Sticking with the old seed: Input value chains and the challenges to deliver genetic gains to smallholder maize farmers
The Kenyan maize seed sector exhibits high hybrid adoption rates, a growing number of seed companies, and an extensive agro-dealer network. Nonetheless, maize yields remain low and uptake of new, stress-tolerant varieties has been disappointing. This article investigates interactions in maize seed v...
| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
SAGE Publications
2020
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171332 |
| _version_ | 1855537044852310016 |
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| author | Rutsaert, Pieter Donovan, Jason |
| author_browse | Donovan, Jason Rutsaert, Pieter |
| author_facet | Rutsaert, Pieter Donovan, Jason |
| author_sort | Rutsaert, Pieter |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | The Kenyan maize seed sector exhibits high hybrid adoption rates, a growing number of seed companies, and an extensive agro-dealer network. Nonetheless, maize yields remain low and uptake of new, stress-tolerant varieties has been disappointing. This article investigates interactions in maize seed value chains in Kenya, and decisions made by agro-dealers, farmers, and seed companies, to gain a better understanding of how to encourage the uptake of new, stress-tolerant varieties. Data were collected during the 2019 seed-purchasing season from Kenyan seed companies (n = 8), agro-dealers (n = 80), and farmers immediately following their seed purchase (n = 466). Most agro-dealers had a wide offer of seed products available, but seed companies’ engagement with them was limited and marketing efforts were directly focused on farmers. Only a fraction of farmers used the agro-dealer environment to guide their decision-making. However, when agro-dealers engaged with farmers, they influenced varietal selection in 80% of the cases. Agro-dealers were one of the key information outlets about maize seed varieties. Seed company engagement with agro-dealers and in-store promotions (push marketing) should be further explored to improve returns on investments in seed systems. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace171332 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publishDateRange | 2020 |
| publishDateSort | 2020 |
| publisher | SAGE Publications |
| publisherStr | SAGE Publications |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1713322025-02-19T14:36:35Z Sticking with the old seed: Input value chains and the challenges to deliver genetic gains to smallholder maize farmers Rutsaert, Pieter Donovan, Jason seeds maize seed systems marketing farmers yields hybrid seed production hybrids smallholders value chains marketing techniques The Kenyan maize seed sector exhibits high hybrid adoption rates, a growing number of seed companies, and an extensive agro-dealer network. Nonetheless, maize yields remain low and uptake of new, stress-tolerant varieties has been disappointing. This article investigates interactions in maize seed value chains in Kenya, and decisions made by agro-dealers, farmers, and seed companies, to gain a better understanding of how to encourage the uptake of new, stress-tolerant varieties. Data were collected during the 2019 seed-purchasing season from Kenyan seed companies (n = 8), agro-dealers (n = 80), and farmers immediately following their seed purchase (n = 466). Most agro-dealers had a wide offer of seed products available, but seed companies’ engagement with them was limited and marketing efforts were directly focused on farmers. Only a fraction of farmers used the agro-dealer environment to guide their decision-making. However, when agro-dealers engaged with farmers, they influenced varietal selection in 80% of the cases. Agro-dealers were one of the key information outlets about maize seed varieties. Seed company engagement with agro-dealers and in-store promotions (push marketing) should be further explored to improve returns on investments in seed systems. 2020-03 2025-01-29T12:58:01Z 2025-01-29T12:58:01Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171332 en Open Access SAGE Publications Rutsaert, Pieter; and Donovan, Jason. 2020. Sticking with the old seed: Input value chains and the challenges to deliver genetic gains to smallholder maize farmers. Outlook on Agriculture 49(1): 39-49. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030727019900520 |
| spellingShingle | seeds maize seed systems marketing farmers yields hybrid seed production hybrids smallholders value chains marketing techniques Rutsaert, Pieter Donovan, Jason Sticking with the old seed: Input value chains and the challenges to deliver genetic gains to smallholder maize farmers |
| title | Sticking with the old seed: Input value chains and the challenges to deliver genetic gains to smallholder maize farmers |
| title_full | Sticking with the old seed: Input value chains and the challenges to deliver genetic gains to smallholder maize farmers |
| title_fullStr | Sticking with the old seed: Input value chains and the challenges to deliver genetic gains to smallholder maize farmers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sticking with the old seed: Input value chains and the challenges to deliver genetic gains to smallholder maize farmers |
| title_short | Sticking with the old seed: Input value chains and the challenges to deliver genetic gains to smallholder maize farmers |
| title_sort | sticking with the old seed input value chains and the challenges to deliver genetic gains to smallholder maize farmers |
| topic | seeds maize seed systems marketing farmers yields hybrid seed production hybrids smallholders value chains marketing techniques |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171332 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rutsaertpieter stickingwiththeoldseedinputvaluechainsandthechallengestodelivergeneticgainstosmallholdermaizefarmers AT donovanjason stickingwiththeoldseedinputvaluechainsandthechallengestodelivergeneticgainstosmallholdermaizefarmers |