Wheat farmers seed management and varietal adoption in Kenya
1999
Gamba, P. | Ngugi, C. | Verkuijl, H. | Mwangi, W.M. | Kiriswa, F.
The most known wheat varieties by both the small-scale and large-scale farmers were Mbuni, Nyangumi, Fahari, Kwale and Tembo, while Mbuni and K wale were the varieties widely grown. The recent varieties such as Duma, Mbege, and Ngamia were hardly known/grown by farmers. This mainly reflects lack of the seed of the new wheat varieties. The main sources of wheat seed (old and new) for both the small-scale and large-scale farmers were other farmers. Farmers' wheat seed management practices were on the whole similar between the small-scale and large-scale farmers. But significantly more large-scale farmers had separate fields for seed, selected seed at harvest and stored seed separately than the small-scale farmers. The adoption of new wheat varieties was significantly higher in the high potential zone, in Uasin Gishu District and by large-scale farmers than in the low potential zone, in Nakuru/Narok districts and by small-scale farmers. The logit model showed that household size and seed retention period had a negative impact on adoption of new wheat varieties whereas farm size, commercial wheat price, years in wheat farming and seed selection had a positive impact. These factors wil1 need to be taken into account by research, extension and policy.
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