This document summarizes the participatory evaluation of vitamin-A biofortified maize varieties in Zambia. Farmers evaluated new orange maize varieties for production and consumption characteristics and expressed willingness to pay for the seeds. For production, orange varieties had higher yields and cob filling than white varieties. For consumption, orange maize was rated superior for aroma and taste in the two major preparations. Farmers' willingness to pay for orange seeds was higher than for conventional white seeds. The evaluation concluded orange varieties were well-received but indicated larger representative surveys were needed to validate the results.
3. 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)
4. 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.
5. 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
6. HARVESTPLUS
Release
Crop Nutrient Countries
Year
Sweet Uganda,
Potato Provitamin A Kenya, 2007
(OFSP) Mozambique
Bean Iron, Zinc Rwanda 2011
Pearl Millet Iron, Zinc India 2011
Cassava Provitamin A Nigeria 2012
Maize Provitamin A Zambia 2013
7. 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
9. 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
10. METHODOLOGY
• 3 provinces targeted
• 8 districts that
provided on-farm trial
sites
• 242 farmers
interviewed using
structured
questionnaire
11. FARMER CHARACTERISTICS
Variable Average Std Dev
Formal Education (yrs) 8 3
Experience in maize farming (yrs) 17 11
Household size 8 4
Under 5 children in the HH 2 2
Total cultivated land (Ha) 5 4
Total land for maize (Ha) 3 3
Production (tons) 6 7
Maize yield (tons/Ha) 2 2
# of maize varieties planted 2 1
68% Sold and 26% consumed of maize produced
12. 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
16. 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)?
18. CONCLUSION
Farmers appreciate the new
varieties in the field
Especially the yield and cob
filling
For both nshima and boiled
maize preparations, orange was
superior
Especially aroma and taste
WTP for new varieties is higher
19. 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
20. Zinc
Iron
THAN Provitamin A
K
YOU!... For Your Time