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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Past and Potential Impacts of Maize Research in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Critical Assessment |
Authors: | Byerlee, Derek Heisey, Paul W. |
Year: | 1996 |
Periodical: | Food Policy |
Volume: | 21 |
Issue: | 3 |
Period: | July |
Pages: | 255-277 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Subsaharan Africa |
Subjects: | agricultural research agricultural technology maize Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Development and Technology Bibliography/Research |
External link: | https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-9192(95)00076-3 |
Abstract: | This paper reviews progress in maize research in sub-Saharan Africa over the past two decades, and the degree of adoption of improved maize technology, with emphasis on improved seed-fertilizer technology. It draws on a survey of African maize research programmes and technology adoption conducted in 1991, together with a review of the literature. The authors restrict the analysis primarily to countries where most of the maize is produced by small-scale farmers in unirrigated tropical or subtropical environments. Second, they address the question of the extent that appropriate technology is now available for the major maize production regions of Africa, focusing particularly on varietal development and crop management research. The authors conclude that the record of technical change in maize production is less gloomy than the widespread view of stagnating African food production would suggest. Nonetheless, there is considerable scope for improving the performance of maize research. Appropriate crop and resource management technologies, especially for maintaining soil fertility and increasing labour productivity, are often lacking. Moreover, in Africa the pattern of adoption of improved technology has been patchy. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. |