IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ssefpa/v15y2023i5d10.1007_s12571-023-01378-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Adoption and impact of improved amaranth cultivars in Tanzania using DNA fingerprinting

Author

Listed:
  • Rosina Wanyama

    (World Vegetable Center, Eastern and Southern Africa)

  • Pepijn Schreinemachers

    (World Vegetable Center, East and Southeast Asia)

  • Justus Ochieng’

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT)

  • Omary Bwambo

    (World Vegetable Center, Eastern and Southern Africa)

  • Roselyne Alphonce

    (Sokoine University of Agriculture)

  • Fekadu Fufa Dinssa

    (World Vegetable Center, Eastern and Southern Africa)

  • Ya-ping Lin

    (World Vegetable Center)

  • Roland Schafleitner

    (World Vegetable Center)

Abstract

Traditional vegetables are very important for food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa but have not received much attention in crop improvement research. One exception is amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) for which international breeding research began at the World Vegetable Center in Tanzania in 2004. This study is the first impact evaluation of this research program. It uses a representative sample of 1,355 amaranth-producing households from five agroecological zones of Tanzania to collect questionnaire-based data and plant material. The genetic identity of the amaranth cultivars used by the farmers was identified using DNA fingerprinting, while the impact on crop yield, production cost and sales was quantified using propensity score matching. The analysis shows that 66% of Tanzania’s cultivated area under amaranth uses cultivars derived from the amaranth breeding program. These cultivars had a mean vegetable yield that was 6.1 ton/ha higher (+ 48%; p = 0.002) than that of other cultivars, while there was no significant impact on the cost of production or quantity sold. This suggests tremendous impact of genetic improvement research in traditional vegetables.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosina Wanyama & Pepijn Schreinemachers & Justus Ochieng’ & Omary Bwambo & Roselyne Alphonce & Fekadu Fufa Dinssa & Ya-ping Lin & Roland Schafleitner, 2023. "Adoption and impact of improved amaranth cultivars in Tanzania using DNA fingerprinting," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(5), pages 1185-1196, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:15:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1007_s12571-023-01378-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-023-01378-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12571-023-01378-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12571-023-01378-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fischer, Elisabeth & Qaim, Matin, 2012. "Gender, Agricultural Commercialization, and Collective Action in Kenya," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 121229, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    2. Tesfamicheal Wossen & Tahirou Abdoulaye & Arega Alene & Pierre Nguimkeu & Shiferaw Feleke & Ismail Y Rabbi & Mekbib G Haile & Victor Manyong, 2019. "Estimating the Productivity Impacts of Technology Adoption in the Presence of Misclassification," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 101(1), pages 1-16.
    3. Gitonga, Zachary M. & De Groote, Hugo & Kassie, Menale & Tefera, Tadele, 2013. "Impact of metal silos on households’ maize storage, storage losses and food security: An application of a propensity score matching," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 44-55.
    4. Rachel Cernansky, 2015. "The rise of Africa’s super vegetables," Nature, Nature, vol. 522(7555), pages 146-148, June.
    5. Marco Caliendo & Sabine Kopeinig, 2008. "Some Practical Guidance For The Implementation Of Propensity Score Matching," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 31-72, February.
    6. Learnmore Mwadzingeni & Victor Afari-Sefa & Hussein Shimelis & Sognigbé N’Danikou & Sandiswa Figlan & Lutz Depenbusch & Admire I.T. Shayanowako & Takemore Chagomoka & Malven Mushayi & Pepijn Schreinem, 2021. "Unpacking the value of traditional African vegetables for food and nutrition security," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(5), pages 1215-1226, October.
    7. Ayala Wineman & Timothy Njagi & C. Leigh Anderson & Travis W. Reynolds & Didier Yélognissè Alia & Priscilla Wainaina & Eric Njue & Pierre Biscaye & Miltone W. Ayieko, 2020. "A Case of Mistaken Identity? Measuring Rates of Improved Seed Adoption in Tanzania Using DNA Fingerprinting," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 71(3), pages 719-741, September.
    8. Fischer, Elisabeth & Qaim, Matin, 2012. "Gender, Agricultural Commercialization, and Collective Action in Kenya," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126659, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    9. Victorino O. Floro & Ricardo A. Labarta & Luis A. Becerra López†Lavalle & Jose M. Martinez & Tatiana M. Ovalle, 2018. "Household Determinants of the Adoption of Improved Cassava Varieties using DNA Fingerprinting to Identify Varieties in Farmer Fields: A Case Study in Colombia," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 69(2), pages 518-536, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wossen, Tesfamicheal & Abay, Kibrom A. & Abdoulaye, Tahirou, 2022. "Misperceiving and misreporting input quality: Implications for input use and productivity," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    2. Raoul Herrmann & Ephraim Nkonya & Anja Faße, 2018. "Food value chain linkages and household food security in Tanzania," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(4), pages 827-839, August.
    3. McNamara, Paul E. & Lee, Han Bum, 2017. "Strengthening Nutrition and Improving Livelihoods through Linking Women Farmers to Markets," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258091, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Verhofstadt, Ellen & Maertens, Miet, 2013. "Cooperative membership and agricultural performance: Evidence from Rwanda," Working Papers 157389, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Centre for Agricultural and Food Economics.
    5. Schreinemachers, Pepijn & Wu, Mei-huey & Uddin, Md. Nasir & Ahmad, Shahabuddin & Hanson, Peter, 2016. "Farmer training in off-season vegetables: Effects on income and pesticide use in Bangladesh," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 132-140.
    6. Kassie, Menale & Fisher, Monica & Muricho, Geoffrey & Diiro, Gracious, 2020. "Women’s empowerment boosts the gains in dietary diversity from agricultural technology adoption in rural Kenya," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    7. Kangile, Rajabu Joseph, 2015. "Efficiency In Production By Smallholder Rice Farmers Under Cooperative Irrigation Schemes In Pwani And Morogoro Regions, Tanzania," Research Theses 265681, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    8. Ayala Wineman & Timothy Njagi & C. Leigh Anderson & Travis W. Reynolds & Didier Yélognissè Alia & Priscilla Wainaina & Eric Njue & Pierre Biscaye & Miltone W. Ayieko, 2020. "A Case of Mistaken Identity? Measuring Rates of Improved Seed Adoption in Tanzania Using DNA Fingerprinting," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 71(3), pages 719-741, September.
    9. Hannah Gichungi & Beatrice Muriithi & Patrick Irungu & Gracious Diiro & John Busienei, 2021. "Effect of Technological Innovation on Gender Roles: The Case of Fruit Fly IPM Adoption on Women’s Decision-Making in Mango Production and Marketing in Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(3), pages 407-426, June.
    10. Ashimwe, Olive, 2016. "An Economic Analysis Of Impact Of Weather Index-Based Crop Insurance On Household Income In Huye District Of Rwanda," Research Theses 265675, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    11. O'Hara, Corey & Clement, Floriane, 2018. "Power as agency: A critical reflection on the measurement of women’s empowerment in the development sector," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 111-123.
    12. Sekabira, Haruna & Qaim, Matin, 2017. "Can mobile phones improve gender equality and nutrition? Panel data evidence from farm households in Uganda," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 95-103.
    13. Maru, Yiheyis & Sparrow, Ashley & Stirzaker, Richard & Davies, Jocelyn, 2018. "Integrated agricultural research for development (IAR4D) from a theory of change perspective," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 310-320.
    14. Anna-Lisa Noack & Nicky Pouw, 2015. "A blind spot in food and nutrition security: where culture and social change shape the local food plate," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 32(2), pages 169-182, June.
    15. Muriithi, Beatrice W. & Matz, Julia Anna, 2015. "Welfare effects of vegetable commercialization: Evidence from smallholder producers in Kenya," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 80-91.
    16. Relwendé A. Nikiema & Takeshi Sakurai, 2021. "Intrahousehold distribution of sales revenue and household nutritional outcomes: What if the wives controlled the farm revenue?," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 52(6), pages 1029-1040, November.
    17. Muricho, Geoffrey & Kassie, Menale & Obare, Gideon, 2015. "Determinants of Market Participation Regimes among Smallholder Maize Producers in Kenya," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212515, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    18. Vandercasteelen, Joachim & Christiaensen, Luc, 2020. "Breaking down silos: On post-harvest loss interventions in Tanzania," Policy briefs 1247693176, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    19. Masuda, Yuta J. & Waterfield, Gina & Castilla, Carolina & Kang, Shiteng & Zhang, Wei, 2022. "Does balancing gender composition lead to more prosocial outcomes? Experimental evidence of equality in public goods and extraction games from rural Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    20. Van Den Broeck, G & Van Hoyweghen, K & Maertens, M, 2017. "Horticultural exports and food security in Senegal," Working Papers 258322, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Centre for Agricultural and Food Economics.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:15:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1007_s12571-023-01378-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.