Record Details

Improved Legume Seed Demand Systems in Central Malawi: What Do Farmers’ Seed Expenditures Say About Their Preferences ?

OAR@ICRISAT

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/7225/
 
Title Improved Legume Seed Demand Systems in Central Malawi: What Do Farmers’ Seed Expenditures Say About Their Preferences ?
 
Creator Kankwamba, H
Mangisoni, J
Simtowe, F
Mausch, K
Siambi, M
 
Subject Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
 
Description The overall objective of this paper is to assess the demand for improved groundnut, bean, and
soybean seed in central Malawi. Specifically, it examines how smallholder farmers respond to
changes in market prices of improved legume seed. It also assesses factors that affect the
decision to participate in improved seed technology transfer. Considering four commodities
namely groundnuts, beans, soybeans and maize, a staple food, the paper estimates a multivariate
probit and a linear approximate of the Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIDS) using cross
section data collected by ICRISAT in 2010. Uncompensated price and expenditure elasticities
are reported for the LA/AIDS model. The paper finds high own price elasticities in all four
commodities considered. It also indicates that land, household size and education levels affect
participation in improved technology. Cross elasticities varied across the commodities
considered. As pertain expenditure elasticities, farmers would increase expenditure on improved
groundnut and beans if their incomes increased. The results also reveal that if farmers’ incomes
increase they would reduce soybean’s expenditure share. The results generally show that farmers
are very sensitive to changes in improved legume seed prices and incomes.
 
Date 2012
 
Type Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Rights —
 
Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/7225/2/IMprovedLegume_Kankwamna_2012.pdf
Kankwamba, H and Mangisoni, J and Simtowe, F and Mausch, K and Siambi, M (2012) Improved Legume Seed Demand Systems in Central Malawi: What Do Farmers’ Seed Expenditures Say About Their Preferences ? In: proceedings of International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) Triennial Conference, 18-24 August, 2012, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil .