Does the adoption of pro-nutritional technologies spur farmers’ yields? Evidence from biofortified Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato crop in rural Malawi

Abstract

Biofortified crops have been identified as a vital remedy for hunger and micronutrient deficiencies among rural agro-based populations in developing countries. Nevertheless, the adoption of these crops remains limited due to farmers’ lack of knowledge about their benefits. In Malawi, biofortified Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (BOFSP) is a prominent example. The study therefore surveyed 711 agricultural households and utilized a Conditional Mixed Process estimator to determine whether the Farmer-to-Farmer Extension (F2FE) approach could increase awareness and the uptake of BOFSP. Additionally, the study employed the Endogenous Switching Regression model to determine the impact of BOFSP adoption on farm yields. The study found that the F2FE approach was effective in raising awareness of BOFSP, and adoption was influenced by factors such as land size, access to clean planting vines, soil fertility, age of the household head, frequency of contact with government extension workers, access to agricultural information through mobile phones, group membership, awareness of the benefits of BOFSP, and farmers' perception of its nutritional benefits and improved yields. The findings also revealed an improvement in farmers' yields through the adoption of BOFSP cultivars. Therefore, stakeholders should collaborate in delivering agricultural extension services to promote the uptake of BOFSP, and farmers should be encouraged to adopt BOFSP to benefit from its positive impact on productivity.