Traditional
 Maize

 60 Maize in twin rows
 _/ with potatoes


 70
Confidence
Coefficient

 80







 100
 0 1000 2000

 Net Income ($/ha)
FIG.VII-7. Distribution of confidence intervals for net
 income, traditional maize versus maize in twin
 rows with potatoes.


 However, there are other criteria which may be much
more important for the farmer. In this area, foremost in
farmers' minds is producing enough maize to feed their
families. For maize yield (Fig. VII-8), which would be
important from this point of view, it appears that the
improved system does not present any more risk than the
traditional system. In fact, it may be slightly superior.
So this criterion also appears to be favorable for the
improved technology. However, it should be noted that the
improved system uses approximately five times as much
capital as the traditional system. This is due mostly to
the production of potatoes. The criterion of return to
investment is completely different (Fig. VII-9). The
traditional practice is superior to the alternative being
tested. For the farmer who has little capital to invest