Hybrid maize seed use and maize productivity in Uganda

Abstract

Hybrid maize seed offers a great opportunity for addressing the challenge of low maize yields among smallholder maize farmers who suffer from low productivity due to limited use of improved technologies. The overall aim of this study was to assess hybrid maize seed usage among smallholder maize farmers in major maize growing areas in Uganda. The study used secondary data collected by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) project through its Feed the Future (FTF) initiative that aimed at supporting the development of a program for input quality assurance called e-verification (EV). The results indicated that users and non-users of hybrid maize seed significantly differed in terms of membership to farmer group, herbicide use, fertilizer use, ability to read and write, possession of off-farm income, use of irrigation, ownership of the radio, ownership of a phone, age of household head, land owned and maize yield obtained. Results also showed that the most highly grown maize varieties were Longe 5, Longe 1, Longe 4 and Longe 6H with maize yield obtained generally lower than station yields for all varieties considered. The key factors influencing choice of hybrid maize seed were: education level of household head, age of household head, farmer group membership, occurrence of drought, ability to read and write, use of fertilizers and use of herbicides. On the other hand, the yield obtained by the farmers was influenced by family labour, occurrence of drought, possession of off-farm income and use of irrigation. It is thus recommended that farmers increase use of external inputs especially chemical fertilizers and herbicides; use collective labour from their farmer groups and co-operatives; use of appropriate irrigation systems; start alternative income activities and form Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and Rotating Credit and Credit Associations (ROSCAs). Government should: increase distribution of hybrid drought tolerant maize varieties, fertilizers, herbicides especially through Operation Wealth Creation; increase the number of extension programs both in private and public institutions; promote policies to reduce land fragmentation in families; encourage farmer group formation for collective labour and saving group formation; sensitize farmers; eliminate gender gaps in commercial agriculture; start a nationally owned agricultural bank to give agricultural credit; promote adult literacy and subsidize radios to enable affordability.