This document summarizes the participatory evaluation of vitamin-A biofortified maize varieties in Zambia. Farmers evaluated new orange maize varieties for production and consumption characteristics and expressed willingness to pay for the seeds. For production, orange varieties had higher yields and cob filling than white varieties. For consumption, orange maize was rated superior for aroma and taste in the two major preparations. Farmers' willingness to pay for orange seeds was higher than for conventional white seeds. The evaluation concluded orange varieties were well-received but indicated larger representative surveys were needed to validate the results.

1. PARTICIPATORY
EVALUATION OF VITAMIN-A
BIO-FORTIFIED MAIZE IN
ZAMBIA
Presented
by
Edward Chibwe

2. OUTLINE
 Introduction
 Methodology
 Results
 Conclusion

3. INTRODUCTION
The problem
• Malnutrition is a public health problem for SSA
• Micronutrient malnutrition deficiencies(Vit A, Iodine &
Iron) are common
• It affects women and children
• Main cause: inadequate dietary intake
• In Zambia, VA deficiency affects:
• 54% of children ,
• 14% of pregnant women and
• 19,000 children die each year from related causes (World
Bank, UNICEF)

4. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR
 Fortification
 Example: maize flour (minerals) and sugar (retinol)
 Supplementation
 Capsules
 Advocacy for dietary diversity
 BUT these are expensive and do not reach a
majority of the target population.

5. RECENT DEVELOPMENT: BIO-
FORTIFICATION
 Definition: Process of improving the nutritive
value of staple foods
 How? Through conventional breeding (orange
maize) or GM technology (golden rice)
 Objectives: to improve the diets of poor rural
households, who eat high levels of food staples
 Economics: it is cost effective and sustainable
 By: HarvestPlus, which has partners in many
countries, for different crops

6. HARVESTPLUS
Release
Crop Nutrient Countries
Year
Sweet Uganda,
Potato Provitamin A Kenya, 2007
(OFSP) Mozambique
Bean Iron, Zinc Rwanda 2011
Pearl Millet Iron, Zinc India 2011
Cassava Provitamin A Nigeria 2012
Maize Provitamin A Zambia 2013

7. HARVESTPLUS IN ZAMBIA
Therefore... Orange maize (β-carotene rich) developed in
and for Zambia because maize is widely grown and forms
most of the people’s diets.
Varieties developed in collaboration with ZARI &CIMMYT
• Five varieties developed, on station:
• Yield: 8-9 tons/ha,
• VA: 6-7 ppm (target is 15 ppm)
• Good field characteristics
• Good storage
• Two varieties about to be released

8. HP1004
HP1002
Zambia Orange Maize

9. PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION
 Last stage in the research
 Actual trials in farmer fields with new
varieties
 Assess farmers’ appreciation and evaluation
 Participatory approach used to assess:
 Production characteristics
 Consumption characteristics
 Willingness to pay for orange maize seed
 By comparing
 HP1002, HP1004
 To conventional white varieties

10. METHODOLOGY
• 3 provinces targeted
• 8 districts that
provided on-farm trial
sites
• 242 farmers
interviewed using
structured
questionnaire

11. FARMER CHARACTERISTICS
Variable Average Std Dev
Formal Education (yrs) 8 3
Experience in maize farming (yrs) 17 11
Household size 8 4
Under 5 children in the HH 2 2
Total cultivated land (Ha) 5 4
Total land for maize (Ha) 3 3
Production (tons) 6 7
Maize yield (tons/Ha) 2 2
# of maize varieties planted 2 1
68% Sold and 26% consumed of maize produced

12. 1. EVALUATION PRODUCTION
CHARACTERISTICS
 Farmer is asked to visit the plot and observe
 Score each variety (1=very poor, 2=poor, 3=fair,
4=good, 5=very good )
 For:
 Yield
 Cob size
 Cob fill
 Colour

13. RESULTS - EVALUATION OF PRODUCTION
CHARACTERISTICS

14. CHARACTERISTICS
EVALUATED FOR COLOUR, TEXTURE, TASTE AND
AROMA
TWO MAJOR MAIZE PREPS USED
Nshima (Ugali) Boiled maize

15. RESULTS: EVALUATION OF
CONSUMPTION CHARACTERISTICS
Ize1=
Nshima (Ugali) Boiled maize

16. 3.ESTIMATING WILLINGNESS T0
PAY FOR MAIZE SEED VARIETIES
 Farmers were asked how willing they were in buying a 1 pack
(10kg) seed of OM and white varieties at the given seed price
of:
 400,000 ZMK (US$ 80)
 200,000 ZMK (US$ 40)
 100,000 ZMK (US$ 20)
 50,000 ZMK (US$ 10)
 0 (would you accept it for free)?

17. RESULTS: ESTIMATING
WILLINGNESS T0 PAY FOR MAIZE
SEED VARIETIES

18. CONCLUSION
 Farmers appreciate the new
varieties in the field
 Especially the yield and cob
filling
For both nshima and boiled
maize preparations, orange was
superior
 Especially aroma and taste
 WTP for new varieties is higher

19. WAY FORWARD
 Orange varieties are well received, and H+
should continue with its promotion and on-farm
testing
 However, these surveys were combined with
farmer field days which might have influenced
the results.
 Therefore, a more neutral approach with a large
and representative sample is indicated for the
future

20. Zinc
Iron
THAN Provitamin A
K
YOU!... For Your Time