize varieties developed for and disseminated in this area. Data for this study were gathered in 2005 from focus group discussions with maize farmers across three districts in the Rift Valley; household surveys of a random sample of 60 maize farmers; key informant interviews with public and private sector stakeholders in the maize seed market; and government and industry secondary sources. Findings show that despite extensive varietal development by the public research system, dissemination of improved varieties to farmers remains limited. This may be partially due to the continued dominance of public sector organizations in the multiplication and supply of seed to farmers, and to the relatively low level of private sector participation. The result is a seed market characterized by limited competition, insufficient supply of seed relative to demand, limited choice in the few varieties that are available, and excessively high costs of maize seed production. Without significant structural and organizational change to the maize seed system, these market and institutional failures will continue to hamper smallholder access to improved varieties developed for drought-prone regions such as the Rift Valley.
Publication - Characterization of maize production in Southern Africa: synthesis of CIMMYT/DTMA household level farming system surveys in Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe(CIMMYT, 2012) Kassie, G.; Erenstein, O.; Mwangi, W.M.; La Rovere, R.; Setimela, P.; Langyintuo, A.S.This report presents the synthesis of household level surveys in five intervention countries (Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) of the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project designed and implemented by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and national research and extension institutions in 13 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In each of the study countries, two districts were randomly selected provided that the districts fall in predetermined categories (20-40%) of probability of failed season (PFS). A total sample of 1108 households was randomly drawn with sample sizes varying country to country. The report has different sections that focus, in order, on description of the sample households, extent and determinants of poverty and inequality among the sample population, characteristics of maize production, perception and management of drought risk, and determinants of likelihood and intensity of adoption of improved maize varieties.
Publication - An innovation learning platform for drought tolerant maize in Malawi: lessons learned and the way forward(CIMMYT, 2012) Kassie, G.; Erenstein, O.; Mwangi, W.M.; Setimela, P.; Langyintuo, A.S.; Kaonga, K.K.Innovation learning platforms have their roots in the agricultural innovation systems (AIS) approach. AIS emphasizes a systems view of agricultural innovations and conceptualizes an innovation system as all individuals and organizations that keep on interacting in producing and using knowledge and the institutional context of knowledge sharing and learning. Research creates knowledge and technology; but innovation process goes further to include putting that knowledge into use. The Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project of CIMMYT aims to address the challenge of combating the impacts of drought on people’s livelihoods. For this to succeed, however, the initiative faces the challenge of how best to advocate and promote drought tolerant maize varieties (DTMVs). The initiative accordingly proposed to establish Innovation Learning Platforms (ILeP) in selected pilot countries (Malawi and Nigeria). This report focuses on presenting detailed account of the implementation of the approach, the lessons learned, analyzing whether there is enough experience to suggest (or not) extrapolation of the approach to other areas and communities, and the way forward. The report is based on data and information generated from participating farmers and key individuals from important institutional stakeholders.
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