Production Constraints, Farmers’ Preferred Characteristics of Maize Varieties in the Bimodal Humid Forest Zone of Cameroon and Their Implications for Plant Breeding

Many high-yielding improved maize varieties have been developed in Cameroon, though only a limited number of farmers have adopted them. A participatory rural appraisal consisting of focus group discussions and formal surveys was conducted in 140 households in six villages of the Central Region in the Bimodal Humid Forest Zone of Cameroon. The objective of this study was to identify constraints to maize production and farmers’ preferred maize characteristics which can be used as selection criteria by maize breeders to develop appropriate varieties as preferred by farmers. Results revealed that the most important constraints to maize production in the study area are unavailability and high cost of seeds of improved varieties (53.8%), low soil fertility (50.0%), lack of labor (48.0%), unavailability or high cost of fertilizers (41.2%), difficulty in weeding (38.9%) and post-harvest losses (31.0%). Farmers’ preferred characteristics in maize varieties were large grain size, soft grain texture, large ear size, high prolificacy, early maturity, short plants, resistance to lodging, resistance to diseases and reduced post-harvest losses. Based on these findings, there will be increased adoption of improved maize varieties if maize breeders address the identified constraints and take farmers ‘preferred traits into account while developing new varieties. Some farmers of the study area are interested in growing hybrids. Therefore, high-yielding maize hybrids with the identified traits and which are adapted to low soil fertility should be developed and promoted, hence increasing maize production. Breeders should collaborate with extensionists to ensure that varieties developed are grown with appropriate technical package for good results and high adoption.