The Role of Technology in Agricultural Transformation: Adoption and Impacts of Improved Cereal Varie

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The Role of Technology in Agricultural
Transformation Adoption and Impacts of Improved
Cereal Varieties in Zimbabwe Jane D. Alumira
A Paper Presented at the Workshop on The Green
Revolution in Asia and Its Transferability to
Africa Tokyo, Japan 8-10, December 2002
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Objectives

• Analysis of the adoption and impact of improved
  cereal varieties in Zimbabwe with a focus on
  maize, sorghum and pearl millet.
• Implications for the transferability of the Asian
  Green Revolution to Africa

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Context of the GR in Zimbabwe

• State policy
• Dual agrarian structure
• Agro-ecology and human settlement patterns
• Focus and direction of resource flows for
  agricultural research and development
• Maize revolution in Zimbabwe
• Current status of cereal production in Zimbabwe
• Factors influencing adoption of MVs of cereals
  in Zimbabwe today

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• Agro-Ecological Regions and Farmer Distribution

Source 1Vincent and Thomas, 1961 2Eicher and
Kupfuma, 1997
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Availability of Improved Maize Varieties in
Zimbabwe
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Improved Sorghum and Pearl Millet Varieties in
Zimbabwe
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Source Pingali (Ed), 1999

• Nationally, the growth rate of maize area, yield
  and production have declined over the years

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Case Study

• Rural poor subsist in changing external
  environments and respond differently according to
  their capabilities different livelihood
  strategies
• Hence the case for technology targeting
• A total of 101 households, 48 of which are panel
  data households
• Sustainable livelihoods framework

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Cereal Varieties Adopted in Kezi 2001 (
Responses)
Improved Varieties are Highlighted
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Source ICRISAT Surveys
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• Why the decline in maize area, yield and
  production and yet farmers have highly adopted
  improved maize varieties?
• Why are there very low farmer investments in
  improved sorghum and millet varieties?

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Determinants of Adoption of Improved Varieties

• Macro-level determinants
• Favourable policy mix - including an enabling
  socio-economic/political environment
• Public-private sector partnerships
• Micro-level determinants

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Asset Ownership
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Livelihood Diversification Strategies
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(Bulawayo is a city situated 150 Kms from study
site)
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Soil Fertility Improvement
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Conclusion

• Farmers circumstances are heterogenous pursue
  different livelihood strategies that need to be
  understood
• Understand shocks and stresses in farming
  environment drought, HIV/AIDS, political
  situation factors affecting investment
  strategies
• Technology targeting important
• Overall, the GR in Zimbabwe was genetic-based
  like in Asia but now needs agronomic attention
  for spread of improved technologies.