scholarly journals Assessment of adoption potential for smallholder conservation agriculture in Pandamatenga vertisols of northern Botswana

Author(s):  
Kapweke Kandondi ◽  
Davis Samzala Marumo ◽  
Benedict Kayombo ◽  
Thembeka Mpuisang

The adoption of conservation agriculture among small-scale farmers is still low despite the proven economic and environmental benefits of the technology. This study was conducted at Pandamatenga of Chobe District in northern Botswana. The main aim of the study was to determine the factors that influence the adoption of Conservation Agriculture (CA) in the study area. A structured questionnaire was used for the collection of the socio- economic and demographic characteristics of the sampled smallholder rainfed farmers. The socio - economic characteristics of the smallholder rainfed farmers included land holding size (ha), labour availability, livestock possession, education level, and farming experience. Demographic characteristics considered in the study included smallholder rainfed farmers’ age, marital status, gender, and average number of family members in the household. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the logistic regression model. The results have shown that gender and farm size had a significant influence on smallholder rainfed farmers’ decision to adopt CA technologies in Pandamatenga. Smallholder rainfed farmers had a positive perception and a high level of acceptance of CA technologies that were tried in their area.

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abson Chompolola ◽  
Oliver Kaonga

<p>The Zambian government and its cooperating partners have been trying to promote the use of conservation agriculture for improved food security and promotion of environmental sustainability. The methods used to promote conservation agriculture however are not adequately informed because no Zambia-specific studies have been done to explain adoption behaviour. This study aimed at explaining the factors that affect the adoption of conservation agriculture in Zambia using a case study.</p><p>A cross section survey of 200 randomly selected small scale farmers in Chongwe district was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Information collected included demographic characteristics of participating households, economic, as well as social characteristics. Respondents also provided information on the farming practices they are currently using vis a vis conservation agriculture.</p>A decision model was estimated using logistic regression and the results indicate that the adoption of conservation agriculture in the survey area is basically influenced by ownership of draft power, availability of labour, and the frequency of contact with the farmer support extension system. Potential to increase the adoption rate is plenty, but can only be tapped into if strategies and policies take into account the behavioural aspects of the adoption of the technology.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-203
Author(s):  
Oluwafemi Oyedeji ◽  
Esther Awotunde ◽  
Ezekiel Ojediran ◽  
Segun Fakayode

This study examined the socio-demographic determinantsof the type of land tenure system used by smallfarmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling techniquewas used to collect data from ninety six farmers for thepurpose of this study. Once collected, the data was analyzedusing both descriptive statistics and a multinomial regressionmodel. The results of the analysis show that 72.92% of the respondentsare married, 75% are males, 39.58% are aged above40, 52.08% own 6–10 acres of land, and 75% acquired theirland through inheritance. The result of the multinomial regressionanalysis shows that household size, the farmer’s age, genderand marital status, number of farms, farm size, educationlevel and land use type were the key determinants for the typeof land tenure system used in the study area. The study concludedthat most respondents have access to farmland eitherby inheritance or purchase, as determined by their age, gender,household size and level of education. This study thereforerecommends that farmland leasing should be encouraged especiallyfor abandoned inherited farmland, so as to put it intoproductive agricultural use.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 385
Author(s):  
Beatrice Nöldeke ◽  
Etti Winter ◽  
Yves Laumonier ◽  
Trifosa Simamora

In recent years, agroforestry has gained increasing attention as an option to simultaneously alleviate poverty, provide ecological benefits, and mitigate climate change. The present study simulates small-scale farmers’ agroforestry adoption decisions to investigate the consequences for livelihoods and the environment over time. To explore the interdependencies between agroforestry adoption, livelihoods, and the environment, an agent-based model adjusted to a case study area in rural Indonesia was implemented. Thereby, the model compares different scenarios, including a climate change scenario. The agroforestry system under investigation consists of an illipe (Shorea stenoptera) rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) mix, which are both locally valued tree species. The simulations reveal that farmers who adopt agroforestry diversify their livelihood portfolio while increasing income. Additionally, the model predicts environmental benefits: enhanced biodiversity and higher carbon sequestration in the landscape. The benefits of agroforestry for livelihoods and nature gain particular importance in the climate change scenario. The results therefore provide policy-makers and practitioners with insights into the dynamic economic and environmental advantages of promoting agroforestry.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Haixia Wu ◽  
Hantao Hao ◽  
Hongzhen Lei ◽  
Yan Ge ◽  
Hengtong Shi ◽  
...  

The excessive use of fertilizer has resulted in serious environmental degradation and a high health cost in China. Understanding the reasons for the overuse of fertilizer is critical to the sustainable development of Chinese agriculture, and large-scale operation is considered as one of the measures to deal with the excessive fertilizer use. Under the premise of fully considering the resource endowment and heterogeneity of large-scale farmers and small-scale farmers in production and management, different production decision-making frameworks were constructed. Based on the 300 large-scale farmers and 480 small-scale farmers in eight provinces of northern China wheat region, we analyzed the optimal fertilizer use amount and its deviation as well as the influencing factors of small-scale and large-scale farmers, then further clarified whether the development of scale management could solve the problem of excessive fertilizer use. The empirical results show that: (1) both small-scale farmers and large-scale farmers deviated from the optimal fertilizer application amount, where the deviation degree of optimal fertilizer application of small-scale farmers is significantly higher than that of large-scale farmers, with a deviation degree of 35.43% and 23.69% for small and large scale farmers, respectively; (2) not all wheat growers in North China had the problem of excessive use of chemical fertilizer, as the optimal level of chemical fertilizer application in Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia are 346.5 kgha−1 and 335.25 kgha−1, while the actual fertilizer use amount was 337.2 kgha−1 and 324.6 kgha−1, respectively; and (3) the higher the risk aversion level, farmers tended to apply more fertilizer to ensure grain output. Therefore, increasing farm size should be integrated into actions such as improving technological innovation and providing better information transfer to achieve the goal of zero-increase in Chinese fertilizer use.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-80
Author(s):  
S. A Dattijo

Due to many ways by which they are exploited, insects and their products could be a very big business. They are sold for agricultural protection, crop pollination, as well as human, livestock and pet nutrition. In addition, their products are sold for pharmaceuticals, health, and the implements for research, art works and a host of other uses. This review focused on commercialization of insects and their products with a view of sharing existing knowledge on global commerce of various insects and their products. Available literature revealed that there was an increase in demand for edible insects in the United States of America and prices were as high as $150 kg-1. Similarly, between 2010 and 2015, animal feed market in the United Kingdom grew at 3.5% annually and is currently worth £5 billion. Because of its scarcity, high demand, and recognition of its healing properties, royal jelly, one of the most sought after from bee products commands astronomical price internationally. In addition, no any other industry could generate high level of employment as sericulture, especially in rural areas where it takes 11 workdays to produce a Kg of raw silk. The contribution insects and their products can give to improve the economy of a developing country such as Nigeria is considerable, but underestimated or neglected. Insects are unlikely to make a major contribution in the near future, but the idea that they are potential source of overcoming the economic problems is not as farfetched as it seemed. Therefore, there is the need to adopt an added value approach to insects and their products and sensitize as well as encourage small-scale farmers, who are disadvantaged in international market participation due to lack of access to information, services, technology or the capacity, to produce larger volumes of quality insect products.


Author(s):  
Atayi Abraham Vincent ◽  

This study seeks to examine the relationship between Entrepreneurship practices and the level of profitability among farmers in Jos. The study covered small and medium scale farmer entrepreneurs within Jos North, Jos South and Jos East. A sample size of 518 was obtained from the population of 834 at 5% error tolerance and 95% level of confidence, using Simple Random Sampling. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. 505(97.5%) of the questionnaire distributed were returned. The study conducted a pre-test on the questionnaire to ensure the validity of the instrument. Data collected were presented in descriptive statistics and frequency tables. The study used financial ratios such as the gross profit margin, net profit margin, returns on assets, sales per year and total assets measures were used to measure the profitability. The average values for gross profit margin, net profit margin and returns on assets are 29.47%, 19.2% and 8.2% respectively; the result shows that an individual farmer in this study can boast of a high level of profit. The study recommends among other things that governments at all levels should work to create a more conducive environment for farmer entrepreneurs to make profitable investments in agriculture.


Author(s):  
MK Elemasho ◽  
SDY Alfred ◽  
CC Aneke ◽  
AJC Chugali ◽  
O Ajiboye

The study was conducted to determine the perception of food crops farmers on adoption of selected post-harvest technologies in Rivers State, Nigeria. A multistage snow-ball, procedure was used to sample 135 selected food crops farmers in the State. A well, structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from the respondents using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The result revealed that, majority (85.9%) of the respondents, were females while 84.4% of the respondents were married. The mean age of the respondent was 41.0 years and highly experienced in food crops production with mean of 15.9 years experience. Majority of the respondents (77%) attended primary school. The level of food crops farmers’ perception on adoption of post-harvest technologies packages was positive, majority (78.1%) of the respondents agreed with the positive statements on adoption of post-harvest technologies, implying the possibility of high level of adoption of post-harvest technologies. The perception of the food crops farmers also had influence on adoption level of the selected post-harvest technologies packages with (P < 0.05). The study concluded that food crops farmers had positive perception of post-harvest technologies in the study area and the study therefore, recommends that Extension should make the technologies available along with training.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 7 (2): 22-26, December, 2017


Author(s):  
Shibu Jose

Agroforestry systems, the planting of perennial trees and/or shrubs with annual agronomic crops or pasture, have been proposed as more environmentally benign, alternative systems for agricultural production in both temperate and tropical regions of the world. Agroforestry provides a number of environmental benefits as confirmed by scientific literature. The four major environmental benefits of agroforestry are (1) climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration, (2) biodiversity conservation, (3) soil health enrichment, and (4) air and water quality improvement. In addition to environmental benefits, the economic benefits of multiple crops within agroforestry systems have also generated interest in their adoption by farmers the world over. The major negative impacts come from conversion or degradation of forests following certain traditional practices, which may not fit in the definition of modern agroforestry. Challenges remain for widespread adoption of agroforestry, particularly in the temperate world; however, a new resurgence of interest in this land-use practice among small-scale farmers has shed light on a path toward its possible success. Past evidence clearly indicates that agroforestry, as part of a multifunctional working landscape, can offer not only economic return, but also a number of ecosystem services and environmental benefits for a sustainable society.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gbigbi Theophilus Miebi

The study was carried out to investigate the factors that affect small scale farmers to access fund and utilized for greater efficiency in production in Delta State, Nigeria. The logit model was used to analyze the data. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used for the study. Charts were used to analyze the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers. About 120 farmers were interviewed using pretested questionnaire. The study showed that sex, education, farm size, cash balance, collateral, frequency of transaction and membership of cooperative society were positive and significant at 1%, 5% and 10% probability levels respectively. The coefficient of age, interest rate, household size and distance were negative and significant at 10% and 5% levels. The results of the study call for policies aimed at encouraging microfinance banks to consider the farmers in accessing credit to increase their output, income and productivity in the study area.


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