Varietal Diversification and Adoption of Modern Maize Varieties in Zambia

1. Varietal Diversification and Adoption of Modern Maize Varieties in Zambia Hugo De Groote1*, Earnest Kasuta2, Dorene Asare-Marfo3, Zachary Gitonga1, Kai Sonder1, Melinda Smale4, Tadlele Tefera1, Eliab Simpungwe5, Ekin Birol3, 1International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya 2University of Zambia, Department of Social and Development Studies, Lusaka 3 HarvestPlus, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington D.C., USA 4 Michigan State University, USA 5 HarvestPlus, Lusaka, Zambia Presentation for HarvestPlus Zambia March 23, 2012

2. Introduction • HarvestPlus • has been developing biofortified varieties • In Zambia: orange maize with provitamin A • The problem: • Zambian consumers prefer white maize • How do we get orange maize varieties adopted? • Therefore, a baseline survey with: • Inventory of the current varieties used, • Farmer appreciation of different characteristics, • Estimation of the importance of the different varieties • Sources of seed of the different varieties, • Sources of information for farmers • Description of the use of maize and maize products.

3. H+ household survey - design • Representative sample of major AEZ • Stratified 2-stage • 3 zones : • I : 20% • IIA: 40% • III : 40%) • (6 provinces) • 113 SEA, pps • 10 hh/SEA: 1128

4. Land in H+ crops • Less than half available land is cultivated • Maize by far most important crop

5. Adoption of improved varieties • 3.4 tons/2 ha = 1.7 t/ha • Improved: 1.8 t/ha (1.3 to 2.4) • Local: 1 t/ha (53%) • 85 % of farmers • 80% of area • 88% of production

6. Access to subsidies • 65% of hh received seed and fertilizer, as package • Increases with potential of zone • Strongly linked to membership

7. Maize seasonality • Maize strongly seasonal • Most farmers grow it in major season only • Most farmers self-sufficient

8. Maize sales and purchases • Sales: • Only half (52%) of households • Mostly from July to September • Purchase • Mostly grain • Much more hh in zone I

9. Most hh eat maize daily • Vegetables and sugar also very popular • OFSP coming up • Animal products common Maize consumption

10. Nshima, samp, boiled maize most popular dishes • Porridge popularfor breakfast • Roasted maize and popcorn popular as snacks Maize preparations

11. Sources of information (agriculture and health)

12. Awareness of vitamin A • Most respondents (87%) have heard of VA • Few know about orange maize or HarvestPlus

13. Knowledge of vitamin A sources • One third of respondents knows at least one source of VA

14. Number of maize varieties released yearly • 205 varieties released since 1960 • Increasing importance of private sector

15. Number of varieties • Most farmers grow maize only in the main season • Most grow 1-2 varieties, few grow 3 or more • Farmers grow 103 improved varieties

16. Market share of maize varieties • Good mix of varieties and companies, no dominance • No single variety has 10% market share • 3 vars >5% • 10 vars 1-4%

17. Geographic distribution of top five varieties • Top varieties well distributed • Not much geographic pattern • Most varieties are white • No clear geographic • patterns • Farmers grow varieties of all textures, from dent to flint and in between • More dent in AEZ III

18. Maturity of varieties • Clear link between maturity and region

19. Importance of variety characteristics

20. Importance of characteristics differs by zone

21. Farmers evaluation of varieties

22. Sources of seed • 2/3 of farmers received subsidized seed, mostly from FISP • More than half of farmers (59%) purchased seed, mostly from agrodealers • A quarter saved own seed • 11% obtained seed informally (family or neighbour)

23. Seed source (quantities)

24. Seed sources by province and district Purchased seed : Southern and Central provinces Recycled seed: Eastern province Subsidy seed: all provinces but slightly more in Eastern

25. Factors affecting adoption

26. Storage loss • Loss, as estimated by farmers, increase with temperature and humidity • Zone IIA and I most affected

27. Screening H+ varieties for storage loss • < 2%: resistant • 2-4%: moderately resistant • 4-8%: susceptible • >8%: highly susceptible • Classification: Dereraet al., 1999

28. Conclusion • Maize based farming systems • Maize most important crop and staple • Production and storage highly seasonal • Most households self sufficient in maize • Main dishes are nshima, samp, boiled maize • Seed systems • Good mix of companies and varieties, no dominance • Few geographic patterns • Preference for white, otherwise few dominant characteristics • Vitamin A • Most people aware of Vitamin A • Many know sources • Main sources of information are radio, extension, clinics, newspaper • Sources are well trusted

29. Way forward with orange maize • High probability of orange maize to have an impact for rural households • Rural households can be reached • But stiff competition • Need to evaluate orange varieties for important characteristics (storage, taste for nshima, …), over the whole season • If orange maize varieties are competitive, subsidized seed distribution would be easiest recommended • For introduction • comes with fertilizer • At the same time, promotion through the private sector • Seed companies and agrodealers are well established • sustainable

30. Thank You!