Traditional Versus Improved Varieties of Seed: Is There a Trade‐Off Between Productivity and Risk?

Review of Development Economics, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 13, 2025

ABSTRACT We examine how the choice of seed technology—between traditional and improved varieties—impacts crop revenue cost risk in a setting characterized by high uncertainty. The methodological approach combines computation based on moment‐based approximation stochastic production function, with selection‐bias correcting endogenous switching regression estimation. analysis employs plot level panel data from Ethiopia collected years 2021 2023. find that technology adoption increases (Br. 2209/ha) 609/ha), overall, compared seeds adoption. This implies potential tradeoffs between seed‐ at level. Further, instances where each two types are adopted, overall farm income technologies would total Br 1600 (for seeds) Br. 485 indicating complementarity use sources results robust to number crops used analysis, disaggregation size. findings provide useful information design policies strive efficient systems have simultaneous provision seeds.

Language: Английский

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Diversity, Spatial Distribution, Breeding Status, Production Level, and Use Dynamics Analysis of Food Barley in Ethiopia

Advances in Agriculture, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 2025(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Barley is a significant cereal crop in Ethiopia, known for its rich genetic diversity, which includes both hulled and hull‐less types adapted to the diverse agroecological zones of country. This diversity crucial breeding programs aimed at developing improved varieties that can withstand various stresses. The spatial distribution barley Ethiopia extensive, from highlands midaltitude areas, with particularly well‐suited cool moist conditions found highlands. has made progress, Ethiopian Institute Agricultural Research (EIAR) other institutions focusing on traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, grain quality. production substantial, grown food feed. It faces challenges low productivity, limited access inputs, impact climate change. Despite these challenges, plays vital role security, income generation, cultural practices. use dynamics are varied, traditional uses including injera, beer, products. There also an increasing interest potential malt brewing industry source high‐quality protein animal Finally, important across altitudes, progress toward varieties, opportunities, food, feed, industry. Ongoing research development efforts essential enhance productivity sustainability current future.

Language: Английский

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Contribution of Community Seed Banks to farmer seed systems and food security in Northern and Central Malawi

Food Policy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 132, P. 102860 - 102860

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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The Conservation of Common Carp Genetic Diversity in an Agroecosystem by Indigenous Farmers

Conservation Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 18(2)

Published: March 1, 2025

ABSTRACT The conservation of crop genetic diversity by farmers has been well studied, but little documented for farmed fish. Here, we show how indigenous conserve the a fish species—the common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ), locally known as paddy field (PF‐carp)—within ecosystem. PF‐carp have cocultured with rice in fields (i.e., rice‐fish coculture) multiethnic thousands years southwestern China. Although converging to similar morphological shape an adaptation ecosystem, diverged into diverse phenotypes, displaying high and distinct structure pattern. Farmers from different ethnic groups showed preferences fish, resulting phenotypic variation. A large number participated propagation, thereby maintaining level PF‐carp. Our results highlight critical role preserving local mitigating degradation.

Language: Английский

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Informal Commercial Seed Systems: Leave, Suppress or Support Them?

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(18), P. 14008 - 14008

Published: Sept. 21, 2023

Smallholder farmers require seed systems that can meet diverse functions: move a range of planting material; spread specialty varieties (climate-resilient or nutrient-dense varieties); reach last-mile areas; and perform in high-stress contexts. Acknowledging smallholders use both formal informal systems, this article focuses on the latter component largely unexamined to date: commercial (ICSSs). Four evidence-based cases show how ICCSs contribute varied system functions. In Tanzania, traders have moved multiple modern bean countrywide within just few years. remote Ugandan north, commercialized sale sweetpotato vines (produced off-season) those lacking their own critical marshlands. Bolivia, routinely sell native tubers farmers, along with commerce ware potatoes. central Mali, cluster villages produces sells pearl millet is specially adapted extreme drought conditions. All four share key characteristics: they distinguish vs. grain, serve local, regional, international customers, and, perhaps most importantly, are sustained without subsidy project support. As ICSSs farmers' demands for not supplied by other actors, question remains as whether should be left alone, leveraged, improved further. Recognizing possible legal operational challenges, suggests first studied in-depth—characterizing variations, locales, functions—so future debates support grounded concrete evidence ICSSs' strengths, weaknesses, unique benefits.

Language: Английский

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Seed systems development to navigate multiple expectations in Ethiopia, Malawi and Tanzania

World Development Sustainability, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 3, P. 100092 - 100092

Published: July 25, 2023

The purpose of this study was to assess how multiple expectations seed systems outcomes, such as closing the yield gap, adapting climate change, improving nutrition, ensuring equality, enhancing agro-biodiversity, and securing farmers' rights, influence development in Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania. A comparative approach used, based on documents qualitative data, analyze three countries. In spite same categories actors providing quite similar at country levels, national have developed different directions into approaches that can be characterized pluralism dualism pragmatism This finding might indicate various actors' influences direction could less important than what we assumed. At time, relating outcomes are shaped by competition receive economic political support policies laws. We conclude must address needs for crops agro-ecologies groups farmers. To achieve this, needed harness strengths both formal systems.

Language: Английский

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TOWARDS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY: THE ROLE OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS’ SEED SECURITY IN IMPROVING CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE IN NORTHERN MALAWI

Geographical Review, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 26

Published: April 8, 2024

With climate extreme events increasing in frequency and intensity Malawi, the future of local food production faces serious threats, necessitating renewed efforts to build adaptive capabilities majority poor smallholder farmers. In this context, seed security is critical improving rural livelihoods agrobiodiversity; however, knowledge its role change resilience sparse. Drawing insights from vulnerability literature, paper examines enhancing northern Malawi. Using a cross-sectional survey 1,090 farmers applying logistic regression analysis, study found that households are seed-secure were significantly more likely report stronger than those not seed-secure, even after controlling for theoretically relevant variables (OR = 1.89; p < .01). Other noteworthy predictors included level education, wealth, agroecological practice, sources. Based on findings, we advocate promoting as part broader localized place-specific action plans foster agricultural regions.

Language: Английский

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Promising Strategies to Enhance the Sustainability of Community Seed Banks

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(19), P. 8665 - 8665

Published: Oct. 8, 2024

Community seed banks are farmer-managed organizations that conserve and sustainably manage local crop tree diversity. They found in many countries of the Global South increasingly North. Altogether, they maintain hundreds species thousands mostly varieties distribute tons quality per year. Through their activities, share safeguard world’s agrobiodiversity, contribute to security, allow farming households communities produce consume more affordable, secure, diverse, nutritious foods. However, community knowledge-, resource-, time-intensive operate through members’ voluntary contributions. The purpose this article is analyze sustainability challenge identify strategies address it. Focus group discussions key informant interviews were used, complemented by secondary data analysis research reports other deliverables, resulting five case study Africa Asia. Five promising can support viable bank development: value addition; nature-positive agriculture; enabling environment national genebank partnership; networking digitalization; modern, low-cost technologies. Sustainable make important contributions sector development but need stronger policy legal sustainability.

Language: Английский

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Seed production system in Ukraine: Trends, challenges, and threats

Scientific Horizons, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(3), P. 107 - 116

Published: Jan. 29, 2024

The development of an effective seed production system in Ukraine is conditioned both by its key role ensuring seed, food, and national security the country emergence new challenges threats that affect functioning need to be countered eliminate or mitigate their negative impact. purpose this study was investigate current trends Ukrainian identify interests. methodological framework included dialectical method scientific cognition, which used establish relationship between object study, Ukraine, events phenomena occurring nature society have a substantial impact on study. methods analysis synthesis, systematic generalisation, comparative were also used. analysed conditions breeding identified characterise internal state. pose threat Ukraine. destructive processes system, can lead degradation destruction. Measures overcome consequences factors substantiated. scientifically substantiated principal criteria for system. provided reasoning long-term investment activities priority areas state support conclusions, proposals, practical recommendations are importance relevant programmes measures aimed at supporting production, specifically, fair remuneration breeders who authors productive crop varieties

Language: Английский

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Research on multilateral collaboration strategies in agricultural seed quality assurance

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: May 17, 2024

Seeds, as the initial products in agricultural systems, play a pivotal role ensuring quality, fundamental to national food security and sustainable development. This study introduces concept integrating public governance evolutionary game theory construct quadripartite model involving seed companies, certification agencies, farmers, governmental departments. It considers strategic choices of these stakeholders under varying economic motivations market mechanisms, well influence external regulation incentives on strategies. The existence conditions for evolutionarily stable strategy combinations are determined using Lyapunov first method, MATLAB is employed numerical simulation analysis validate conditions. results reveal two potential equilibrium points corresponding different among stakeholders. finds that producing high-quality seeds refusal agencies engage rent-seeking crucial quality. Additionally, cost-benefit ratio speculative cost rights-protection farmers key determinants evolution quality assurance research also holds practical significance enhancing mechanisms fostering development agriculture.

Language: Английский

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