Impact of pearl millet research and development in Namibia: the case of Okashana 1

Anandajayasekeram, P. and Martella, D.R. and Sanders, J. and Kupfuma, B. (2007) Impact of pearl millet research and development in Namibia: the case of Okashana 1. In: Impact of science on African agriculture and food Security, 1st edn. CABI Publishing, Oxfordshire, UK, pp. 68-73. ISBN 978-1-84593-267-1

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Abstract

Pearl millet is the most widely grown and utilized cereal in northern Namibia especially in Ovambo and Kavango regions. A millet variety was identified in the late 1980s from the Sorghum and Millet Improvement Program nursery in 1986 and officially released in 1990, under the name Okashana 1. This pearl millet variety is short maturing (85-90 days), and is responsive to moisture and inorganic fertilizer. An impact assessment study was undertaken to calculate the rate of return (ROR) on investment for this technological intervention. The estimated ROR for the R&D investment (development, dissemination and adoption) for Okashana 1 was 13.28%, the estimated ROR was 4.25% when the cost of investment was increased by 10% indicating that the ROR is very sensitive to the R&D costs. The study also revealed Okashana 1 yielded the largest benefits during the dry seasons of 1994 and 1998. During normal rainfall seasons, the net benefits generated by the introduction of Okashana 1 are not likely to replace the current farmer practice of using mixed varieties, a strategy often followed to avoid risk.

Item Type:	Book Section
Author Affiliation:	International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI, PO Box 5689 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Subjects:	Social Sciences > Agricultural Economics
Divisions:	Millet
Depositing User:	Sandhya Gir
Date Deposited:	23 May 2011 04:36
Last Modified:	23 May 2011 04:50
Official URL:	http://www.cabi.org/CABeBooks/default.aspx?site=10...
URI:	http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/2053

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