Ahimbisibwe, Beine P., Morton, John F. ORCID: 0000-0002-8013-5794 , Feleke, Shiferaw, Alene, Arega D., Abdoulaye, Tahirou, Wellard, Kate ORCID: 0000-0003-4397-5361 , Mungatana, Eric, Bua, Anton, Asfaw, Solonon and Manyong, Victor (2023) Assessing the crop productivity and household welfare effects of adopting certified seeds of improved Cassava varieties in Uganda. Agrekon: Agricultural Economics Research, Policy and Practice in Southern Africa. ISSN 0303-1853 (Print), 2078-0400 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2023.2220684)

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Abstract

This article identifies the determinants, crop productivity, and household welfare impacts of adopting certified seeds of improved cassava varieties (c-ICVs) in Uganda. The determinants were identified using the two-part model while the crop productivity and household welfare impacts were assessed using the endogenous switching regression model. The data came from 609 farm households in Uganda’s three major cassava-growing regions (Eastern, Northern, and mid-Western). The results showed that adopters of c-ICVs experienced a considerable increase in productivity (stem and root yields) and improvement in welfare outcomes (cash income and consumption expenditure). The results provide evidence of the effectiveness of the country’s seed certification and genetic improvement efforts over recent years and justify increased investments in genetic improvement and seed certification. However, it is essential to note that farmers’ widespread adoption of the high-yielding uniform c-ICVs could come at the cost of the diverse landraces, reducing cassava varietal diversity. Replacing the landraces could increase the crop’s genetic vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses. It is also important to be cautious that farmers’ widespread adoption of the c-ICVs could come at the cost of biodiversity loss as adoption of c-ICVs is often accompanied by increased application of agrochemicals (pesticides for disease control) that negatively impact the environment.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Cassava varieties; adoption incidence and intensity; seed certification; productivity and household welfare; Uganda
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Development Studies Research Group Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Livelihoods & Institutions Department
Last Modified:	14 Jun 2023 14:09
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/42972

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