Understanding Drivers of Adoption of Crop Bio-Fortification in Zimbabwe: Implications for Food Policy
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Date
2026
Authors
Kingstone Mujeyi
Jackqeline Mutambara
Angeline Mujeyi
Victor Okoruwa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AERC
Abstract
The study used secondary data collected from 2,913 households to estimate actual and potential adoption rates of bio-fortified crop varieties in Zimbabwe and determinants of exposure to and adoption of bio-fortification. It found that 88.6% of the households were aware of the technology while 46.3% had accessed at least one variety of the bio-fortified crops. Overall, 47.0% had been fully exposed to at least one bio-fortified crop variety, thereby limiting the actual adoption rate to about 41.0%, when in fact the potential adoption rate could have reached 87.0% had the entire population in the eight districts been exposed. The exposed sample adoption rate of 88.0% implies a substantial population adoption gap of 46.0%, emanating from the incomplete exposure of the target population to the technology. Results of Average Treatment Effects (ATE) adoption estimation using probit regression analysis found age of household head, size of arable land, membership to saving and lending groups, contact with extension, access to market information, agro-ecological potential, farmer perception and irrigation to be significant drivers of adoption. The study recommends increased promotional activities for the bio-fortified crops centred on the provision of well-structured agricultural support services coupled with nutrition-sensitive market information and training.