James Majamand*, Mangani Katundu, Victoria Ndolo, Bettina Msunje, Lawrence Mpekansambo, Alex Katola and David Tembo
Maize is a staple food crop of a great number of countries around the globe. Wide knowledge of consumer acceptability has the potential to enhance increased production. This could help to uplift the status of seed sovereignity of subsistence poor farmers worldwide. Small-scale farmers in particular rely on locally adapted and diverse varieties of seeds to grow crops that can withstand the region's often challenging growing conditions.
The study targeted sites; Dedza, Ntcheu and Mzimba. A total of 83 participants growing Pigmented Landrace Maize Verities (PLMVs) with age ranging from 26 to 86, were recruited. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used. The study discovered that PLMVs have been grown and consumed in Malawi for over 59 years, but the actual original seed source is unknown. Maize is by far the most important staple food in Malawi and it is not surprising that maize is the focus of food security policy in Malawi. As such, enhancing adoption and production of PLMVs have a great contribution to the achievement of seed sovereignty. This would in the long run help in achieving food and nutrition security among the recourse poor farmers.
Published Date: 2023-09-19; Received Date: 2023-07-18
