Is Older Better? Maize Hybrid Change on Household Farms in Kenya

Melinda Smale () and John Olwande

No 118474, Food Security International Development Working Papers from Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

Abstract: Kenya has been recognized globally as maize success story since the 1970s. Released on the eve of independence, Kenya’s first maize hybrid diffused faster than did hybrids in the U.S Corn Belt during the 1930s-1940s. In recent decades, policy researchers have lamented that earlier gains in maize productivity have not lived up to their potential. Claims of stagnating yields and stagnating adoption are offset here, at least in part, by longitudinal survey data showing rising yields and adoption rates on farms. Tegemeo survey data confirm that Kenya has reached its adoption ceiling years ago in the major maize producing zones of the country, and is near to doing so in other zones. Data show adoption rates topping 80% of farmers.

Keywords: Agricultural; and; Food; Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 34
Date: 2011-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr and nep-agr
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Is Older Better? Maize Hybrid Change on Household Farms in Kenya (2012)
Working Paper: Is Older Better? Maize Hybrid Change on Household Farms in Kenya (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:midiwp:118474

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.118474

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