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Sustainability
Volume 16
Issue 19
10.3390/su16198600
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Communication

Farmers Preferentially Allocate More Land to Cultivation of Conventional White Maize Compared to Weevil-Resistant Biofortified Orange Maize

by
Smith G. Nkhata
*,
Finason Watson
,
Monica Chimbaza
,
Sydney Namaumbo
,
Kondwani Kammwamba
,
Gift Chisapo
,
Theresa Nakoma Ngoma
,
Madalitso Chilembo
and
Limbikani Matumba
Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, Faculty of Life Sciences and Natural Resources, Natural Resources College, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe P.O. Box 143, Malawi
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8600; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198600
Submission received: 24 May 2024 / Revised: 7 September 2024 / Accepted: 17 September 2024 / Published: 3 October 2024
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Abstract

The successful translation of biofortified orange maize (BOM) to a staple household food is dependent on farmers’ ability to cultivate and subsequently utilize it. In this study, we assessed farmers’ allocation of their land to the cultivation of BOM and conventional white maize (CWM) varieties in districts where the AFIKEPO Nutrition Program is implemented in Malawi. The results showed that farmers were skeptical of allocating more land to the cultivation of BOM. CWM was allocated significantly more land (1.75 ± 0.51 acres) than BOM (1.12 ± 0.32 acres) (p < 0.001) in all districts. More farmers (87.9%) allocated less than 1 acre to BOM cultivation. The cost of seeds did not explain the preference for CWM, as the price of seeds in Malawi Kwacha was similar for both maize types (p = 0.742). Consequently, the average number of bags (50 kg maize grains/bag) harvested was significantly lower (mean: 6.48 ± 8.27 bags; median: 4 bags) for BOM than for CWM (mean: 23.11 ± 20.54 bags; median: 17 bags). Interestingly, BOM was found to be more resistant to weevils during post-harvest storage, suggesting the potential for improved food and nutrition security for households. The knowledge of high grain resistance to weevils did not influence farmers to cultivate more BOM. This has the potential to negatively affect maize biofortification as an effective strategy to alleviate vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in developing countries. Farmers should be sensitized to identify the benefits of BOM so that they are willing to purchase seeds and grow BOM on a larger scale. Coupled with its higher resistance to storage weevils, superior taste, and nutrient content, the continued cultivation and consumption of BOM has the potential to contribute to the achievement of both food and nutrition security within communities.
Keywords: biofortified orange maize (BOM); weevils; land allocation; AFIKEPO biofortified orange maize (BOM); weevils; land allocation; AFIKEPO

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MDPI and ACS Style

Nkhata, S.G.; Watson, F.; Chimbaza, M.; Namaumbo, S.; Kammwamba, K.; Chisapo, G.; Ngoma, T.N.; Chilembo, M.; Matumba, L. Farmers Preferentially Allocate More Land to Cultivation of Conventional White Maize Compared to Weevil-Resistant Biofortified Orange Maize. Sustainability 2024, 16, 8600. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198600

AMA Style

Nkhata SG, Watson F, Chimbaza M, Namaumbo S, Kammwamba K, Chisapo G, Ngoma TN, Chilembo M, Matumba L. Farmers Preferentially Allocate More Land to Cultivation of Conventional White Maize Compared to Weevil-Resistant Biofortified Orange Maize. Sustainability. 2024; 16(19):8600. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198600

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nkhata, Smith G., Finason Watson, Monica Chimbaza, Sydney Namaumbo, Kondwani Kammwamba, Gift Chisapo, Theresa Nakoma Ngoma, Madalitso Chilembo, and Limbikani Matumba. 2024. "Farmers Preferentially Allocate More Land to Cultivation of Conventional White Maize Compared to Weevil-Resistant Biofortified Orange Maize" Sustainability 16, no. 19: 8600. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198600

APA Style

Nkhata, S. G., Watson, F., Chimbaza, M., Namaumbo, S., Kammwamba, K., Chisapo, G., Ngoma, T. N., Chilembo, M., & Matumba, L. (2024). Farmers Preferentially Allocate More Land to Cultivation of Conventional White Maize Compared to Weevil-Resistant Biofortified Orange Maize. Sustainability, 16(19), 8600. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198600

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