Adoption is the uptake of a technology by a farmer; the uptake and continuous use of a technology.
Drought tolerant (DT)
Among maize varieties that have similar maturity and
similar grain yield under good conditions, a drought tolerant maize
variety has a relative higher yield than others when drought occurs. To
generate and disseminate such varieties is the focus of the DTMA
project.
An early maturing maize variety may escape drought and
has therefore a higher yield under drought. It however yields less when
conditions are good.
Mega environments vs agroecologies/agroecological zones
Maize mega environment describes the geographic area within which maize varieties show similar ranking for grain yield due to similar growing conditions (rainfall, temperature, soil type). Mega environment cover more extensive areas than agroecologies/agroecological zones.
A maize agroecology/agroecological zone refers to a specific geographic region, usually covering a few countries in which the interactions of maize varieties with the environment (rainfall, temperature, soil type, altitude) are studied. Agroecology (as a study) provides an interdisciplinary framework with which to study the activity of agriculture.
Seed business vs seed merchant
A maize seed business is an organization that produces and markets maize seed.
A
maize seed merchant is an organization that markets seed, without
producing the seed: i.e., a buyer and seller of seed, like a retailer.
Seed demand vs production
Seed demand means wanting/needing seed and being able to
pay for it. Demand is market driven; it is what the consumer (in this
case the farmer) is requesting and is willing to pay for.
Production
of seed involves area and yield. Production is what a supplier to that
market is responsible for, he/she produces seed in order to address
demand at a price he/she is willing to sell for.
Seed distribution
Seed distribution is the dissemination of seed from a producer to a farmer via formal or informal markets; the system of delivering seed from the production point to farmers.
Unmet market demand vs excess capacity
Unmet market demand means that demand is greater than supply while excess capacity means supply is greater than demand.
Unmet
market demand: a situation whereby a consumer is unable to source
material at a price they are willing to pay for a commodity or service.
Excess capacity: the ability to generate more produce than is currently being demanded.
