Determinants of Maize Seed Selection for Climate Change Adaptation among Emerging Farmers in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Maize is a crucial crop in the Mopani District of South Africa, playing a vital role in food security, economic development, and alleviation of poverty. As a staple crop in the region, maize is an important source of food for the local population and a significant economic activity for farmers. Farmers tends to select seed varieties for desired benefits such as adapting to the changing climatic conditions. The main aim of the study was to investigate the determinants of maize seed selection for climate change adaptation among emerging farmers in Mopani district. The study used quantitative research method. A simple random sampling was used to select the participants of the study. Data was collected through structured questionnaire from a sample of 208 emerging maize farmers. Descriptive Statistics was used to analyze and describe socio-economic characteristics of farmers within the study area. A multinomial Logit Model was used to examine factors influencing choice of maize seed varieties among emerging farmers and to determine the influence of climate change knowledge on selection of maize seed varieties. The results of the study showed that the majority of farmers were males, with the dominating age group being between 41 to 50 years and had between 6 and 10 years of farming experience. Grading and standardization of maize during the marketing phase had a significant impact on the selection of the red seed variety, and that awareness of climate change also had a significant impact on the selection of seed varieties. It was recommended that continuous efforts be made to promote awareness of climate change among farmers.