Overall, the findings in this study confirm the widely held
view that productivity-enhancing agricultural innovations
can contribute to raising incomes of farm households, poverty
alleviation, and food security in developing countries. Developing
mechanisms to help extend the high yielding maize varieties
to areas with high poverty rates is therefore a reasonable
policy instrument to raise incomes in these areas, although
complementary measures are needed. As noted by Morris
et al. (1999), improved technology is certainly a requirement
for changing farming practices, but elements such as effective
extension services, improved access to land, an efficient input
distribution system, and appropriate economic incentives must
also be present.