Assessing the crop productivity and household welfare effects of adopting certified seeds of improved cassava varieties in Uganda

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Cassava varieties
• adoption incidence and intensity
• seed certification
• productivity and household welfare
• Uganda

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge that this manuscript is derived from a Ph.D research by Ahimbisibwe, B. P, 2018, impact of cassava innovations on household productivity and welfare in Uganda, Ph.D dissertation, University of Greenwich

Notes

1 AIS is the participatory generation, dissemination, and utilization of agricultural-related knowledge or technology by a spectrum of actors including scientists, farmers, input suppliers, traders, food stockists, extension workers, the private sector, and other interested stakeholders (Spielman 2006).