Marginal Rate Of Returns of Local and Improved Open Pollinated Maize Varieties Compared With Quality Protein Maize Hybrids in Ghana.

Maize variety development in Ghana in the past mainly concentrated on developing open-pollinated varieties (OPVs). Since malnutrition especially protein deficiency is a major problem amongst most children in Ghana and for higher grain yields it was prudent that Quality Protein Maize (QPM) hybrids be developed.

Ewool, M.; Dankyi, A. A.; Akromah, R.

2016

English

Maize variety development in Ghana in the past mainly concentrated on developing open-pollinated varieties (OPVs). Since malnutrition especially protein deficiency is a major problem amongst most children in Ghana and for higher grain yields it was prudent that Quality Protein Maize (QPM) hybrids be developed. The Crops Research Institute released Obatanpa an OPV QPM, Mamaba and Dadaba (QPM hybrids) amongst others. Thus, it became necessary to study the economic benefits of moving from the local to improved OPVs and subsequently QPM hybrids. Field evaluations were done in the 2002 major and minor seasons at Fumesua and Kwadaso in forest zone. Three local varieties and seven improved OPVs and two QPM hybrids were evaluated. A marginal rate of return (MRR) of 2176% and 194% was observed by replacing local varieties with the QPM hybrids at zero N and 45 kg N to the QPM hybrids respectively.