Grain Quality and Crop Breeding when Farmers Consumer their Grain: Evidence from Malawi

Melinda Smale () and Paul W. Heisey

No 198058, 1997 Occasional Paper Series No. 7 from International Association of Agricultural Economists

Abstract: When farmers consume much of their grain output, end-use quality, in addition to standard production characteristics, affects farmers' seed choice and the economic returns to investment in crop breeding. Evidence from Malawi suggests that despite a lengthy research lag, emphasizing grain quality in recent years will amplify returns to research. Yet the story of that research breakthrough also suggests that when market signals are weak, physical and the social scientists who seek to play an informative role must be especially cautious in their assessment of research priorities.

Keywords: Crop Production/Industries; Farm Management; International Development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 13
Date: 1997
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:iaaeo7:198058

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.198058

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