Structural equation model of young farmers' intention to adopt sustainable agriculture: a case study in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Apurbo Sarkar ◽  
Hongyu Wang ◽  
Airin Rahman ◽  
Jony Abdul Azim ◽  
Waqar Hussain Memon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Interpersonal Behavior ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
The Government

Abstract This paper aims to assess young farmers' willingness to adopt sustainable agriculture (SA) by implementing the expanded theory of planned behavior (TPB) within the northern region of Bangladesh. The outcomes attained specified that attitudes toward SA, perceived behavior control and perceived self-identity have progressive and fundamental impacts on adoption behavior and affect farmers' intentions to adopt SA's particular production mechanism. On the other hand, the social interface view toward SA is not significantly associated with the Bangladeshi farmer's adoption intention. The results also show that interconnections between social and familial pressure are not significant for sustainable farming practice adoption intentions. However, the interconnections among the psychosocial factors have a crucial role in formulating the TPB to forecast the intentional behavior for adopting SA practices. Thus, the government should highlight the advantages of several sustainable agricultural practices and circulate more detailed information regarding SA tactics to improve the knowledge gap of smallholder farmers. Furthermore, training facilities should be extended to improve the attitude and perceived self-identity of young farmers. Moreover, the formulation of structural information sharing platforms and agricultural value chain facilities should also help shape young farmers' interpersonal behavior in adopting SA practices.

scholarly journals Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture for Restoring the Soil Health and Increasing Rice Productivity as Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 748 (1) ◽  
pp. 012039
Author(s):  
Tualar Simarmata ◽  
M Khais Proyoga ◽  
Diyan Herdiyantoro ◽  
Mieke R Setiawati ◽  
Kustiwa Adinata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Adaptation Strategy ◽  
Water Efficiency ◽  
Rice Productivity ◽  
Rice Intensification ◽  
Significant Yield

Abstract Climate change (CC) is real and threatens the livelihood of most smallholder farmers who reside along the coastal area. The CC causes the rise of temperature (0.2-0.3°C/decade) and sea level (SRL = 5 mm/year), drought and floods to occur more frequently, the change of rainfall intensity and pattern and shifting of planting season and leads to the decreasing of crop yield or yield loss. Most of the paddy soil has been exhausted and degraded. About 50% of the rice field along the coastline is effected by high salinity and causes significant yield losses. The research was aimed to summarize the results of the system of organic based aerobic rice intensification (known as IPATBO) and of two climate filed school (CFS) in Cinganjeng and Rawapu that situated along the coastline of Pangandaran and Cilacap. Both IPATBO and CFS have adopted the strategy of climate-resilient sustainable agriculture (CRSA) for restoring the soil health and increasing rice productivity, and as well as to empower the farmer community. The implementation of IPATBO (2010-2020) in the different areas has increased the soil health, fertilizers, and water efficiency (reduce inorganic by 25-50%, and water by 30-40%) and increased rice productivity by at least 25-50%. Both CFS in Ciganjeng and Rawaapu were able to improve soil fertility, increase rice productivity, and farmer capacity. This result concludes the agro-ecological based CRSA and CFS can be adopted for the increasing the resilient of agricultural practices and farmers in adapting to climate change

scholarly journals Review of good agricultural practices for smallholder maize farmers to minimise aflatoxin contamination

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
F. Xu ◽  
R.C. Baker ◽  
T.B. Whitaker ◽  
H. Luo ◽  
Y. Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Good Agricultural Practices ◽  
Livestock Feed ◽  
Drought Tolerant

Maize is consumed world-wide as staple food, livestock feed, and industrial raw material. However, it is susceptible to fungal attack and at risk of aflatoxin contamination under certain conditions. Such contamination is a serious threat to human and animal health. Ensuring that the maize used by food industry meets standards for aflatoxin levels requires significant investment across the supply chain. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) form a critical part of a broader, integrated strategy for reduction of aflatoxin contamination. We reviewed and summarised the GAP of maize that would be effective and practicable for aflatoxin control within high-risk regions for smallholder farmers. The suggested practicable GAP for smallholder farmers were: use of drought-tolerant varieties; timely harvesting before physiological maturity; sorting to remove damaged ears and those having poor husk covering; drying properly to 13% moisture content; storage in suitable conditions to keep the crop clean and under condition with minimally proper aeration, or ideally under hermetic conditions. This information is intended to provide guidance for maize growers that will help reduce aflatoxin in high-risk regions, with a specific focus on smallholder farmers. Following the proposed guidelines would contribute to the reduction of aflatoxin contamination during pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest stages of the maize value chain.

scholarly journals A Technology Acceptance Model of common bean growers’ intention to adopt Integrated Production in the Brazilian Central Region

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-143
Author(s):  
Aluisio Goulart Silva ◽  
Maurizio Canavari ◽  
Katia Laura Sidali
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Integrated Production ◽  
The Government ◽  
Acceptance Model

Summary The Brazilian government encouraged the Integrated Production (IP) farming system adoption to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of intensive bean production in irrigated areas of the Brazilian savanna. By ensuring food-safety and the use of sustainable agricultural practices, IP may strengthen national agriculture competitiveness. Regardless of the government efforts to promote IP in the main agricultural regions and among the largest food growers, only few slowly adopted it. Therefore, studying the process of technology adoption is important to identify possible problems that could affect adoption and diffusion of this farming system. We applied a Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to explain the adoption and use of IP by the common beans growers from one of the most important bean production regions in Brazil. Ninety-three interviews were administered to different actors involved in beans production. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) following a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to identify the relationship between factors. The findings suggest that respondents have positive perceptions toward adopting IP. Perceived usefulness has a positive impact on attitude, and attitudes affect behavioral intention. However, the proposed model only partially explains IP adoption intentions.

Opposition to Paraxylene Plant Development In China: Information, Emotion, Trust, and Risk

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 1815-1832
Author(s):  
Ming Xue ◽  
Huizhang Shen ◽  
Jidi Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Group Identity ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Trust In Government ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
The Government

In China people have recently taken part in protests against building of paraxylene (PX) plants. Therefore, we investigated factors associated with residents' opposition to building of PX plants in their neighborhood, district, or city. Survey data were collected from 222 people, and structural equation modeling was performed to verify relationships between residents' oppositional intentions and the factors of self-identity, group identity, trust in government, and perceived risk. Results showed perceived risk and self-identity were significant predictors of oppositional intentions, whereas group identity had no significant effect on oppositional intentions. Trust in government had an indirect effect on oppositional intentions through perceived risk. Negative emotions significantly influenced trust in government and perceived risk, and through them indirectly affected oppositional intentions; perceived information quality indirectly affected oppositional intentions through perceived risk and trust in government. The findings illuminated that promoting public trust in the government by enhancing information disclosure and alleviating negative emotions are effective ways to decrease risk perception and opposition to PX plants.

HARNESSING DIGITAL AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN INDIA: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (SI-1) ◽  
pp. 215-230
Author(s):  
Dr.Jeevan Kumar Cheruku ◽  
Vishal Katekar
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Government Organizations ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Digital Agriculture ◽  
The Government

Agriculture in India faces an unprecedented challenge. As a signatory to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), India must end hunger by 2030. Achievement of this goal hinges on finding viable solutions to make farming a sustainable source of income generation by adopting sustainable agricultural practices. A survey of the literature reveals that digital technologies offer promising results to farmers globally. However, India lags in the adoption of digital technologies in agriculture. The paper identifies opportunities in promoting the development and adoption of digital agriculture technologies. It analyses policy interventions of the Government of India, such as Digital Agriculture and Precision Agriculture, to make the agriculture sector more sustainable in terms of economic, environmental, and societal perspectives. This research paper discusses barriers to their adoption and provides policy suggestions. It is an analytical paper based on a survey of literature that is secondary sources such as books, research articles, and policy documents, reports published by various government and non-government organizations, online databases, and discussion papers. Thematic analysis was used to identify sustainable agriculture dimensions and discover opportunities and challenges in using digital agriculture technologies.

scholarly journals Determinants of Milk Market Participation and Volume of Sales to Milk Collection Centres of the Smallholder Dairy Value Chain in Zimbabwe

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tafireyi Chamboko ◽  
Emmanuel Mwakiwa ◽  
Prisca H. Mugabe
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Market Access ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Market Participation ◽  
Ecological Region ◽  
Smallholder Dairy ◽  
The Government ◽  
Milk Market

At the attainment of Zimbabwe’s independence, government of Zimbabwe established the smallholder dairy development programme to encourage smallholder farmers to participate in formal milk markets. Although now more than three decades since the government established this programme, smallholder contribution to the national formal market remains low at 5%. This study was undertaken to determine factors affecting milk market participation and volume of sales to milk collection centres of the smallholder dairy value chain. Four smallholder dairy schemes were purposively selected on the basis of whether the scheme participated in the semi-formal or formal dairy value chain. A total of 185 farmers were then selected through simple random sampling and interviewed using a pretested structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Heckman two-stage selection econometric models. Results show that resources (represented by dairy cows, household size), knowledge (educational level, access to information and extension), experience (household head age) and agro-ecological region significantly determined farmers’ participation in milk markets. The study also shows the determinants of milk sales volumes to be resources (number of dairy cows and landholding size); market access (distance to milk collection centre); ambition of the farmer (age); and natural climatic conditions (agro-ecological region). Government policy interventions therefore need to be targeted at increasing the number of dairy cows, taking into account landholding and market access, targeting educated, young farmers located in agro-ecological regions I and II, providing them with adequate, appropriate information and extension packages in order to enhance milk market participation and volume of sales.

scholarly journals “Illegal” Gold Mining Operations in Ghana: Implication for Climate-Smart Agriculture in Northwestern Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Yenglier Yiridomoh
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Illegal Mining ◽  
Smart Agriculture

Globally, climate-smart agriculture is highly recognized as an approach for sustainable agriculture and food systems. In Africa and other developing countries, climate-smart agriculture is observed to reposition and modify agricultural systems for improved food and nutritional security. Despite the relevance of the approach to sustainable agricultural planning, illegal gold mining in many parts of the society is placing constraints to its implementation and adoption through its contest with agricultural land for space and activities. Illegal gold mining is on the rise due to the lucrativeness of the non-regulated gold rush opportunities with hard consequences on sustainable agriculture and resilience food systems. As a result, this study seeks to investigate illegal gold mining and its environmental implication for climate-smart agriculture in Ghana. The study used a single case study using a mixed-methods approach to research. The study adopted purposive and systematic sampling techniques to select the study communities and respondents, respectively. Questionnaire and interviews were used to gather the primary data from respondents at the household level, as the unit of analysis. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis reveal that known agricultural practices such as terracing, crop rotation, use of domestic waste/manure, and irrigation of crops were affected adversely by activities of illegal mining. The study recommends the need for conscious efforts from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to sustain the ban on illegal mining with intensified monitoring and supervision while a systematic scheme involving relevant stakeholders is developed and implemented to ban illegal mining in Ghana completely. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture needs to develop an approach to support the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices by smallholder farmers to meet the food demand of their households.

scholarly journals Assessing Smallholder Farmer's Participation in the Wheat Value Chain in North-West Mt. Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Mwangi ◽  
Samuel Owuor ◽  
Boniface Kiteme ◽  
Markus Giger
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Bargaining Power ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
High Yield ◽  
North West ◽  
Budget Analysis ◽  
Gross Margins

Wheat is the second most important carbohydrate staple in Kenya and is produced by both smallholder and large-scale farmers. Smallholders are the majority, but produce <20% of the total national production. Compared to large-scale farmers, they have been considered to be less efficient producers and thus fail to benefit fully from their participation in the wheat value chain. This study aims at establishing the value accruing to smallholder and large-scale farmers participating in wheat production in north-west Mt. Kenya. For comparative purposes and to explore the potential of smallholder farmers, a sample of 58 smallholder and seven large-scale farmers was selected for the study. We use budget analysis to determine the gross output, cost of production and gross margins attained by the smallholder and large-scale farmers. Further, an analysis of constraints to productivity is done to establish the factors hindering farmers from reaching high yield potential. Results of the study show that smallholder farmers obtain lower yields, have higher costs of production per bag of wheat and lower gross margins compared to large-scale farmers. High cost of inputs, low market prices, low bargaining power, high cost of machinery services, diseases and weeds were among factors excluding smallholder farmers from benefitting from their participation in the value chain. However, results also show that smallholder farmers can produce wheat profitably albeit with necessary support. Thus, interventions should consider these constraints and aim at improving smallholder farmers' horizontal and vertical integration in the value chain. We recommend continued investment in research and development on wheat, adoption of climate resilient agricultural practices, improvements in the fertilizer subsidy programme and creating or increasing participation in producer groups that will provide possibilities of increased bargaining power and reduction of costs through improved access to machinery services, markets and credit.

The Stagnation of Smallholder Agriculture in the Northern Region of Zambia: Problems, Conflicts and Production Systems

1995 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Nkowani ◽  
Murray Mcgregor ◽  
Barry Dent
Keyword(s):  
Structural Adjustment ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Foreign Debt ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Smallholder Agriculture ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Government ◽  
The One

Food security is seriously threatened by the low productivity of smallholder farmers, endemic poverty and widespread land degradation in the Northern Region of Zambia, The challenge is how to raise smallholder productivity at farm level in the face of developmental conflicts caused by demographic change, economic growth, strife and insecurity. The government is caught between the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) drawn up to enable it to pay off its huge foreign debt on the one hand, and the need to cushion the vulnerable sections of society (mostly smallholder farmers) from the worst aspects of the monetary squeeze on the other, Current evidence points to a dangerous imbalance, with the poor being hit hardest, but there are further steps which could be taken to support smallholders.

The impact of credit on productivity of smallholder farmers in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph Essem Nordjo ◽  
Charles K.D. Adjasi
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Average Treatment Effect ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
Treatment Variable ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of access to production credit on the productivity of smallholder farmers. Design/methodology/approach Data for the study were drawn from the Agricultural Value Chain Facility (AVCF), which was implemented in the Northern Region of Ghana. This paper uses the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to estimate the average treatment effect of access to production credit on the productivity of smallholder farmers. The rationale for the choice of this estimation technique is to control for selection bias since the treatment variable (access to production credit) was not randomised. The authors also test for the effect of hidden bias using “Rosenbaum bounds” sensitivity analysis. The study uses two control groups to examine the net effect of credit on productivity. Findings The results reveal that smallholder farmers with access to production credit increased productivity through investment in farm inputs. For the impact of credit on productivity using control Group 1, the result shows that farmers with access to credit increased their productivity by 0.170 metric tonnes per hectare and for control Group 2, the result shows an increase of 0.252 metric tonnes per hectare more than farmers who are without access to production credit. Practical implications The evidence as provided by this paper is that access to production credit is significant to meet the credit needs of smallholder farmers and therefore contributes to the policy debate on whether access to credit has impact on the productivity of smallholder farmers. Originality/value The paper shows the importance of production credit in augmenting the production function of smallholder farmers.

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