CHAPTER 2: FARMER PERCEPTIONS ON MAIZE CULTIVARS IN THE
2.3 Results
Table 2.3: Grain production, productivity and consumption per household
Mutasa Chipinge Mutare West
Overall F. Probability Grain Production (kg)
2004 595 255 55 285 0.00
2003 2002
670 380 55 345 0.00
765 505 240 480 0.00
Grain sold (kg)
2004 105 0 0 30 0.00
2003 160 15 0 55 0.00
0.00
2002 240 30 10 85
Grain Consumption/Month (kg)
Average 42 26 42 36 0.08
Grain Yield (kg/ha)
2004 578 46 103 243
2003 649 237 101 329
2002 745 317 439 500
2.3.3 Production Constraints
Results showed significant differences in ranking production constraints between districts (Table 2.4). Overall results indicated that non-availability of seed on the formal market followed by drought were the most important constraints. Farmers reported that commercial seed was not available on the formal market during 2002 to 2004 seasons. However, farmers in Mutare-West ranked drought first, followed by non-availability of seed as major constraints in the area. In Chipinge and Mutasa, farmers identified drought and low soil fertility as most important, respectively (Table 2.4). Household data and the focus group discussions in Chipinge (Nyakumanwa, Kondo and Changazi Villages) identified drought as more important than low soil fertility (Table 2.5). Farmers, especially in Chipinge perceived that their soils were of good fertility (Appendix 3). Opinion leaders confirmed farmers’ perception that their soils were highly fertile to the extent that they sold the free packs of fertiliser from donors. Farmers also perceived that use of inorganic fertiliser would damage their soils. Although farmers believed that their soil was fertile, the household survey revealed that they applied 32 wheel barrows (±1500 kg) of cattle manure and 125 to 250 kg of inorganic fertiliser per hectare as basal and top dressing. The survey data also showed that the rainy season started in November and ended in March during 2002 to 2004 seasons (Appendix 3). Farmers in Mutasa rated rainfall amount as moderate, but in Chipinge it was reported that rainfall amount was too little for the maize crop. In general, drought occurred during mid to late season with different intensity. It was rated as moderate in Mutasa and severe in Chipinge and Mutare West (Appendix 3).
Table 2.4: Mean rank for perceived production constraints in formal survey
Constraint Mutasa Chipinge Mutare West Overall F. prob.
Seed Availability Drought
1.5 1.3 2.3 1.7 0.00
3.0 2.3 2.0 2.4 0.00
Poor Soil Fertility 2.2 3.2 2.8 2.8 0.00
Cultivar Problems 4.5 4.4 4.5 4.5 0.97
Disease and Insect Pests 4.1 5.1 4.3 4.5 0.02
Characteristic with smallest mean within a column was perceived to be most important
Table 2.5: Mean rank for perceived production constraints in focus group discussions
Constraint Nyakumanwa Kondo Changazi Key Informants
Low rainfall 1 1 1 1
Non-availability of seed - 2 2 2
Salt in isolated areas - - 4 -
High heat stress - - 3 3
Draught power - 3 - -
Low soil fertility 5 4 5 5
Land too small 4 5 - -
Scores used were: 1 = most important and 5 = least important; - = No information available.
2.3.4 Maize Cultivars Grown
Results from the household survey indicated that farmers predominantly grew hybrids of the following brands: Seed Co (SC), Pannar (PAN) and Pioneer (Appendix 4). Additional cultivars that were mentioned included R201, R200, R215 and the dwarf hybrids. In Chipinge and Chimanimani (Changazi Ward 20), farmers also mentioned a traditional land-race called “Chitonga”, but they recognised that it was not the ideal cultivar. There was a common perception that “Chitonga” required higher rainfall, since it was late maturing than hybrids SC403 and PAN 413 that were grown in the area. Another attribute that was disliked by farmers was that it was too tall compared to the hybrids. The preferred attributes of “Chitonga” were better taste, flintier grain and better resistance to grain weevils than commercial hybrids grown in the area. Farmers reported that “Chitonga” was also a common cultivar in Mozambique. Thus, farmers obtained the seed from Mozambique through Ndowoyo area in Chipinge and Rusitu Valley in Chimanimani.
Farmers and the opinion leaders showed very high regard for old hybrids of the 1970’s. Although they have accepted the new early maturing hybrids, the general perception was that these were not as drought tolerant as the old hybrids. However,
opinion leaders mentioned that even the old hybrids could still be improved by imparting the “sorghum-type” of tolerance. “Sorghum-type” of tolerance was defined as “the ability of a drought stricken cultivar to recover when the rain resumed after the mid-season drought. Their explanation was that the rainy season begins very well in November, with good precipitation continuing into December and a drought spell occurs in January. When rainfall resumes in February, sorghum has the ability to recover, but not maize. This implied that January is the “black” month in the area, and an “ideal” cultivar would combine early maturity and drought tolerance at flowering. In addition, opinion leaders mentioned that the ideal cultivar should also have heat stress tolerance due to very high temperatures during summer.
2.3.5 Ranking of Cultivar Traits and Preferences
Except for maturity period and yield, farmers showed significant differences in ranking of cultivar trait preferences between districts (Table 2.6 and 2.7). Although the whole sample level analysis showed high yield as the most important criterion used in varietal selection and drought as third, farmers in Mutare West identified maturity period as the most critical factor. In Mutasa, farmers ranked grain weevil and disease resistance as third ahead of both tolerance to drought and low soil fertility stress. In the absence of a truly drought tolerant cultivar, farmers preferred to plant sorghum than maize (Table 2.3). In general, farmers in all districts were not concerned much about prolificacy (number of cobs per plant), cob size, husk cover and pounding ability (Table 2.6). There were no significant differences (P>0.05) between districts for grain texture preferences (Table 2.6). Thus, consistently, farmers preferred semi-dent and flintier grain to the dent. At Changazi, farmers were of the opinion that semi-flint grain texture conferred high storability, better taste and high yield due to its superior test density (weight per unit volume). Generally, farmers preferred long thin cobs compared to long and fat.
Table 2.6: Mean rank values for preferred traits of stress tolerant cultivars from formal survey
Characteristic♣ District Overall Probability
Mutasa Chipinge Mutare General Traits
High yield 2.7 1.8 2.8 2.4 0.07
Maturity Period 3.2 2.5 2.6 2.8 0.35
Drought stress tolerance 5.3 3.1 3.8 4.1 0.01
Low soil fertility tolerance 5.0 5.6 4.0 4.9 0.00
Grain weevil resistance 3.6 4.3 6.7 4.9 0.00
Cob size 7.0 6.3 3.6 5.5 0.00
Disease resistance 3.8 4.6 7.9 5.6 0.00
Number of cobs per plant 8.4 7.1 6.0 7.1 0.00
Cob husk cover 6.5 7.7 8.3 7.5 0.00
Pounding ability 9.6 10.0 8.8 9.4 0.02
Ear or Cob Aspect
Long thin 1.6 2.2 1.5 1.7 0.00
Medium 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 0.99
Long fat 2.3 1.6 2.5 2.2 0.00
Grain Texture
Flint 1.8 1.6 1.8 1.7 0.49
Intermediate 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7 0.98
Dent 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.5 0.71
♣Characteristic with smallest mean rank is the most important in each column.
Table 7: Mean rank values for preferred traits of cultivars from focus group discussion
Trait Nyakumanwa Kondo Changazi Key
Informants
High yield 3 1 3 3
Drought tolerance 1 2 1 1
Early maturity 2 3 2 2
Resistance to insects 4 4 - 4
Disease resistance 5 5 - 5
Cob size - 5 - 5
Low soil fertility tolerance 5 5 - 5
Scores used were: 1 = most important, 5 =least important; - = No information available