Improved Maize Varieties Boost Yields and Farm Income
April 9, 2025| |
A study conducted by researchers from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus) evaluated the impact of improved maize varieties (IMVs) on agricultural productivity and technical efficiency in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The adopted IMVs include open-pollinated, hybrid, and genetically modified (GM) varieties.
The study highlighted how the adoption of IMVs significantly boosts yields and farm income among smallholder farmers. On average, yields increased by 1.92 kg/ha, with returns of ZAR 468.01 per hectare. Key drivers of adoption include education, larger farm size, access to quality seeds, and extension services. The challenges that continue to hinder adoption include limited rainfall, credit access, and market distance.
Technical efficiency among farmers was found to be relatively high at 74%, but factors such as age, education, and access to services were found to significantly reduce technical efficiency. The findings revealed that adopting advanced technologies led to better resource use and productivity compared to traditional systems. The researchers recommend targeted support in the form of better access to extension services, financial support, infrastructure, and education to further improve adoption, technical efficiency, productivity, and income.
For more information, read the article from GM Crops & Food.
| |
You might also like:
- Ethiopia Approves GM Maize and Cotton for Commercial Production
- Study Concludes GM Maize DP-915635-4 As Safe As Conventional Counterpart
- GM Maize Adoption Increases by 31% Every Year in the Philippines, Benefiting More Resource-poor Farmers
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
Plant
- Treating NGTs as Conventional Products May Improve Market Acceptance
- Improved Maize Varieties Boost Yields and Farm Income
- New Technique to Unlock Sorghum's Huge Climate Change Potential
- Switzerland Drafts New Law on NBTs
- First Skin-Transplant Potato Gets Plant Breeder's Rights in The Netherlands
-
Health
- Experts Develop COVID-19 Vaccine from Rice
-
Environment
- Engineered Yeast Converts Methanol to D-lactic Acid
- Experts Review Crop Pests' Responses to Climate and Land Management Changes
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (May 21, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 30, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet