Comparing Yields and Profitability in MARD’s High- and Low-Input Maize Programs: 1997/98 Survey Results and Analysis

The Department of Rural Extension (DNER) in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) operates several programs to stimulate maize production through the use of improved technologies in Mozambique’s high-potential regions. Until recently no formal analysis had been carried out to assess the yield performance and profitability of the improved technology packages. In 1996/97 the Department of Policy Analysis (DAP) in MARD’s Directorate of Economics began a three-year study of yields and profitability in alternative maize intensification programs in collaboration with DNER. This paper summarizes the results from data collected during the study’s second year, 1997/98. The analysis is based on a sample of 210 smallholder farmers in Nampula Province using three different sets of production practices: (1) the DNER/SasakawaGlobal 2000 Program (DNER/SG) high-input package (improved open-pollinated maize, 100 kg/ha each 1224-12 and urea fertilizer on credit); (2) improved planting and weeding practices only (using local seed, without fertilizer); and (3) a control group of farmers using traditional practices (no improved seed or fertilizer).