Economic returns to research in Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) resistant bread-wheat varieties in Morocco

Abstract

Approximately $1.5 million has been invested by the United States and Morocco since 1980 in Morocco to develop bread-wheat varieties resistant to the Hessian fly Mayetiola destructor (Say). Although this effort has proven to be successful in the development of resistant varieties, research programs of this type rarely are evaluated for economic returns. As part of a comprehensive impact assessment of the USAID-funded Dryland Applied Agricultural Research Project of Morocco's National Institute of Agronomic Research and the mid-America International Agricultural Consortium, this study assessed the benefits and costs of developing resistant varieties. Benefits in terms of new germplasm, were realized by both Morocco and the United States. Overall benefits and costs were calculated using a reasonable, least favorable case. The internal rate of return was 39%. Compared with other rates of return on agricultural research efforts across countries, commodities, and time periods, 39% represents a high payoff.