Adoption of improved maize seeds and Sustainable Agricultural Intensification among rural households in Cameroon

Abstract

The Sustainable Intensification of Agricultural production in Cameroon is essential to addressing environmental, economic and social challenges, particularly in rural areas where natural resources are under severe pressure and yields are low. It is clear that high-quality seeds contribute to improved agriculture, requiring fewer inputs and thereby promoting sustainability. Rural farming households that adopt these seeds benefit from increased yields and reduced crop losses, thereby transforming subsistence farming in a sustainable way. This study analyses the impact of improved seeds on the sustainable intensification of maize production – the main crop for intensification amongst rural households in Cameroon – using data from the 2017 Cameroon - Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis. Descriptive statistics, Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and the Stochastic Frontier Analysis model (SFA) indicate that, of the 4,101 households, 60.35 % practise intensive maize cultivation, whilst 39.65 % do not. Among households growing maize, 30.1 % use improved seeds, which yield 344,450 kg/ha, compared with 291,675 kg/ha for non-improved seeds. The adoption of improved seeds thus increases the probability of efficient and sustainable production by 21.8 %. Technical, allocative and economic efficiencies stand at 0.52, 0.815 and 0.709 respectively. This indicates that improved seeds increase yields and reduce the waste of inputs, despite the risks of inefficiency associated with the overuse of fertilisers, pesticides and labour. It is therefore essential that public policy priorities focus on the adoption of improved seeds, market support and the creation of sustainable seed systems.