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Dissertations, Theses and Plan B Papers -- Abstract

Kupfuma, Bernard R.. The Payoffs to Hybrid Maize Research and Extension in Zimbabwe: An Economic and Institutional Analysis. Master's Thesis, 1994. Major Professor: Crawford. Department 1994 Best M.S. Thesis

This thesis evaluates the rate of return to public investment in hybrid maize research and extension from 1932 to 1990. The economic surplus approach (an ex post technique) is used to assess the returns using data collected in Zimbabwe in 1992. The average annual internal rate of return was found to be 43.5 percent which means that every Zimbabwe dollar of public expenditures on maize research and extension over the 1932-90 period earned a return of 43.5 cents. This is an impressive rate of return which is higher than the return from other capital investments. The benefits were captured by consumers, the bulk of them being communal farmers producing primarily for home consumption.

This study also examined a number of institutional factors. Findings from the institutional analysis recommends leaner public maize research teams compatible with budget bottlenecks; retention of gifted scientists for long periods; encouraging communal farmers to lobby for agricultural research and extension in the political arena; and that public maize research and extension programs should be retained but with more emphasis on basic public responsibilities such as maintenance research and production problems in marginal communal areas.