participatory evaluation of vitamin a bio-fortified maize in zambia
DESCRIPTION
Participatory evaluation of vitamin a bio-fortified maize in ZambiaTRANSCRIPT
PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION OF VITAMIN-A BIO-FORTIFIED MAIZE IN ZAMBIAPresented
by
Edward Chibwe
OUTLINE
Introduction Methodology Results Conclusion
INTRODUCTION The problem
• Malnutrition is a public health problem for SSA• Micronutrient malnutrition deficiencies(Vit A, Iodine
& Iron) are common• It affects women and children• Main cause: inadequate dietary intake• In Zambia, VA deficiency affects:
• 54% of children , • 14% of pregnant women and • 19,000 children die each year from related causes
(World Bank, UNICEF)
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR
Fortification Example: maize flour (minerals) and sugar (retinol)
Supplementation Capsules
Advocacy for dietary diversity
BUT these are expensive and do not reach a majority of the target population.
RECENT DEVELOPMENT: BIO-FORTIFICATION
Definition: Process of improving the nutritive value of staple foods
How? Through conventional breeding (orange maize) or GM technology (golden rice)
Objectives: to improve the diets of poor rural households, who eat high levels of food staples
Economics: it is cost effective and sustainable
By: HarvestPlus, which has partners in many countries, for different crops
HARVESTPLUS
Crop Nutrient Countries Release
Year
SweetPotato (OFSP)
Provitamin AUganda, Kenya,
Mozambique2007
Bean Iron, Zinc Rwanda 2011
Pearl Millet Iron, Zinc India 2011
Cassava Provitamin A Nigeria 2012
Maize Provitamin A Zambia 2013
HARVESTPLUS IN ZAMBIA
Therefore... Orange maize (β-carotene rich) developed in and for Zambia because maize is widely grown and forms most of the people’s diets.
Varieties developed in collaboration with ZARI &CIMMYT
• Five varieties developed, on station:• Yield: 8-9 tons/ha, • VA: 6-7 ppm (target is 15 ppm)• Good field characteristics • Good storage
• Two varieties about to be released
Zambia Orange Maize
HP1004
HP1002
PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION Last stage in the research
Actual trials in farmer fields with new varieties
Assess farmers’ appreciation and evaluation
Participatory approach used to assess: Production characteristics Consumption characteristics Willingness to pay for orange maize seed
By comparing HP1002, HP1004 To conventional white varieties
METHODOLOGY
• 3 provinces targeted
• 8 districts that provided on-farm trial sites
• 242 farmers interviewed using structured questionnaire
FARMER CHARACTERISTICS
Variable Average Std DevFormal Education (yrs) 8 3Experience in maize farming (yrs) 17 11Household size 8 4Under 5 children in the HH 2 2Total cultivated land (Ha) 5 4Total land for maize (Ha) 3 3Production (tons) 6 7Maize yield (tons/Ha) 2 2# of maize varieties planted 2 1
68% Sold and 26% consumed of maize produced
1. EVALUATION PRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS
Farmer is asked to visit the plot and observe Score each variety (1=very poor, 2=poor,
3=fair, 4=good, 5=very good ) For:
Yield Cob size Cob fill Colour
RESULTS - EVALUATION OF PRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS
2. EVALUATION OF CONSUMPTION CHARACTERISTICS EVALUATED FOR COLOUR, TEXTURE, TASTE AND AROMA TWO MAJOR MAIZE PREPS USED
Nshima (Ugali) Boiled maize
RESULTS: EVALUATION OF CONSUMPTION CHARACTERISTICS
Nshima (Ugali) Boiled maize
Ize1=
3.ESTIMATING WILLINGNESS T0 PAY FOR MAIZE SEED VARIETIES
Farmers were asked how willing they were in buying a 1 pack (10kg) seed of OM and white varieties at the given seed price of: 400,000 ZMK (US$ 80) 200,000 ZMK (US$ 40) 100,000 ZMK (US$ 20) 50,000 ZMK (US$ 10)
0 (would you accept it for free)?
RESULTS: ESTIMATING WILLINGNESS T0 PAY FOR MAIZE SEED VARIETIES
CONCLUSION
Farmers appreciate the new varieties in the fieldEspecially the yield and cob
fillingFor both nshima and boiled maize preparations, orange was superiorEspecially aroma and taste
WTP for new varieties is higher
WAY FORWARD
Orange varieties are well received, and H+ should continue with its promotion and on-farm testing
However, these surveys were combined with farmer field days which might have influenced the results.
Therefore, a more neutral approach with a large and representative sample is indicated for the future
THANK
YOU!... For Your Time
IronZinc
Provitamin A