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Mesfin AH, Gebremedhin KG, Tefera T, Chimsa MD, Vonk R. Pathways and policy options for food and nutrition gaps in arid agricultural farming systems in the Tigray Region, north Ethiopia. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28213. [PMID: 38590867 PMCID: PMC10999878 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Food and nutrition security is a major global challenge especially indeveloping countries.Agriculture is main means of livelihoods and hunger is drastically increasing from time to time especially due to effects of climate change, conflict and other manmade and natural calamities in these countries. Similarly, the Tigray Region is one of the Ethiopia's most food and nutrition insecure regions with agriculture serving as the main source of income and employment. This study was therefore conducted to fill the gap in understanding the socioeconomic situation, bio-physical environment, institutional setting and policy landscape by analysing the existing circumstances in Tigray Region. This research employed quantitative data sets collected from 300 randomely selected Productive Saftey Net Program (PSNP) beneficiarieries and Non-PSNP households using probability proportional to size. The Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) used as a proxy measure to nutrition security as our data is 24 h recall and food gap months as proxy to food security. Besides, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method is used to construct household asset index. The results of the study revealed that there are clear and significant differences of the PSNP and Non-PSNP households, and gender in land holding (p<0.01%), asset ownership(p<0.01%), food gap months(p<0.01%), dietary diversity(p<0.01%), exposure to hazards and risks, copping strategies, yield, access to agricultural extension services, access to improved varieties (varietal diversification). The male headed households, and Non-PSNP households are better off than the female headed and PSNP households' counterparts. Thus, provision of practical training, conducting farmer's participatory research, field days, promoting and creating access to farmers' preferred high yielding improved varieties and management practices available in the research and extension consortium, support in research and development that develops and disseminate appropriate technologies to help farmers to lower their food gap months is highly important. In addition, sustainable intensification, off-farm employment alternatives, and engaging in agribusiness activities that create resilient livelihood options to those resource poor farm households, strengthening the formal and informal seed system would help to reduce food gap months, improve HDDS, build resilience of the food and nutrition insecure households. Therefore, customized extension services and packages are important for addressing the food and nutrition security gaps by setting goal, outcome and output indicators for future interventions in the research and development arena in filling food gap months, dietary diversity and household asset building through collaboration among relevant stakeholders in the food system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afeworki Hagos Mesfin
- BENEFIT-REALISE Socio-economics researcher, College of Dry Land Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mekelle University, P.O.Box: 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Kidane Giday Gebremedhin
- BENEFIT-REALISE Programme Regional Manager, College of Dry Land Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
| | - Tewodros Tefera
- BBENEFIT-REALISE Programme National Manager, BEFEFIT Partnership Office, Besrate Gabriel SAN Building 2nd Floor, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mulugeta Diro Chimsa
- BENEFIT-REALISE Programme National Deputy Manager, BEFEFIT Partnership Office, Besrate Gabriel SAN Building 2nd Floor, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Remko Vonk
- RemkoVonk, BENEFIT-REALISE Programme Coordinator, Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Netherlands
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Breen C, Ndlovu N, McKeown PC, Spillane C. Legume seed system performance in sub-Saharan Africa: barriers, opportunities, and scaling options. A review. AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2024; 44:20. [PMID: 38550797 PMCID: PMC10965649 DOI: 10.1007/s13593-024-00956-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
As a fundamental pillar of food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), ensuring seed security is critical to empowering farmers in cultivating food and livestock feed, thereby fostering income generation from agricultural outputs. Among the crops cultivated by smallholders, legumes have the potential to deliver multifaceted benefits. Legumes are nutrient-dense and enhance soil health through their nitrogen-fixing qualities. However, in many instances, the development, release, and supply of improved legume varieties are insufficient to meet the needs of smallholder farmers in SSA. Here, we systematically reviewed the literature to (i) identify and categorize existing legume seed systems, (ii) map legume varieties available to smallholders, (iii) identify barriers hindering the adoption of various legume varieties, and (iv) identify potential strategies and opportunities for strengthening legume seed systems in SSA. Our results demonstrate the coexistence of formal and informal seed systems within legume seed supply chains in SSA, each employing unique seed distribution channels. Smallholders, however, are shown to predominantly depend on the informal seed system to source most legume seeds except for commercially available varieties. We also identified a diverse range of legume varieties available to smallholders in the region, with farmers having varying trait preferences based on crop type and gender. Notably, high yield and abiotic stress tolerance were the most preferred traits. The adoption of these varieties, however, is influenced by various factors, including lack of timely access to seeds in adequate quantities from the formal seed system, high seed costs, and limited information on new varieties. The reviewed literature highlighted that utilizing improved legume varieties had a positive effect on smallholders, leading to improved welfare, food security, dietary diversity, and income. We conclude that the effective scaling of legume systems in SSA is contingent upon the presence of supportive policy frameworks and well-established technical support structures. Graphical Abstract Packets of legume seeds within a legume germplasm and breeding program at the University of Zambia (Photo by Caitlin Breen, 2022). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13593-024-00956-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Breen
- Agriculture & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4 Ireland
| | - Noel Ndlovu
- Agriculture & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4 Ireland
| | - Peter C. McKeown
- Agriculture & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4 Ireland
| | - Charles Spillane
- Agriculture & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4 Ireland
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3
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Liu G, Chen C, Fu X, Liu Y, Khan N, Luo L. Has the agricultural cooperatives served each member fairly? A new perspective based on utilization level of member services. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0294439. [PMID: 38295086 PMCID: PMC10830000 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
With the rapid increase of the number of agricultural cooperatives in China, the problem of fake cooperatives has become more and more serious. The core problem is that some members do not use cooperative services, and elite capture phenomenon appears in the organization. Since services are one of the most important public goods attributes of cooperatives, it is important to ensure that more members use them. What are the factors that affect members' utilization level of cooperative services? Existing research does not provide a comprehensive answer. Based on the micro-survey data of 74 citrus cooperatives and 524 citrus members in China, the article found out that 50.9% of the members did not use any services provided by cooperatives, and only 20.04% of the members used cooperatives' sales services. So, this study empirically analyzes the factors that influence the use of cooperatives' services by puns model. The results show that quality of service, service convenience and mountain terrain promote the use of cooperative sales services for members. In addition, cooperative knowledge, planting area, surplus distribution, quality of service, and service convenience significantly increased the utilization leve of cooperative sales services by members. Finally, the study puts forward some suggestions, such as propagating cooperative sales service, improving the quality of cooperative sales service, perfecting cooperative distribution system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Liu
- College of Business Administration, Sichuan Vocational College of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chaoyue Chen
- College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xinhong Fu
- College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuying Liu
- College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Nawab Khan
- College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lei Luo
- College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Tabe-Ojong MPJ, Lokossou JC, Gebrekidan B, Affognon HD. Adoption of climate-resilient groundnut varieties increases agricultural production, consumption, and smallholder commercialization in West Africa. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5175. [PMID: 37620315 PMCID: PMC10449883 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40781-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
As part of the climate-smart agriculture approach, the adoption of climate-resilient crop varieties has the potential to build farmers' climate resilience but could also induce agricultural transformation in developing nations. We investigate the relationship between adoption of climate-resilient groundnut varieties and production, consumption, and smallholder commercialization using panel data from Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria. We find adoption of climate-resilient groundnut varieties to increase smallholder production, consumption, and commercialization. The biggest adoption impact gains are observed under the sustained use of these climate-resilient varieties. We show that adoption benefits all households, but the biggest gains are found among smaller producers, suggesting that adoption is inclusive. Furthermore, we provide suggestive evidence that yield increases could explain commercialization, although household consumption also matters. We conclude that adoption of climate-resilient groundnut varieties can at least partially reduce production constraints and promote smallholder consumption and commercialization, with implications for agricultural transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Paul Jr Tabe-Ojong
- Development Strategy and Governance Unit, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Jourdain C Lokossou
- Department of Agri-Food Economics and Consumer Sciences, Faculty of Food Science and Agriculture, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Bisrat Gebrekidan
- Institute for Food and Resource Economics, University of Bonn, Nußallee 19-21, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Hippolyte D Affognon
- West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), Dakar, Senegal
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5
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Mulugeta HT, Heshmati A. Impacts of improved agricultural technology adoption on welfare in Africa: A meta-analysis. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17463. [PMID: 37455985 PMCID: PMC10338978 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A large body of researches have widely examined the impact of adopting improved agricultural practices and technologies on general welfare of smallholder farmers. The results of deep literature review show that varies agricultural technologies have significant impacts on different welfare measures identified in the primary studies. However, the estimated effects of technology adoption differ among studies. The current study presents a meta-analysis of empirical estimates using a sample of 52 studies that investigated the impact of improved agricultural technologies in Africa on three key sets of outcome variables: output or expenditure, food security, and poverty. The study also conducted tests for publication bias to see if researchers tend to report results in similar or different ways for the same outcome variable. The findings the study shed light on the ways of identifying potential factors explaining the differences in the effects of estimated technology adoption. Results of the meta-regression analysis revealed that differences in the reported impact of technologies is explained by factors like data type, model specification, sample size, region of the study, and journal type. It was also observed that no publication bias in the studies reviewed for the effect size measures of output (expenditure) and poverty models, but in the food security model there is some evidence of publication bias. One of the core implications of the current study is that, based on the sensitivity of effect sizes to study attributes (i.e. data type, econometric methods, sample size, region of the study, and journal type), interested researchers and academicians need to pay attention to these attributes to provide more reliable estimates for policy interventions. We believe this study provides information useful to interested decision-makers in designing policy intervention measures that could encourage the adoption of improved agricultural practices and technologies in the African context. Finally, the study also highlighted future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habtewold Tsegaye Mulugeta
- Adama Science and Technology University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Technology and Innovation Management, Adama, Ethiopia
| | - Almas Heshmati
- Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping University, Room B5017, SE-551 11, Jönköping, Sweden
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6
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Exploring farmer perceptions and evaluating the performance of mung bean ( Vigna radiata L) varieties in Amhara region, Ethiopia. Heliyon 2022; 8:e12525. [PMID: 36619424 PMCID: PMC9816982 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The experiment is designed to evaluate the yield performance and profitability of mung bean varieties and to survey the innovation inclination of the farmers in the study area. The experiment was carried out in the potential environments of the North Shewa zone for two years during the main growing period. As experimental treatments, four mung bean cultivars of Rasa, NLV-1, Arkebe, and local varieties were used and evaluated across the four environments (two farmers' fields per each environment). The experimental plots were arranged in a simple random block design. The result of the combined analysis of variance revealed that there was highly significant variation (p < 0.01) of grain yield among the genotypes while the environments and genotype by environment interaction are found insignificant. The highest mean grain yield of 1430.6 kg ha-1 was obtained from the improved variety Rasa, which was selected first by the farmers followed by the variety NVL-1. The results also confirmed the existence of a strong and statistically significant association between the actual values rank and the farmers' preference rank for both grain and biomass yields (R = .80, p < .001). Also, the variety Rasa provides the highest (686.6%) marginal rate of return on investment. Therefore, by considering the results of the grain yield performance, farmers' selection, and the result of the partial budget analysis the variety Rasa was recommended for the study areas.
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Impact assessment of Striga resistant maize varieties and fertilizer use in Ghana: A panel analysis. Food Energy Secur 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/fes3.432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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8
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Divergence between Willingness and Behavior of Farmers to Purchase Socialized Agricultural Services: From a Heterogeneity Perspective of Land Scale. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11081121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The low-level dilemma of farmers’ Socialized Agricultural Services (SAS) purchases is a realistic problem facing the construction of socialized service systems in China’s major grain-producing areas. Existing research lacks the necessary attention on the decision-making mechanism of farmers’ purchases of SAS, resulting in a large gap between theoretical research and real-world problems. Based on the data of 638 households in China’s main grain-producing areas, this paper empirically analyzes the influence mechanism of heterogeneous land scale on deviation between farmers’ willingness and behavior to purchase SAS, and discusses the heterogeneity of the influence mechanism under different production links. The findings indicate that the degree of divergence between farmers’ willingness to purchase SAS and their behavior is large. (1) There is a significant threshold effect of land scale on the degree of divergence between farmers’ willingness and behavior to purchase SAS, and the threshold value is ten mu. The increase in land scale will significantly enlarge the divergence between small-scale farmers’ purchase willingness and behavior. However, it will significantly reduce the divergence between large-scale farmers’ purchase willingness and behavior. (2) From the demand side, household income and health will significantly reduce the divergence among farmers of different business sizes. Family burden and land fragmentation are essential factors affecting the degree of divergence of small-scale farmers, while education and the value of their own machinery significantly affect the degree of divergence of large-scale farmers. From the supply side, whether there are local suppliers and their matching degree with farmers significantly reduces the divergence among farmers of different business scales. However, small-scale farmers are more sensitive to the price and quality of agricultural services, while large-scale farmers have higher requirements for the degree of regulation of supplying agents. (3) There is heterogeneity in the influence mechanisms of divergence between farmers’ willingness to purchase SAS and their behavior under different product segments. In addition, our findings highlight how to realize the transformation from declarative preference to explicit preference in promoting farmers’ purchases of SAS.
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9
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Estimating the potential to close yield gaps through increased efficiency of chickpea production in Ethiopia. Food Secur 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12571-022-01285-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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10
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Zegeye MB, Meshesha GB, Shah MI. Measuring the poverty reduction effects of adopting agricultural technologies in rural Ethiopia: findings from an endogenous switching regression approach. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09495. [PMID: 35647345 PMCID: PMC9130521 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to understand how the adoption of different agricultural technologies can reduce poverty in rural regions of Ethiopia. To attain this objective, this paper uses a comprehensive socio-economic survey of Ethiopia, which allows us to securitize the household level information. The paper uses a multinomial endogenous switching regression model to estimate the impact of alternative technologies adoption on poverty reduction on a sample of 2316 farm households, and a multinomial logit model to estimate the determinants of alternative agricultural technologies adoption. The results showed that the decision to adopt alternative agricultural technologies depends on several variables such as education, regional heterogeneity, remittance income, extension visit, credit access, off-farm activity, soil quality, farm size, tropical livestock unit, distance, plot's potential wetness, and ownership certification. The impact results of the study show that household consumption increases when households adopt alternative agricultural technologies, thereby reducing their poverty. Furthermore, adoption of a package of technologies can result in higher food and total consumption per adult than single technology adoption. The paper recommends strategies for further disseminating and scaling up these technologies to help reduce poverty in Ethiopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mesele Belay Zegeye
- Department of Economics, Debre Berhan University, P.O. Box 445, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia
| | | | - Muhammad Ibrahim Shah
- Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology (REES), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Alma Mater Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Sarkar MAR, Rahman MC, Rahaman MS, Sarker MR, Islam MA, Balie J, Kabir MS. Adoption Determinants of Exotic Rice Cultivars in Bangladesh. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.813933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Agrarian Bangladesh relies heavily on rice. Since independence, many varieties have been released and targeted to increase productivity, farmers' income, and food security. However, few gained widespread adoption. Moreover, farmers in the border regions are adopting exotic cultivars, and it's gradually spreading throughout the country. But, the reasons for adopting exotic rice cultivars are still unexplored. Using field data from 1,260 farm households and 42 focus group discussions, this study analyzes farmers' preferences for domestic and exotic rice varieties and identifies the factors of adoption linked to design national breeding programs and farmers' welfare. Findings show, exotic varieties (69%) monopolized the area coverage in the dry season, whereas in the wet season, domestic varieties (58%) dominated. Farmers select exotic varieties for their better yield and price, low production costs, high grain quality, resistance to pests and diseases, and ability to withstand stresses. Risk analysis shows domestic varieties adoption is riskier with lower returns. The empirical findings indicate that household characteristics, access to institutions and infrastructure, varietal characteristics, and weather condition, all play a significant role in adoption decisions. National breeding should focus on developing rice varieties in response to market demands and farmer preferences toward sustainable food security in Bangladesh.
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Welfare impacts of improved groundnut varieties adoption and food security implications in the semi-arid areas of West Africa. Food Secur 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12571-022-01255-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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13
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Ruzzante S, Bilton A. Adoption of agricultural technologies in the developing world: A meta-analysis dataset of the empirical literature. Data Brief 2021; 38:107384. [PMID: 34621923 DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The meta-analysis dataset presented is a convenience sample from 218 separate studies of agricultural technology adoption in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Each study uses survey data to estimate a form of multiple regression of adoption of a technology (dependent variable) with a diverse array of predictor variables. Fifteen predictor variable categories are included in this dataset: Age, education, gender, household size, farming experience, land size, soil fertility, land slope, distance to inputs/outputs, access to credit, land tenure, livestock ownership, non-farm income, access to extension, and organization membership. Data have been cleaned and transformed to common units. A total of 384 statistical models are recorded, with a total of 2875 effect size estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sacha Ruzzante
- University of Toronto, 55 St George St., Toronto, ON M5S 0C9, Canada
| | - Amy Bilton
- University of Toronto, 55 St George St., Toronto, ON M5S 0C9, Canada
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Haileyesus D, Mekuriaw A. The adoption impact of wheat-chickpea double cropping on yield and farm income of smallholder farmers in Central Highlands of Ethiopia: the case of Becho district. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07203. [PMID: 34179526 PMCID: PMC8213906 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper examines impacts of adoption of wheat chickpea double cropping on yield and farm income of smallholder rural farmers in Becho district, South West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The study used cross-sectional data collected from 203 smallholder farm households selected randomly through two-stage stratified random sampling technique. Propensity score matching was employed to analyze the impacts of adoption on yield and farm income. The result showed that adoption of wheat-chickpea double cropping has significant impact on yield and farm income of the group of adopter households compared to the group of non-adopters. With regard to yield, adopters harvested average wheat yield of 2120 kg/ha, while the non-adopters harvested average wheat yield of 1420 kg/ha. In addition, the treated households earned average annual farm income of about 709.125 Euro per year from sale of both wheat and chickpea as adopters; while the non-adopters earned average farm income of 129 Euro from sale of wheat. These results imply that scaling out of wheat-chickpea double cropping contributes to food security and rural livelihood improvement through yield and farm income increment. Hence, encouraging farmers towards adoption of wheat-chickpea double cropping is essential for improving livelihoods of rural households by properly addressing factors such as access to improved seeds, training on double cropping, involvement in non-farm income activities, access to broad bed maker (BBM), ownership of tropical livestock unit (TLU) and access to fertilizer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abate Mekuriaw
- College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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15
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Ojiewo CO, Omoigui LO, Pasupuleti J, Lenné JM. Grain legume seed systems for smallholder farmers: Perspectives on successful innovations. OUTLOOK ON AGRICULTURE 2020; 49:286-292. [PMID: 33239829 PMCID: PMC7649931 DOI: 10.1177/0030727020953868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Grain legumes are nutritionally important components of smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Unfortunately, limited access to quality seed of improved varieties at affordable prices due to inadequate seed systems has reduced their contribution to improving nutrition and reducing poverty in these regions. This paper analyses four seed systems case studies: chickpea in Ethiopia and Myanmar; cowpea in Nigeria; and tropical grain legumes in Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda highlighting outcomes, lessons learned, and the enabling factors which supported the successful innovations. All four case studies highlighted at least some of the following outcomes: increased adoption of improved varieties and area planted; increased productivity and income to farmers; improved market access and growth; and significant national economic benefits. Important lessons were learned including the value of small seed packets to reach many farmers; the value of innovative partnerships; capacity building of value chain actors; and continuity and coherence of funding through Tropical Legumes projects II and III and the recently funded Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA) project. Successful adoption of innovations depends not just on the right technologies but also on the enabling environment. The case studies clearly showed that market demand was correctly identified, establishment of successful partners and institutional linkages overcame constraints in production and delivery of improved seed to smallholders, and fostered conducive policies supported national seed systems. All were integral to seed system viability and sustainability. It is hoped that these examples will provide potential models for future grain legume seed systems efforts. In addition, the analysis identified a number of areas that require further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris O Ojiewo
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics-Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lucky O Omoigui
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Janila Pasupuleti
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics-Patancheru, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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16
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Instrumental variables and the claim of causality: Evidence from impact studies in maize systems. GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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17
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Jaleta M, Tesfaye K, Kilian A, Yirga C, Habte E, Beyene H, Abeyo B, Badebo A, Erenstein O. Misidentification by farmers of the crop varieties they grow: Lessons from DNA fingerprinting of wheat in Ethiopia. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235484. [PMID: 32634144 PMCID: PMC7340313 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate identification of crop varieties grown by farmers is crucial, among others, for crop management, food security and varietal development and dissemination purposes. One may expect varietal identification to be more challenging in the context of developing countries where literacy and education are limited and informal seed systems and seed recycling are common. This paper evaluates the extent to which smallholder farmers misidentify their wheat varieties in Ethiopia and explores the associated factors and their implications. The study uses data from a nationally representative wheat growing sample household survey and DNA fingerprinting of seed samples from 3,884 wheat plots in major wheat growing zones of Ethiopia. 28-34% of the farmers correctly identified their wheat varieties. Correct identification was positively associated with farmer education and seed purchases from trusted sources (cooperatives or known farmers) and negatively associated with seed recycling. Farmers' varietal identification thereby is problematic and leads to erroneous results in adoption and impact assessments. DNA fingerprinting can enhance varietal identification but remains mute in the identification of contextual and explanatory factors. Thus, combining household survey and DNA fingerprinting approaches is needed for reliable varietal adoption and impact assessments, and generate useful knowledge to inform policy recommendations related to varietal replacement and seed systems development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moti Jaleta
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kindie Tesfaye
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Chilot Yirga
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Endeshaw Habte
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Bekele Abeyo
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ayele Badebo
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Olaf Erenstein
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
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18
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Ojiewo C, Monyo E, Desmae H, Boukar O, Mukankusi‐Mugisha C, Thudi M, Pandey MK, Saxena RK, Gaur PM, Chaturvedi SK, Fikre A, Ganga Rao NPVR, SameerKumar CV, Okori P, Janila P, Rubyogo JC, Godfree C, Akpo E, Omoigui L, Nkalubo S, Fenta B, Binagwa P, Kilango M, Williams M, Mponda O, Okello D, Chichaybelu M, Miningou A, Bationo J, Sako D, Diallo S, Echekwu C, Umar ML, Oteng‐Frimpong R, Mohammed H, Varshney RK. Genomics, genetics and breeding of tropical legumes for better livelihoods of smallholder farmers. PLANT BREEDING = ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PFLANZENZUCHTUNG 2019; 138:487-499. [PMID: 31787790 PMCID: PMC6876654 DOI: 10.1111/pbr.12554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Legumes are important components of sustainable agricultural production, food, nutrition and income systems of developing countries. In spite of their importance, legume crop production is challenged by a number of biotic (diseases and pests) and abiotic stresses (heat, frost, drought and salinity), edaphic factors (associated with soil nutrient deficits) and policy issues (where less emphasis is put on legumes compared to priority starchy staples). Significant research and development work have been done in the past decade on important grain legumes through collaborative bilateral and multilateral projects as well as the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes (CRP-GL). Through these initiatives, genomic resources and genomic tools such as draft genome sequence, resequencing data, large-scale genomewide markers, dense genetic maps, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and diagnostic markers have been developed for further use in multiple genetic and breeding applications. Also, these mega-initiatives facilitated release of a number of new varieties and also dissemination of on-the-shelf varieties to the farmers. More efforts are needed to enhance genetic gains by reducing the time required in cultivar development through integration of genomics-assisted breeding approaches and rapid generation advancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Ojiewo
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)NairobiKenya
| | - Emmanuel Monyo
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)NairobiKenya
| | | | - Ousmane Boukar
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)KanoNigeria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Stanley Nkalubo
- National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO)NamulongeUganda
| | - Berhanu Fenta
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)MelkassaEthiopia
| | - Papias Binagwa
- Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI)ArushaTanzania
| | | | | | | | - David Okello
- National Semi Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI)SorotiUganda
| | | | - Amos Miningou
- Environmental Institute for Agricultural Research (INERA)OuagadougouBurkina Faso
| | - Joseph Bationo
- Environmental Institute for Agricultural Research (INERA)OuagadougouBurkina Faso
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19
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Varshney RK, Ojiewo C, Monyo E. A decade of Tropical Legumes projects: Development and adoption of improved varieties, creation of market-demand to benefit smallholder farmers and empowerment of national programmes in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. PLANT BREEDING = ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PFLANZENZUCHTUNG 2019; 138:379-388. [PMID: 31762525 PMCID: PMC6853253 DOI: 10.1111/pbr.12744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
This article highlights 12 years (2007-2019) of research, achievements, lessons learned, challenges and gaps in discovery-to-delivery research in legumes emanating from three projects, collectively called Tropical Legumes (TL) with a total investment of about US$ 67 million funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These projects were implemented by three CGIAR centres (ICRISAT, CIAT and IITA) together with 15 national agricultural research system partners in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The TL projects together with some of their precursors and complementary projects from other agencies, facilitated the development of 266 improved legume varieties and the production of about 497,901 tons of certified seeds of the target legume crops in the focus countries. The certified seeds have been planted on about 5.0 million ha by more than 25 million smallholder farmers in the 15 countries and beyond, producing about 6.1 million tons of grain worth US$ 3.2 billion. Furthermore, the projects also trained 52 next generation scientists that included 10 women, by supporting 34 Masters degrees and 18 PhD degrees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeev K. Varshney
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)PatancheruIndia
| | - Chris Ojiewo
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)NairobiKenya
| | - Emmanuel Monyo
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)NairobiKenya
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20
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Wossen T, Alene A, Abdoulaye T, Feleke S, Manyong V. Agricultural technology adoption and household welfare: Measurement and evidence. FOOD POLICY 2019; 87:101742. [PMID: 32025080 PMCID: PMC6988438 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2019.101742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies on the adoption and impacts of improved crop varieties have relied on self-reported adoption status of the surveyed households. However, in the presence of weak variety maintenance and poorly functioning seed certification system, measurement errors in self-reported adoption status can be considerable. This paper investigates how such measurement errors can lead to biased welfare estimates. Using DNA-fingerprinting based varietal identification as a benchmark, we find that misclassification in self-reported adoption status is considerable, with significant false negative and positive response rates. We empirically show that such measurement errors lead to welfare estimates that are biased towards zero and substantially understate the poverty reduction effects of adoption. While the empirical evidence suggests attenuation bias, our theoretical exposition and simulations demonstrate that upward bias and sign reversal effects are also possible. The results point to the need for improved monitoring of the diffusion process of improved varieties through innovative adoption data collection approaches to generate robust evidence for prioritizing and justifying investments in agricultural research and extension.
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21
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Household Welfare Implications of Better Fertilizer Access and Lower Use Inefficiency: Long-Term Scenarios for Ethiopia. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11143952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
High population growth in Ethiopia is aggravating farmland scarcity, as the agrarian share of the population stays persistently high, and also creates increasing demand for food and non-food biomass. Based on this fact, this study investigates welfare implications of intensification measures like interventions that improve access and use efficiency to modern farming inputs. Using a dynamic meso-economic modeling framework for Ethiopia, ex-ante scenarios that simulate a) decreased costs of fertilizer use and b) elevated efficiency of fertilizer application for all crops are run for a period of 20 years. Fertilizer-yield response functions are estimated (based on results from an agronomic crop model and actual survey data) and embedded into the economic model in order to get realistic marginal returns to fertilizer application. This is our novel methodological contribution in which we introduce how to calculate input use inefficiency based on attainable yield levels from agronomic crop model and actual yield levels. Simultaneous implementation of these interventions lead to annual yield increases of 8.7 percent for an average crop farmer compared to the current level. Increased fertilizer application is also found to be profitable for an average farmer despite price reduction for crops following increased market supply. As a result of price and income effects of the interventions, all household types exhibit welfare gain. Non-farming households, being net consumers, enjoy lower costs of living. Rural farming households enjoy even higher welfare gain than non-farming households because they consume a higher share from crop commodities that become cheaper, and because their farming profits increase.
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Abstract
Agricultural researchers have developed a number of agricultural technologies and practices, known collectively as climate-smart agriculture (CSA), as part of climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. Development practitioners invest in scaling these to have a wider impact. We use the example of the Western Highlands in Guatemala to illustrate how a focus on the number of farmers adopting CSA can foster a tendency to homogenize farmers, instead of recognizing differentiation within farming populations. Poverty is endemic in the Western Highlands, and inequitable land distribution means that farmers have, on average, access to 0.06 ha per person. For many farmers, agriculture per se does not represent a pathway out of poverty, and they are increasingly reliant on non-agricultural income sources. Ineffective targeting of CSA, hence, ignores small-scale farming households’ different capacities for livelihood transformation, which are linked to the opportunities and constraints afforded by different livelihood pathways, agricultural and non-agricultural. Climate-smart interventions will often require a broader and more radical agenda that includes supporting farm households’ ability to build non-agricultural-based livelihoods. Climate risk management options that include livelihood transformation of both agricultural and non-agricultural livelihoods will require concerted cross-disciplinary research and development that encompasses a broader set of disciplines than has tended to be the case to date within the context of CSA.
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Michler JD, Baylis K, Arends-Kuenning M, Mazvimavi K. Conservation agriculture and climate resilience. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT 2019; 93:148-169. [PMID: 30739962 PMCID: PMC6358000 DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural productivity growth is vital for economic and food security outcomes which are threatened by climate change. In response, governments and development agencies are encouraging the adoption of 'climate-smart' agricultural technologies, such as conservation agriculture (CA). However, there is little rigorous evidence that demonstrates the effect of CA on production or climate resilience, and what evidence exists is hampered by selection bias. Using panel data from Zimbabwe, we test how CA performs during extreme rainfall events - both shortfalls and surpluses. We control for the endogenous adoption decision and find that use of CA in years of average rainfall results in no yield gains, and in some cases yield loses. However, CA is effective in mitigating the negative impacts of deviations in rainfall. We conclude that the lower yields during normal rainfall seasons may be a proximate factor in low uptake of CA. Policy should focus promotion of CA on these climate resilience benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D. Michler
- Dept. of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | - Kathy Baylis
- Dept. of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois, Urbana, USA
| | - Mary Arends-Kuenning
- Dept. of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois, Urbana, USA
| | - Kizito Mazvimavi
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
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Verkaart S, Mausch K, Claessens L, Giller KE. A recipe for success? Learning from the rapid adoption of improved chickpea varieties in Ethiopia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY 2018; 17:34-48. [PMID: 30828358 PMCID: PMC6382285 DOI: 10.1080/14735903.2018.1559007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Many studies detail constraints deemed responsible for the limited adoption of new technologies among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. By contrast, here we study the conditions that led to the remarkably fast spread of improved chickpea varieties in Ethiopia. Within just seven years, the adoption rate rose from 30 to 80% of the farmers. A combination of factors explains the rapid uptake. Their attraction lay in superior returns and disease resistance. Chickpea was already an important crop for rural households in the studied districts, for both cash income and consumption. Good market access and an easy accessibility of extension services advanced the adoption process. Thus, an attractive technology suitable for rural households in a conducive environment enabled adoption. Our findings prompt us to stress the importance of tailoring agricultural innovations to the realities and demands of rural households, and the need to design and deploy interventions on the basis of ex-ante knowledge on factors potentially determining their success or failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Verkaart
- Eastern and Southern Africa Program, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Nairobi, Kenya
- Development Economics Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Kai Mausch
- Eastern and Southern Africa Program, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Nairobi, Kenya
- Impact Acceleration Unit, World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lieven Claessens
- Soil Geography and Landscape Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
- Natural Resource Management Program, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Ken E. Giller
- Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Kosmowski F, Worku T. Evaluation of a miniaturized NIR spectrometer for cultivar identification: The case of barley, chickpea and sorghum in Ethiopia. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193620. [PMID: 29561868 PMCID: PMC5862431 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Crop cultivar identification is fundamental for agricultural research, industry and policies. This paper investigates the feasibility of using visible/near infrared hyperspectral data collected with a miniaturized NIR spectrometer to identify cultivars of barley, chickpea and sorghum in the context of Ethiopia. A total of 2650 grains of barley, chickpea and sorghum cultivars were scanned using the SCIO, a recently released miniaturized NIR spectrometer. The effects of data preprocessing techniques and choosing a machine learning algorithm on distinguishing cultivars are further evaluated. Predictive multiclass models of 24 barley cultivars, 19 chickpea cultivars and 10 sorghum cultivars delivered an accuracy of 89%, 96% and 87% on hold-out sample. The Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) algorithms consistently outperformed other algorithms. Several cultivars, believed to be widely adopted in Ethiopia, were identified with perfect accuracy. These results advance the discussion on cultivar identification survey methods by demonstrating that miniaturized NIR spectrometers represent a low-cost, rapid and viable tool. We further discuss the potential utility of the method for adoption surveys, field-scale agronomic studies, socio-economic impact assessments and value chain quality control. Finally, we provide a free tool for R to easily carry out crop cultivar identification and measure uncertainty based on spectral data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tigist Worku
- CGIAR Standing Panel on Impact Assessment, ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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