Sustainable Intensification and Farmer Preferences for Crop System Attributes: Evidence from Malawi’s Central and Southern Regions

Ortega, David L.; Waldman, Kurt B.; Richardson, Robert B.; Clay, Daniel C.; Snapp, Sieglinde S.

doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2016.06.007

Cited by 66 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The model showed a goodness-of-fit with an acceptable value of McFadden pseudo R 2 that is equal to 0.169, similar to other studies that analyzed farmers' preferences through choice experiments (Birol & Villalba, 2006;Kallas & Gómez-Limón, 2007;Ortega et al, 2016). The log likelihood ratio was also highly significant at 99%.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

“…The second latent class, transition farmers, considered yield as the most important attribute, followed by a lower preference for intensive seed type. Our results were similar to those of Ortega et al (2016) who reported that Malawian farmers have a strong positive preference for maize grain yield. The third latent class, conservative farmers, considered improved seeds as unimportant; instead, they preferred creole seeds and gave importance to a large corn ear and seed price.…”

Section: Farmers' Observed Heterogeneity Toward Corn Seed Preferencesupporting

confidence: 91%

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Farmer preference for improved corn seeds in Chiapas, Mexico: A choice experiment approach

Toledano¹,

Kallas

Gil

2017

Span. j. agric. res.

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Appropriate technologies must be developed for adoption of improved seeds based on the farmers' preferences and needs. Our research identified the farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) as a key determinant for selecting the improved varieties of maize seeds and landraces in Chiapas, Mexico. This work also analyzed the farmers' observed heterogeneity on the basis of their socio-economic characteristics. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire from 200 farmers. A proportional choice experiment approach was applied using a proportional choice variable, where farmers were asked to state the percentage of preference for different alternative varieties in a choice set. The generalized multinomial logit model in WTP-space approach was used. The results suggest that the improved seed varieties are preferred over the Creole alternatives, thereby ensuring higher yields, resistance to diseases, and larger ear size. For the preference heterogeneity analyses, a latent class model was applied. Three types of farmers were identified: innovators (60.5%), transition farmers (29.4%), and conservative farmers (10%). An understanding of farmers' preferences is useful in designing agricultural policies and creating pricing and marketing strategies for the dissemination of quality seeds.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Farmers' Observed Heterogeneity Toward Corn Seed Preferencesupporting

confidence: 91%

Farmer preference for improved corn seeds in Chiapas, Mexico: A choice experiment approach

Toledano¹,

Kallas

Gil

2017

Span. j. agric. res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is logical that there would be numerous scenarios where farmers obtain greater utility from choosing to opt out of the choices that included pigeon pea since many of them are not familiar with pigeon pea and are not as interested in intercropping with pigeon pea as other leguminous crops (Ortega et al, 2016). The tradeoff associated with perennial cultivation, including lower labor costs but more risk exposure through a longer time in the field is a non-negative attribute for most farmers but not significantly positive on average.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cereal crops common in Africa, such as maize, sorghum and millet have generally been bred for intensive traits such as shorter stature, early-maturation, pest and disease-resistance, input-responsiveness, and the production of multiple crops per year (Stoop et al, 2002). Aside from appreciation of yield, farmers' preferences vary across Sub-Saharan Africa and include non-market criteria such as environmental adaptation (to low-input systems and heterogeneous environments), plant architecture (Isaacs et al, 2016, vom Brocke et al, 2010, Voss, 1992), cooking qualities (Demont et al, 2012), and other consumption properties (Waldman et al, 2014, Ortega et al, 2016). As such we estimate farmer demand for perenniality in the context of perennial pigeon pea production in Malawi.…”

Section: Background On Perennial Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating demand for perennial pigeon pea in Malawi using choice experiments

Waldman

Ortega

Richardson

et al. 2017

Ecological Economics

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Perennial crops have numerous ecological and agronomic advantages over their annual counterparts. We estimate discrete choice models to evaluate farmers' preferences for perennial attributes of pigeon pea intercropped with maize in central and southern Malawi. Pigeon pea is a nitrogen-fixing leguminous crop, which has the potential to ameliorate soil fertility problems related to continuous maize cultivation, which are common in Southern Africa. Adoption of annual pigeon pea is relatively low but perennial production of pigeon pea may be more appealing to farmers due to some of the ancillary benefits associated with perenniality. We model perennial production of pigeon pea as a function of the attributes that differ between annual and perennial production: lower labor and seed requirements resulting from a single planting with multiple harvests, enhanced soil fertility and higher levels of biomass production. The primary tradeoff associated with perennial pigeon pea intercropped with maize is competition with maize in subsequent years of production. While maize yield is approximately twice as valuable to farmers as pigeon pea yield, we find positive yet heterogeneous demand for perenniality driven by soil fertility improvements and pigeon pea grain yield.

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“…Traditional grain legume cultivation (Table ) is predominant across Africa (Figure ); however, substantial variations in production and yield outcomes exist, which reflect productivity ceilings due to soil fertility and moisture (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ; Ortega, Waldman, Richardson, Clay, & Snapp, ; Tadele, ). Chickpeas, groundnuts, and soybeans have yields above 1.0 MT ha −1 , in comparison to common beans and cowpeas that often have yields below 900 kg ha −1 (Figure ).…”

Section: Legume Production In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling predicts that soybean is poised to dominate crop production across Africa

Foyer

Siddique

Tai

et al. 2018

Plant Cell & Environment

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The superior agronomic and human nutritional properties of grain legumes (pulses) make them an ideal foundation for future sustainable agriculture. Legume‐based farming is particularly important in Africa, where small‐scale agricultural systems dominate the food production landscape. Legumes provide an inexpensive source of protein and nutrients to African households as well as natural fertilization for the soil. Although the consumption of traditionally grown legumes has started to decline, the production of soybeans (Glycine max Merr.) is spreading fast, especially across southern Africa. Predictions of future land‐use allocation and production show that the soybean is poised to dominate future production across Africa. Land use models project an expansion of harvest area, whereas crop models project possible yield increases. Moreover, a seed change in farming strategy is underway. This is being driven largely by the combined cash crop value of products such as oils and the high nutritional benefits of soybean as an animal feed. Intensification of soybean production has the potential to reduce the dependence of Africa on soybean imports. However, a successful “soybean bonanza” across Africa necessitates an intensive research, development, extension, and policy agenda to ensure that soybean genetic improvements and production technology meet future demands for sustainable production.

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Sustainable Intensification and Farmer Preferences for Crop System Attributes: Evidence from Malawi’s Central and Southern Regions

Cited by 66 publications

References 30 publications

Farmer preference for improved corn seeds in Chiapas, Mexico: A choice experiment approach

Farmer preference for improved corn seeds in Chiapas, Mexico: A choice experiment approach

Estimating demand for perennial pigeon pea in Malawi using choice experiments

Modelling predicts that soybean is poised to dominate crop production across Africa

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