Participatory evaluation of Vitamin A bio-fortified maize in Zambia

PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION OF VITAMIN-A BIO-FORTIFIED MAIZE IN ZAMBIAPresented

by

Edward Chibwe

OUTLINE

Introduction Methodology Results Conclusion

INTRODUCTION The problem

• Malnutrition is a public health problem for SSA• Micronutrient malnutrition deficiencies(Vit A, Iodine

& Iron) are common• It affects women and children• Main cause: inadequate dietary intake• In Zambia, VA deficiency affects:

• 54% of children , • 14% of pregnant women and • 19,000 children die each year from related causes

(World Bank, UNICEF)

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR

Fortification Example: maize flour (minerals) and sugar (retinol)

Supplementation Capsules

Advocacy for dietary diversity

BUT these are expensive and do not reach a majority of the target population.

RECENT DEVELOPMENT: BIO-FORTIFICATION

Definition: Process of improving the nutritive value of staple foods

How? Through conventional breeding (orange maize) or GM technology (golden rice)

Objectives: to improve the diets of poor rural households, who eat high levels of food staples

Economics: it is cost effective and sustainable

By: HarvestPlus, which has partners in many countries, for different crops

HARVESTPLUS

Crop Nutrient Countries Release

Year

SweetPotato (OFSP)

Provitamin AUganda, Kenya,

Mozambique2007

Bean Iron, Zinc Rwanda 2011

Pearl Millet Iron, Zinc India 2011

Cassava Provitamin A Nigeria 2012

Maize Provitamin A Zambia 2013

HARVESTPLUS IN ZAMBIA

Therefore... Orange maize (β-carotene rich) developed in and for Zambia because maize is widely grown and forms most of the people’s diets.

Varieties developed in collaboration with ZARI &CIMMYT

• Five varieties developed, on station:• Yield: 8-9 tons/ha, • VA: 6-7 ppm (target is 15 ppm)• Good field characteristics • Good storage

• Two varieties about to be released

Zambia Orange Maize

HP1004

HP1002

PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION Last stage in the research

Actual trials in farmer fields with new varieties

Assess farmers’ appreciation and evaluation

Participatory approach used to assess: Production characteristics Consumption characteristics Willingness to pay for orange maize seed

By comparing HP1002, HP1004 To conventional white varieties

METHODOLOGY

• 3 provinces targeted

• 8 districts that provided on-farm trial sites

• 242 farmers interviewed using structured questionnaire

FARMER CHARACTERISTICS

Variable Average Std DevFormal Education (yrs) 8 3Experience in maize farming (yrs) 17 11Household size 8 4Under 5 children in the HH 2 2Total cultivated land (Ha) 5 4Total land for maize (Ha) 3 3Production (tons) 6 7Maize yield (tons/Ha) 2 2# of maize varieties planted 2 1

68% Sold and 26% consumed of maize produced

1. EVALUATION PRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS

Farmer is asked to visit the plot and observe Score each variety (1=very poor, 2=poor,

3=fair, 4=good, 5=very good ) For:

Yield Cob size Cob fill Colour

RESULTS - EVALUATION OF PRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS

2. EVALUATION OF CONSUMPTION CHARACTERISTICS EVALUATED FOR COLOUR, TEXTURE, TASTE AND AROMA TWO MAJOR MAIZE PREPS USED

Nshima (Ugali) Boiled maize

RESULTS: EVALUATION OF CONSUMPTION CHARACTERISTICS

Nshima (Ugali) Boiled maize

Ize1=

3.ESTIMATING WILLINGNESS T0 PAY FOR MAIZE SEED VARIETIES

Farmers were asked how willing they were in buying a 1 pack (10kg) seed of OM and white varieties at the given seed price of: 400,000 ZMK (US$ 80) 200,000 ZMK (US$ 40) 100,000 ZMK (US$ 20) 50,000 ZMK (US$ 10)

0 (would you accept it for free)?

RESULTS: ESTIMATING WILLINGNESS T0 PAY FOR MAIZE SEED VARIETIES

CONCLUSION

Farmers appreciate the new varieties in the fieldEspecially the yield and cob

fillingFor both nshima and boiled maize preparations, orange was superiorEspecially aroma and taste

WTP for new varieties is higher

WAY FORWARD

Orange varieties are well received, and H+ should continue with its promotion and on-farm testing

However, these surveys were combined with farmer field days which might have influenced the results.

Therefore, a more neutral approach with a large and representative sample is indicated for the future

THANK

YOU!... For Your Time

IronZinc

Provitamin A