Perceptions and determinants of genetically modified (GM) maize production among rural households: The case of Ngqushwa Local Municipality, South Africa
- Authors: Zamisa, Owethu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7303-4469
- Date: 2022-03
- Subjects: Genetically modified foods , Agricultural biotechnology , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22479 , vital:52343
- Description: Rural South Africa is faced with immense challenges including poverty, unemployment, low agriculture productivity, food and nutritional insecurity and inequalities. Against this background, enhancing rural agricultural productivity using proven technologies such as genetically modified (GM) maize production is suggested as a pathway to economic development and poverty reduction. Literature suggests that GM technology can increase crop yields, drought tolerance, reduced weeding labour costs and chemical spray costs. However, GM maize varieties available on the market currently were created to fit large-scale, capital-intensive, industrialised, and economically oriented agricultural systems. As a result, their uptake has been significantly slow especially in rural areas where several stakeholders are now questioning the potential of GM technology. With that background, this study aimed to understand determinants of gm maize production among rural farming households and their perceptions using the case of Ngqushwa Local Municipality. Specifically, the study sought to analyse types of maize varieties grown by rural households, associated yields, area allocation, rural households’ perceptions of GM maize, and to estimate factors that influence GM maize awareness, participation and intensity of production among this subsector. Using a cross-sectional survey research design, a sample size of 400 households was randomly selected and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The types of maize varieties grown by rural households, associated yields, area allocation and rural households’ perceptions of GM maize were analysed using descriptive statistics. Factors that influence GM maize awareness, participation, and intensity of production were estimated using a triple hurdle model where the 1st and 2nd hurdle were estimated using Probit regression, and 3rd hurdle a Tobit regression. The study revealed that landrace maize varieties are currently the most popular maize varieties grown by the majority of rural farming households from the study area producing higher yields (0.6t/ha) as compared to other hybrids (GM – 0.5t/ha, conventional hybrids -0.3t/ha and improved OPVs – 0.1t/ha). Descriptive statistics results also indicated that farming households from the study area allocated more land to landrace maize varieties (42percent) compared to other maize varieties (GM maize (30percent), hybrids (21percent) and improved OPVs (7percent) further supporting the notion that landrace maize varieties dominate the rural farming subsector. Perception results revealed that the majority (57percent) of the households perceived GM maize as an expensive variety which, however, has a potential to produce relatively higher yields than other hybrids on the market and eliminates several production problems (manual weeding, pest spraying) making farm management easier. Findings further indicate that the majority (52percent) of the farming households from the study area did not have sufficient knowledge of GM maize. Econometrics results revealed that GM maize awareness is negatively influenced by age and gender and positively influenced by marital status, employment status and number of years in school. Conditional on awareness of GM maize varieties, both participation and intensity of participation in GM maize production are positively influenced by land size, gender, group membership, size of arable land and negatively influenced by employment status and income. Against this background, the study concludes that farming households from the study area produced more compared to the other varieties. Furthermore, the study concludes that households get higher yields from landrace maize varieties and allocate more of their land to landrace maize production. In addition, the study also concludes that most rural farmers perceive participation in GM maize as beneficial especially towards elimination of farm management problems, produces higher yields, and makes farm management easier. Lastly, the study concludes that GM maize awareness is negatively influenced by age and gender and positively influenced by marital status, employment status and number of years in school. Both participation and intensity of participation in GM maize production are positively influenced by land size, gender, group membership, arable land and negatively influenced by employment status and income. The study recommends that priority should be given to these socio-economic and institutional factors and this may be addressed by targeting GM maize awareness campaigns and platforms more suited to female-headed, older, lowly educated and unemployed rural farming households. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-03
Smallholder farmers' selection criteria of maize varieties in Eastern Cape Province (Implications for adoption of GM maize) : the case of Port St. Johns, Flagstaff and Mqanduli
- Authors: Ngcinela, Siphokazi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Genetically modified foods
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10178 , vital:35372
- Description: Different maize varieties are produced by smallholder farmers in Eastern Cape Province in different agro ecological zones. Government cropping programmes have been promoting the production of GM maize varieties by smallholder farmers to enhance food security. However, there is no evidence to show how smallholder farmers are selecting the maize varieties they want to produce. On the other hand, smallholder farmers are slowly adopting GM maize due to number of factors affecting them. The study adopted Cross sectional design to collect the data from smallholder farmers from the three study sites. The sample size was 704 respondents. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from smallholder farmers in Mqanduli (Lowest rainfall), Flagstaff (moderate rainfall) Port St. Johns LM (highest rainfall), under OR Tambo DM. Multistage sampling was utilised. SPSS version 24 was used to analyse descriptive statistics and Multinomial logistic regression model. STATA version 13 was used to analyse Crag’s double hurdle model. The results showed that, farmers were producing GM maize (Ht and Bt), unimproved OPV (landrace) and improved OPV (Sahara). The majority of farmers were producing OPVs. The findings further showed that, the selection of GM maize varieties is positively related to maize threat stalk borer damage. The results indicated that, most of the respondents were not aware of the GM permit conditions thus, they failed to comply with the expected conditions. The following variables influenced the adoption and intensity of adoption of GM maize: gender, highest educational level, household size, employment status, access to land, access to market, access to credit, membership to farmers group, main source of income, farm size, and access to extension services. It was concluded that from the three study areas different maize varieties were produced. Adoption of GM maize was influenced by the number of factors. GM maize permit condition were not met by smallholder farmers. It was recommended that, research should be done on OPVs which are the most preferred varieties by smallholder farmers. Extension officers and those who are adopting GM maize should be educated and trained about GM maize permit conditions.
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- Date Issued: 2018