Smallholders’ replacement of groundnut varieties in Malawi: implications for adoption and conservation of improved and conventional varieties

Abstract

Farm household survey data collected in rural districts of central and northern Malawi were used to investigate factors that influenced smallholders to replace groundnut varieties. The results of the study showed that smallholders have not entirely replaced conventional varieties with modern ones. For the group of smallholders that replaced conventional with the modern varieties, few reverted to the former. Further results of a bivariate probit regression model indicated that the production of groundnuts for food and income increased the probability of replacing both conventional and modern varieties. Farmers’ perception of the relevance of agricultural extension services to groundnut production and land allocated to the cultivation of groundnuts increased the likelihood to replace conventional varieties. Conversely, poor rural road infrastructure decreased the probability of replacing the same. In other results, experience in groundnut production, education level of the farmer, membership of farmer organisations, and inadequate access to quality seed increased the likelihood of replacing modern varieties. The study's findings suggest that promoting an integrated seed system of groundnut varieties is critical for the adoption and conservation of improved and conventional varieties and could contribute to the food and income security of farm households.