IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/arp/jacarp/2016p131-139.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Farmers’ Perceptions of Rain-Fed Wheat Production Constraints, Varietal Preferences and their Implication to Rain-fed Wheat Breeding in Zambia

Author

Listed:
  • Batiseba Tembo

    (Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), Mt. Makulu Research Station, P/B 7, Chilanga, Zambia; African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal. College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa)

  • Julia Sibiya

    (African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal. College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa)

  • Pangirayi Tongoona

    (West African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of Ghana, PMB 30 Legon-Ghana)

  • Rob Melis

    (African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal. College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa)

  • Mweshi Mukanga

    (Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), Mt. Makulu Research Station, P/B 7, Chilanga, Zambia)

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important widely grown food crops worldwide. In Zambia, it is an important cereal crop, second after maize. However, its production amongst the small-scale farmers has declined over the years. To determine the causes of this decline, a participatory rural appraisal was conducted in Mpika district in Zambia as a case study to assess farmers’ perceived constraints and preferences of rain-fed wheat varieties. Focus group discussions, semi-structured questionnaires, scoring and ranking were used. The results showed that wheat is produced both for food and income generation. The average wheat fields were 0.48 ha, with yields averaging 1.5 t ha -1. The major production constraints are lack of improved seed, bird damage, termites, lack of markets and diseases with spot blotch being the most important. Farmers preferred a white coloured grain cultivar, high yielding, resistant to diseases, termite attack and bird damage.

Suggested Citation

  • Batiseba Tembo & Julia Sibiya & Pangirayi Tongoona & Rob Melis & Mweshi Mukanga, 2016. "Farmers’ Perceptions of Rain-Fed Wheat Production Constraints, Varietal Preferences and their Implication to Rain-fed Wheat Breeding in Zambia," Journal of Agriculture and Crops, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 2(12), pages 131-139, 12-2016.
    • Handle: RePEc:arp:jacarp:2016:p:131-139
    DOI: arpgweb.com/?ic=journal&journal=14&info=aims
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.arpgweb.com/pdf-files/jac2(12)131-139.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: http://www.arpgweb.com/?ic=journal&journal=14&month=12-2016&issue=12&volume=2
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/arpgweb.com/?ic=journal&journal=14&info=aims?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
    ---><---

    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:arp:jacarp:2016:p:131-139. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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: Managing Editor (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://arpgweb.com/index.php?ic=journal&journal=14&info=aims .

    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.