Adoption of Advanta sunflower hybrid seeds and its well-being impact on smallholder farmers in Dodoma, Singida and Manyara regions

Abstract

Recently interventions have focused on rising agricultural productivity through the promotion of improved agricultural technologies such as seeds because these determine the income obtained from farming activities. This study assessed the adoption of and impacts of using Advanta sunflower hybrids seeds (ASHSs) on smallholder farmers’ wellbeing.  A multistage sampling technique was applied and a sample of 270 smallholder sunflower farmers was selected. The household survey questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to collect primary data. Descriptive statistics run to profile the studied farmers with respect to their socio-economic characteristics. A binary logistic regression model helped to determine the factors that influence farmers’ decisions towards the ASHSs Adoption. Propensity score matching was used to isolate the impact attributable to ASHSs among the smallholder farmers. Results indicated that yield per acre, number of years spent in school, seed price, household size, geographical location and oil content statistically influenced farmers’ decision to adopt the ASHSs. There is a significant impact in terms of yield and income from the use of Hysun33 seed variety and the rest of the seeds (Aguara4). The average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) was positive for all the matching methods; ATT on yield was 201.32kg/acre and income effect of 95161.12 Tshs/acre for Nearest Neighbor Matching where ATT on yield was 155.97kg/acre and income effect of 122875.95 Tshs/acre for the Caliper Matching. Overall, a higher yield and income for the adopters was attributed to ASHSs compared to the non-adopters. This study recommended that agricultural development initiatives should promote productivity-enhancing agricultural technologies such as hybrid seeds effectively.