scholarly journals The Supply of Inorganic Fertilizers to Smallholder Farmers in Uganda: Evidence for Fertilizer Policy Development

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd Benson ◽  
Patrick Lubega ◽  
Stephen Bayite-Kasule ◽  
Tewodaj Mogues ◽  
Julian Nyachwo
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizers

scholarly journals Adoption Intensity of Inorganic Fertilizers in Maize Production: Empirical Evidence from Smallholder Farmers in Eastern Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengstu Ketema ◽  
Degefu Kebede
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Dependency Ratio ◽  
Annual Income ◽  
Eastern Ethiopia ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizers ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Maize Productivity ◽  
Adoption Intensity ◽  
Econometric Result

Evidences suggested that use levels of inorganic fertilizers are below the recommended rates in maize production. It is, therefore, necessary to investigate the reasons behind the failure to adopt the recommended rates of these fertilizers on maize production. This study analyzed determinants of intensity of adoption using a survey data collected from 383 randomly selected maize producing households. For this purpose, a two-limit Tobit model was applied. The econometric result revealed that variation in districts, family size, membership to cooperatives, distance to FTC, and livestock holding significantly affected smallholders’ intensity of adoption of DAP in maize production. On the other side, variation in district, farming experience, farm size, membership to cooperatives, dependency ratio, and annual income significantly determined intensity of adoption of Urea. It is, therefore, necessary to give due emphasis to the indicated determinants in order to assist maize producing farmers by boosting maize productivity.

scholarly journals Profitability and Impact of Inorganic Fertilizers on the Maize Production in Ekona, Cameroon

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 76-84
Author(s):  
Lawrence Tatanah Nanganoa ◽  
Francis Ajebesone Ngome ◽  
Juliana Namein Ngong ◽  
Sone Kone Edigar Atache ◽  
Jeremiah Ndande Ebonlo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizers ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Fertilizer Use ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

Summary Declining soil fertility and low fertilizer use are the major abiotic factors limiting the maize production in Cameroon. Therefore, the design and introduction of appropriate fertilizer schemes, which would improve maize yields and provide incentives for smallholder farmers, are considered imperative. In 2018, a field experiment was conducted on the farm of the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) in Ekona, the south-west region of Cameroon, to investigate the profitability and impact of inorganic fertilizers on maize production. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications and four treatments, using different fertilizer rates per hectare in each treatment (namely unfertilized control (T1), 50 kg urea + 50 kg N-P-K (T2), 100 kg urea + 100 kg N-P-K (T3) and 150 kg urea + 150 kg N-P-K (T4)). The results obtained indicate that all the maize growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves per plant, stem girth and leaf area) and yield components considered (cob length, cob diameter and test weight of 100 grains) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in T4 than T1. The grain yields recorded ranged from 4.09–5.88 t ha−1 and were also statistically (P < 0.05) higher in T4 than T1. The incremental income based on the fertilizer use was the highest in T4, followed by T3 and T2. The value cost ratio (VCR) was greater than 2 in all the treatments and was found to be highest in T2 (3.15), followed by T4 (2.52) and T3 (2.49). As T2, T3 and T4 did not differ statistically (P > 0.05), all the fertilizer rates considered were economically viable, but T4 provide the most cost-effective due to its higher grain yields and incremental income.

scholarly journals Improving Soil Fertility and Crops Yield through Maize-Legumes (Common bean and Dolichos lablab) Intercropping Systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prosper I. Massawe ◽  
Kelvin M. Mtei ◽  
Linus K. Munishi ◽  
Patrick A. Ndakidemi
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Plant Nutrients ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizers ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Crops Yield ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

Declining crops yield in the smallholder farmers cropping systems of sub-Saharan African (SSA) present the need to develop more sustainable production systems. Depletion of essential plant nutrients from the soils have been cited as the main contributing factors due to continues cultivation of cereal crops without application of organic/ inorganic fertilizers. Of all the plant nutrients, reports showed that nitrogen is among the most limiting plant nutrient as it plays crucial roles in the plant growth and physiological processes. The most efficient way of adding nitrogen to the soils is through inorganic amendments. However, this is an expensive method and creates bottleneck to smallholder farmers in most countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Legumes are potential sources of plant nutrients that complement/supplement inorganic fertilizers for cereal crops because of their ability to fix biological nitrogen (N) when included to the cropping systems. By fixing atmospheric N2, legumes offer the most effective way of increasing the productivity of poor soils either in monoculture, intercropping, crop rotations, or mixed cropping systems. This review paper discuses the role of cereal legume intercropping systems on soil fertility improvement, its impact on weeds, pests, diseases and water use efficiency, the biological nitrogen fixation, the amounts of N transferred to associated cereal crops, nutrients uptake and partition, legume biomass decomposition and mineralization, grain yields, land equivalent ratio and economic benefits.

scholarly journals Influence of integrated soil fertilization on the productivity and economic return of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and soil fertility in northwest Ethiopian highlands

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 714-727
Author(s):  
Getachew Alemayehu ◽  
Asefa Abate
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Allium Sativum ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Marginal Rate ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizers ◽  
Ethiopian Highlands ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
Cropping Seasons

Abstract Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is one of the main economical spices produced by poor smallholder farmers in the highlands of Ethiopia for both marketing and consumption. However, its productivity in the area has ever been declining mainly due to soil fertility depletion. Hence, an experiment was conducted under irrigation for two years in 2017 and 2018 in one of northwest Ethiopian highlands known as Lay Gayint to assess the productivity response of garlic to NPS inorganic fertilizers and cattle manure applications. Factorial combinations of four levels of N–P2O5–S inorganic fertilizers (0–0–0; 70–21–9; 112–37–16; and 159–58–25 kg ha−1) and four levels of fresh cattle manure (0, 5, 10, and 15 t ha−1) were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Unlike that of NPS inorganic fertilizers application and its interaction with cattle manure, physicochemical properties of the experimental soil were highly significantly improved with cattle manure application. Most growth and bulb yield parameters of garlic were significantly influenced by combined applications of NPS inorganic fertilizers and cattle manure, and their responses were more pronounced with the progress of the cropping seasons. Combined applications of 112–37–16 kg ha−1 N–P2O5–S inorganic fertilizers with 15 and 10 t ha−1 cattle manure gave the highest bulb yields (18.03–22.05  t ha−1), net benefits (Ethiopian Birr 509,456–626,814 per hectare), and marginal rate of returns (1,492.35–2,005.15%) in both study years of 2017 and 2018. Hence, combined applications of 112–37–16 kg ha−1 N–P2O5–S inorganic fertilizers with 10–15  t ha−1 cattle manure are recommendable for garlic growing farmers in northwest Ethiopian highlands.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Sustainable Agricultural Practices among Smallholder Farmers in Ogun State of Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 17-24
Author(s):  
Samuel Olusola Oyewole ◽  
Samson Olayemi Sennuga
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Ogun State ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Practices

The importance of adopting Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) approach to improve food production cannot be overemphasized in policy development and research agenda of many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates how socio-demographic factors influence farm-level decision process associated with the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices among smallholder farmers in Ogun State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 196 farmers. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Likert scale rating and multivariate probit model. The results showed that majority of the farmers were male with mean age of 35 years cultivating an average farm size of 5.8 hectares. The use of improved variety was adopted by 95.41% and this was rank first among the practices adopted by the farmers. Agroforestry was rank second and adopted by 85.71% of the respondents. The extent of adoption by the respondents showed that 94.39 and 72.45 were practicing the use of improved variety and agroforestry regularly. The factors influencing adoption of sustainable practices were age, education, farm size, farming experience and membership of social organization. The result further revealed that young farmers are more likely to adopt sustainable agricultural practices as option to increase productivity and reduce vulnerability of environment to ecological problems. This suggests that campaign for adoption of sustainable agricultural practices should target young farmers. However, this is not to discriminate older farmers in the sustainable agriculture policy agenda. The study established that there are complementary and substitute effects between the sustainable agricultural practices. This showed that policy changes that affect adoption of a given practice can have spillover effect on the other. Hence, extension services and promotion agenda should always emphasize the effects between different practices to enhance farmers’ choice.

scholarly journals Seaweed Aquaculture in Indonesia Contributes to Social and Economic Aspects of Livelihoods and Community Wellbeing

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10946
Author(s):  
Michael A. Rimmer ◽  
Silva Larson ◽  
Imran Lapong ◽  
Agus Heri Purnomo ◽  
Petrus Rani Pong-Masak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Seaweed Farming ◽  
Red Seaweeds ◽  
Global Commodity Chains ◽  
Financial Benefits ◽  
Production Cycles ◽  
Major Producer ◽  
Human And Social Capital

Seaweed farming in Indonesia is carried out throughout much of the archipelago and is mainly undertaken by smallholder farmers. Indonesia is the largest global producer of the red seaweeds Kappaphycus and Eucheuma, which are used to produce carrageenan, and is a major producer of Gracilaria, which is used to produce agar. Seaweed farming is attractive to farmers in rural coastal communities because capital and operating costs are low, farming techniques are not technically demanding, labour requirements are relatively low (allowing farmers to engage in other livelihoods), and production cycles are short (30–45 days), providing regular income. Using reported values for seaweed-farming income, we conclude that seaweed farming can, but does not always, lift rural households above the Indonesian poverty line. In addition to direct financial benefits, seaweed farming also contributes to human and social capital within seaweed farming households and communities. Achieving continued economic and social benefits from seaweed farming will require additional policy development, as well as research and development to support improved and more consistent seaweed productivity and improved product quality at the farm level, provision of effective extension and technical support services, and diversification of the existing value chains in order to reduce the impacts of price fluctuations that are associated with limited global commodity chains.

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