Person: Kassie, G.
Loading...
Email Address
Birth Date
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Job Title
Last Name
Kassie
First Name
G.
Name
Kassie, G.
ORCID ID
0000-0001-7430-4291 16 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 16
- Performance of elite drought tolerant maize varieties tested on farm in eastern and southern Africa(CIMMYT, 2018) Setimela, P.; Kassie, G.; Erenstein, O.; MacRobert, J.; Magorokosho, C.; Tarekegne, A.T.; Makumbi, D.; Ndoro, O.Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major food crop in sub-Saharan Africa (FAO, 2011a) and is currently grown in nearly 100 million hectares across 125 developing countries. Maize varieties with increased drought tolerance to abiotic stresses including heat and drou
Publication - Seeding Eastern Africa’s maize revolution in the post-structural adjustment era: a review and comparative analysis of the formal maize seed sector(Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2018) Erenstein, O.; Kassie, G.Improved maize seed is instrumental to deliver an Asian-style ‘green revolution’ for Africa. The paper reviews and makes a comparative analysis of the maize (corn) seed sector and its evolution in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia drawing from seed sector surveys and secondary data. Enhancing farmers’ access to and use of new maize varieties still presents a number of challenges in eastern Africa – not least due to a number of policy and institutional impediments to the development of the seed sector. The regional seed sectors also show some remarkable contrasts: they have evolved at different speeds and in different directions, driven by diverging agricultural growth opportunities and varying degrees of regulation, liberalization and restructuring. The paper reiterates calls for an enabling environment for private seed companies to evolve in order to serve the diverse farmer communities so that they benefit from existing and future improved maize seed opportunities.
Publication - Modeling preference and willingness to pay for Drought Tolerance (DT) in maize in rural Zimbabwe(Elsevier, 2017) Kassie, G.; Awudu Abdulai; Greene, W.; Shiferaw, B.; Abate, T.; Tarekegne, A.T.; Sutcliffe, C.Maize plays a leading role in the food security of millions in southern Africa, yet it is highly vulnerable to the moisture stress brought about by the erratic rainfall patterns that characterize weather systems in the area. Developing and making drought tolerant maize varieties available to farmers in the region has thus long been a key goal on the regional development agenda. Farm-level adoption of these varieties, however, depends on local perceptions of the value they add, along with willingness to pay (WTP) for it. Focusing on Zimbabwe, this research aimed at estimating the implicit prices farmers are willing to pay for drought tolerance in maize compared to other preferred traits. Using a choice experiment framework, we generated 12,600 observations from a random sample of 1,400 households in communal areas within 14 districts of Zimbabwe. Taste parameters and heterogeneities were estimated using the generalized multinomial logit model (G-MNL). The results reveal drought tolerance, grain yield, covered cob tip, cob size, and semi-flint texture to be the most preferred traits by farm households in Zimbabwe. The WTP estimates show that farmers are willing to pay a premium for drought tolerance equal to 2.56, 7, 3.2, and 5 times higher than for an additional ton of yield per acre, bigger cob size, larger grain size, and covered cob tip, respectively. We suggest designing and implementing innovative ways of promoting DT maize along with awareness-raising activities to enhance contextual understandings of drought and drought risk to speed adoption of new DT maize varieties by risk-prone farming communities. Given the high level of rural literacy and the high rate of adoption of improved maize, trait-based promotion and marketing of varieties constitutes the right strategy.
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 - 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- 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 - DTMA highlights for 2012/13(CIMMYT, 2013) Abate, T.; Menkir, A.; MacRobert, J.; Kassie, G.; Abdoulaye, T.; Setimela, P.; Badu-Apraku, B.; Makumbi, D.; Magorokosho, C.; Tarekegne, A.T.Launched in 2007, the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project aims to mitigate drought and other constraints to maize production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It targets to increase yields by 20 to 30%, benefiting 30-40 million people in 13 countries of SSA – Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe (in southern Africa); Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda (eastern Africa); and Benin, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria (West Africa). Together, these countries account for nearly 75% of all area planted to maize in SSA. The project brings together men and women farmers, research institutions, extension specialists, seed producers, farmer community organizations, and non-government organizations. It is jointly implemented by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in close collaboration with national agricultural research systems (NARS) in participating nations. Each sub-region conducts its own annual review and planning meetings according to its objective conditions. The overall annual review and planning meeting for the project is held towards the end of September each year. Highlights presented in this publication are the result of the annual review and planning meeting held on 22-26 September 2013. The reports are presented in two broad categories. The first part deals with the overview of work carried out between October 2012 and September 2013 and jointly prepared by CIMMYT/IITA scientists. Progress in variety development and socioeconomics work is presented separately for each sub-region whereas reports for seed production and delivery are presented in one report for eastern and southern Africa and another for West Africa. Cross-cutting topics, including the overall project highlights, maize lethal necrosis, gender, and communication are also presented in the first category of reports. The second category of reports are prepared by the NARS scientists and presented for each country. Each report here summarizes the major activities carried out across the three objectives – breeding, seed production and delivery, and socioeconomics – for the reporting period.
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 - Valuation of traits of indigenous sheep using hedonic pricing in Central Ethiopia(SpringerOpen, 2013) Terfa, Z.G.; Haile, A.; Baker, D.; Kassie, G.This study estimates the implicit prices of indigenous sheep traits based on revealed preferences. A hedonic pricing model is fitted to examine the determinants of observed sheep prices. Transaction data were generated from rural markets of Horro-Guduru Wollega Zone of Ethiopia. Both OLS and heteroscedasticity consistent estimations were made. The empirical results consistently indicate that phenotypic traits of traded indigenous sheep (age, color, body size, and tail condition) are major determinants of price implying the importance of trait preferences in determining the price of sheep in local markets. Season and market locations are also very important price determinants suggesting the need to target season and market place in sheep improvement programmes. Therefore, the development of a comprehensive breeding program that has marketing element is crucial to make sheep improvement sustainable and sheep keepers benefit from the intervention.
Publication - An appraisal of farmer variety selection in drought prone areas and its implication to breeding for drought tolerance(Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2012) Mhike, X.; Okori, P.; Kassie, G.; Magorokosho, C.; Chikobvu, S.Maize production and productivity among small scale farmers of southern Africa is limited mainly by drought and low soil fertility. This study aimed at assessing how farmers prioritize selection of varieties for planting under drought stress and how this could help improve the breeding approaches for varieties for resource constrained farmers in marginal environments. A survey was conducted in two drought prone districts of Zimbabwe. Data collection was done using a structured questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The study revealed that farmers have limited options for drought tolerant varieties available on the market. Contrary to breeders, farmers in drought prone areas do not consider disease resistance as an important trait. The farmer preferred traits include, high yield potential, drought tolerance, early maturity, and good performance even under poor soil conditions. Drought tolerance associated traits such as resistance to leaf rolling, tassel blast, general plant recovery to stress and stay green characteristics were identified as the most important traits but most of the varieties currently available on the market do not have these traits. The farmers were willing to make trade-offs among traits like taste or disease resistance for increased yield potential when selecting varieties to grow. Traits preferences or ranking and possible trade-offs were specific to specific areas and groups of farmers. In this study farmers still planted the traditional varieties or landraces because they are drought tolerant, taste better and can be propagated from farm saved seed. These findings show that farmers have limited options on drought tolerant varieties on the market and that scientists need to tap into farmer knowledge, especially on possible trade offs, trait ranking and germplasm for use in developing better adapted varieties which are specific to target farmers. Policies and seed systems analysis on variety availability, distribution and marketing channels also need to be strengthened.
Publication