Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home AfricaBib Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Changing Public and Private Roles in the Hybrid Maize Seed Industry: Insights from Southern Africa
Authors:Rusike, Joseph
Eicher, Carl K.ISNI
Year:1995
Periodical:African Rural and Urban Studies
Volume:2
Issue:2-3
Pages:51-81
Language:English
Geographic terms:East Africa
Southern Africa
Subjects:economic policy
seeds
privatization
maize
Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment
Development and Technology
Economics and Trade
Abstract:Many of the government maize seed industries in southern and eastern Africa are currently being restructured to encourage the private sector to play an expanded role in maize improvement research, varietal development, seed production, conditioning and marketing. These changes are being driven by the political and economic reforms being implemented under structural adjustment programmes (SAP). This study investigates the technological, institutional and organizational innovations in the maize seed industry in eastern and southern Africa. Special attention is devoted to an analysis of the impact of structural adjustment programmes on the organization and performance of the maize seed industry in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania since the early 1980s. The thesis of the study is that the seed industry progresses through different stages of a life cycle by an incremental and path-dependent learning process for governments, agribusiness firms and farmers. The country studies illustrate the crucial role of the government in the early stage of seed industry development. The major finding of the study is that structural adjustment programmes have had a positive impact on maize seed industry development in eastern and southern Africa. Bibliogr., notes, ref.
Views