Quantitative Analysis of Farmers Perception of the Constraints to Sunflower Production: A Transverse Study Approach Using Hierarchical Logistic Model (HLM)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13331
Author(s):  
Ejovi Akpojevwe Abafe ◽  
Oluwaseun Samuel Oduniyi ◽  
Sibongile Sylvia Tekana
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
National Level ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Farm Finance ◽  
Sunflower Production

Sunflower production is an excellent choice for both local and national agribusiness with significant potential in smallholder farming systems due to low input costs, consistent yields, and a short planting window. However, farmers are faced with interrelated constraints in their sunflower production. This study was undertaken to examines the perceptions of the constraints to sunflower production as perceived by smallholder farmers in North West Province, South Africa. The research identifies some factors related to sunflower production constraints. Then, a stratified random sampling technique was used to select 172 sunflower farmers and they were asked to rate their response on these attributes on a 5-points Likert scale. Leveraging principal component analysis (PCA), we agglomerated and condense information from the original datasets of the constraint attributes into three main components (innovation, farm finance, and crop management practice). Because of the hierarchical structure of the dataset with farmers nested within their local municipalities, we use Hierarchical Logistic Modeling techniques to identify the factors that determine farmer’s perceived interest in innovation, farm finance, and crop management practices. Innovation and farm finance emerge to be critical elements for sustainable sunflower production. The findings indicate that age, education, household size, farm size, cooperative membership, and gender are strongly correlated with farmers’ perceived interest in innovation and farm finance characteristics. This study recommends that to promote these elements among smallholder farmers, it is necessary for governments at the local and national level to invest in extension service and education, cooperative organizations, research, and development in disentangling the age, gender, and farm size inequalities existing in the district sunflower production.

scholarly journals Precision Agriculture for Resource Use Efficiency in Smallholder Farming Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1158
Author(s):  
Cecilia M. Onyango ◽  
Justine M. Nyaga ◽  
Johanna Wetterlind ◽  
Mats Söderström ◽  
Kristin Piikki
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
English Language ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Sub Saharan

Opportunities exist for adoption of precision agriculture technologies in all parts of the world. The form of precision agriculture may vary from region to region depending on technologies available, knowledge levels and mindsets. The current review examined research articles in the English language on precision agriculture practices for increased productivity among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 7715 articles were retrieved and after screening 128 were reviewed. The results indicate that a number of precision agriculture technologies have been tested under SSA conditions and show promising results. The most promising precision agriculture technologies identified were the use of soil and plant sensors for nutrient and water management, as well as use of satellite imagery, GIS and crop-soil simulation models for site-specific management. These technologies have been shown to be crucial in attainment of appropriate management strategies in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of resource use in SSA. These technologies are important in supporting sustainable agricultural development. Most of these technologies are, however, at the experimental stage, with only South Africa having applied them mainly in large-scale commercial farms. It is concluded that increased precision in input and management practices among SSA smallholder farmers can significantly improve productivity even without extra use of inputs.

scholarly journals Agro-Economic Evaluation of Alternative Crop Management Options for Teff Production in Midland Agro-Ecology, Ethiopia

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 298
Author(s):  
Fekremariam Asargew Mihretie ◽  
Atsushi Tsunekawa ◽  
Nigussie Haregeweyn ◽  
Enyew Adgo ◽  
Mitsuru Tsubo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Agronomic Performance ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Weed Population

Teff is an important crop for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. Improved crop management practices are needed to increase teff productivity and decrease production costs. Here, we used a split–split plot design to evaluate the impacts of different tillage, sowing, and soil compaction practices, and their combinations, on agronomic performance, weed population, lodging, and cost in teff production at the Aba Gerima watershed in northwestern Ethiopia in 2018–2020. Reduced tillage (RT) improved soil moisture, resulting in increased agronomic performance and decreased production costs compared with conventional tillage (CT); however, the weed population was substantially larger with RT than with CT. Row planting (RP) reduced seed cost and lodging but increased sowing and weeding costs compared with broadcast planting (BP). Plant population and leaf area index were substantially greater with BP than with RP during early-stage growth, but this reversed during late-stage growth. Despite labor costs being significantly greater with (WC) compaction than without (NC), little to no differences were observed in the weed population or in agronomic performance. Partial cost–benefit analysis revealed that RT–RP–WC followed by RT–RP–NC was the most economical treatment combination, suggesting that RT–RP–NC could be a labor-effective means of increasing teff production by smallholder farms in Ethiopia.

scholarly journals What Farm Size Sustains a Living? Exploring Future Options to Attain a Living Income From Smallholder Farming in the East African Highlands

2022 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wytze Marinus ◽  
Eva S. Thuijsman ◽  
Mark T. van Wijk ◽  
Katrien Descheemaeker ◽  
Gerrie W. J. van de Ven ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Skewed Distribution ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
East African ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Cropping Patterns ◽  
African Highlands ◽  
East African Highlands

Smallholder farming in sub-Saharan Africa keeps many rural households trapped in a cycle of poor productivity and low incomes. Two options to reach a decent income include intensification of production and expansion of farm areas per household. In this study, we explore what is a “viable farm size,” i.e., the farm area that is required to attain a “living income,” which sustains a nutritious diet, housing, education and health care. We used survey data from three contrasting sites in the East African highlands—Nyando (Kenya), Rakai (Uganda), and Lushoto (Tanzania) to explore viable farm sizes in six scenarios. Starting from the baseline cropping system, we built scenarios by incrementally including intensified and re-configured cropping systems, income from livestock and off-farm sources. In the most conservative scenario (baseline cropping patterns and yields, minus basic input costs), viable farm areas were 3.6, 2.4, and 2.1 ha, for Nyando, Rakai, and Lushoto, respectively—whereas current median farm areas were just 0.8, 1.8, and 0.8 ha. Given the skewed distribution of current farm areas, only few of the households in the study sites (0, 27, and 4% for Nyando, Rakai, and Lushoto, respectively) were able to attain a living income. Raising baseline yields to 50% of the water-limited yields strongly reduced the land area needed to achieve a viable farm size, and thereby enabled 92% of the households in Rakai and 70% of the households in Lushoto to attain a living income on their existing farm areas. By contrast, intensification of crop production alone was insufficient in Nyando, although including income from livestock enabled the majority of households (73%) to attain a living income with current farm areas. These scenarios show that increasing farm area and/or intensifying production is required for smallholder farmers to attain a living income from farming. Obviously such changes would require considerable capital and labor investment, as well as land reform and alternative off-farm employment options for those who exit farming.

scholarly journals Effect of Environmental Management Practices and Sustainability on Some Selected Manufacturing Firms in South East Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 10372
Author(s):  
Joseph Obamen ◽  
Solomon Omonona ◽  
Olabanji Oni ◽  
Olamide Felix Ohunyeye
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
The Body ◽  
Environmental Management Practices ◽  
Environmental Management Practice

The manufacturing sector in South East Nigeria has many challenges concerning the incorporation of sustainability into the corporate strategies and operations of the industry, given its extractive nature and the numerous social and environmental impacts related to production activity. Attaining organizational sustainability requires the implementation of environmental management practice tools that create long-term value by embracing opportunities and managing risks derived from economic, environmental, and social developments. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of environmental management practice tools on the sustainability of manufacturing organizations. The goal of the study was to determine the relationship between environmental management practice tools and sustainability. A survey design was used for this study. A total of 363 questionnaires were distributed to the employees of the manufacturing firms, which included managers, supervisors, and line staff. The data collected were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Primarily, the study established that environmental management practice tools were significantly and positively related to sustainability. Thus, the study concluded that environmental management practice tools contribute significantly and positively to firms’ social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Additionally, the result of this study underlines the significance to manufacturing firms of carrying out environmental management practices. The ramifications are that manufacturing firms attempting to assert sustainability through EMP should have related knowledge with EMP. Furthermore, their environmental advantages will not convert into sustainability. The study adds to the body of knowledge by giving experimental pieces of proof identifying the interrelationships between EMP and sustainability.

scholarly journals Genetically Modified Crops’ Technology and its Awareness among Smallholder Farmers in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 20(35) (4) ◽  
pp. 58-67
Author(s):  
Ogheneruemu Obi-Egbedi ◽  
Omowunmi Ogungbite ◽  
Isaac Oluwatayo
Keyword(s):  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Genetically Modified Crops ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Gm Crops ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
The Government

Genetically Modified (GM) crops are crops modified through genetic engineering to improve their quality. Although safety concerns about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are still being debated, the food security benefits have led to adoption by many counties. In Nigeria, where most farmers are uneducated and likely unaware of the agricultural technology, the government approved its first biotechnology crop for commercialization in 2018. Level of farmers’ awareness is crucial to acceptance of GM crops, although; this has not been fully explored in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed to assess farmers’ awareness for GM crops and the factors that determine their awareness in Oyo state, Nigeria, using primary data collected in 2018 with the aid of well-structured questionnaires from 242 smallholder farmers. Principal component analysis and Tobit regression model were used for data analysis. Results showed that farmers were aged 43 years with farm size of 3.57 ha, farming experience of 14 years and 11 years of education. Most farmers were male (71.90%), married (67.36%), not members of farmer groups (64.46%) and sourced their seeds from non-credible sources (85.12%). Most farmers (52.07%) had either not heard of or did not know of any benefits/costs of GM crops, hence; were not aware of GM crops. Factors that influenced awareness of GM crops were being a male farmer, years of education and source of seeds. The study concluded that increasing years of education and ensuring use of credible seed sources will increase awareness of the costs and benefits of GM crops among farmers.

scholarly journals Factors contributing to farm-level productivity and household income generation in coastal Bangladesh’s rice-based farming systems

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0256694
Author(s):  
Shah-Al Emran ◽  
Timothy J. Krupnik ◽  
Sreejith Aravindakshan ◽  
Virender Kumar ◽  
Cameron M. Pittelkow
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Cropping Intensity ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Climate Risks

Large changes have taken place in smallholder farming systems in South Asia’s coastal areas in recent decades, particularly related to cropping intensity, input availability, climate risks, and off-farm activities. However, few studies have investigated the extent to which these changes have impacted farm-level crop productivity, which is a key driver of food security and poverty in rainfed, low-input, rice-based systems. The objective of this study was to conduct an integrated assessment of variables related to socioeconomic status, farm characteristics, and crop management practices to understand the major factors influencing crop productivity and identify promising leverage points for sustainable development in coastal Bangladesh. Using a panel survey dataset of 32 variables from 502 farm households located within polder (coastal embankment) and outside polder systems during 2005–2015, we employed statistical factor analysis to characterize five independent latent factors named here as Farming Challenges, Economic Status, Crop Management Practices, Asset Endowment, and Farm Characteristics. The factor Farming Challenges explained the most variation among households (31%), with decreases observed over time, specifically households located outside polders. Individual variables contributing to this factor included perceived cyclone severity, household distance to main roads and input-output markets, cropping intensity, and access to extension services. The most important factors for increasing crop productivity on a household and per unit area basis were Asset Endowment and Crop Management Practices, respectively. The former highlights the need for increasing gross cropped area, which can be achieved through greater cropping intensity, while the latter was associated with increased fertilizer, labor, and pesticide input use. Despite the importance of these factors, household poverty trajectory maps showed that changes in off-farm income had played the strongest role in improving livelihoods in this coastal area. This study can help inform development efforts and policies for boosting farm-level crop productivity, specifically through agricultural intensification (higher cropping intensity combined with appropriate and efficient use of inputs) and expanding opportunities for off-farm income as key pathways to bring smallholder households out of poverty.

scholarly journals Analysis of Environmental Factors Determining the Adoption of Land Management Practices in Guinea Savanna Agro-Ecological Zone of Kaduna Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA)

2020 ◽  
pp. 18-28
Author(s):  
T. A. Awobona ◽  
J. O. Adedapo ◽  
J. O. Emmanuel ◽  
O. Osunsina ◽  
J. A. Ogunsanwo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component Analysis ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Component Analysis ◽  
Sustainable Land Management ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Land Management Practice

This study analyzed the various determinants of land management practices in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State and determined most sustainable practice(s), with the specific focus on: Socio-economic characteristics of farmers; types of land management practices in relation to the determinant factors; effects of land management practices on the farm productivity; determine the most sustainable land management practice in the study area. A purposive sampling technique was adopted in collecting data from three hundred and eighty (380) rural farmers with structured questionnaires administered in Buruku, Chikun Local Government area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Five land management practices showed positive effects on the farm productivity as compared to the mean of 3 points; these were cover crop, crop rotation, irrigation, organic manure and fertilizer application. Two land management practices as perceived to have good effects on farm productivity of respondents were agro-forestry and bush fallow as shown in the component one of the result of Principal Component Analysis (PCA). It was concluded that the farming population was ageing and was adversely affected the choice of best practices due to lack of education and knowledge to adopt the best land management practice. Sustainable land management practices has the potential to reverse the trend of food scarcity and environmental disasters, help to improve local livelihoods, restore natural ecosystems and also contribute significantly to climate change adaptation and mitigation. There is clear evidence that the productivity of soils in Buruku Village will continue to decline if strategic measures are not put in place to manage soil fertility in different soil units to support agricultural land.

The Contribution of Some Soil and Crop Management Practice on Soil Organic Carbon Reserves: Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-274
Author(s):  
Agegnehu Shibabaw ◽  
Melkamu Alemeyehu
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Agricultural Sustainability ◽  
Important Indicator

Soil organic carbon is the most important attribute and chosen as the most important indicator of soil and environment quality and agricultural sustainability. Maintaining of soil carbon stocks and other nutrient proved as the most important challenge of arable lands. It depends on soil type, surrounding climate and long term land use. Studies of various research reports indicates that agricultural management practice; crop rotation, residue management, reduced tillage, green manuring and organic matter amendment has identified for its contribution to the improvement of soil organic matter stocks and some other nutrients.Implementing of reduced or no tillage operation has underlined in increasing organic carbon stock of the soil through delaying of organic matter decomposition and N mineralization.Long term adoption of legume based crop rotation notably increases soil organic carbon and N contents, helped with natural gift of atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Organic sources of fertilizer are reservoirs of plant nutrients and organic carbon, and hence amendment with adequate and quality manure ultimately enhances the soil nutrients and SOC stocks of the soil. In general, soil and crop management practices allow the soil to sequester more atmospheric carbon in to the soil.The circumstances ultimately contribute to agricultural sustainability, environmental and soil quality and mitigation of climate change at large. 

MANURE MANAGEMENT BY SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN THE KANO CLOSE-SETTLED ZONE, NIGERIA

2001 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Harris ◽  
M. A. Yusuf
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Production Quality ◽  
Manure Management ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Application Rates

Manure is a key input to smallholder farming systems, especially in the semi-arid environment of West Africa where cost and availability limit the use of inorganic fertilizers. This paper considers manure management by farmers in an intensive integrated farming system in the Nigerian savanna. The paper reports farmers' indigenous knowledge concerning manure production, quality and application, chemical analysis of manure nutrient content and application rates of manure. The potential manure supply of the livestock population of the Kano close-settled zone is calculated and compared with application rates. Recommendations are made concerning methods for improving manure quality through changes in management practices.

scholarly journals Economic Return in Production of Lettuce and Cantaloupe Is Affected by Cropping System and Management Practice

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1319-1323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edmund J. Ogbuchiekwe ◽  
Milton E. McGiffen ◽  
Mathieu Ngouajio
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Net Return ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Integrated Crop Management

Economic analysis compared the returns of cropping systems and management practices for production of fall lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and spring cantaloupe (Cucumis melo) following summer cover crops. The cover crop treatments included: cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] incorporated into the soil in the fall, cowpea used as mulch in the fall, sorghum sudangrass [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] incorporated into the soil in the fall, and a bare ground control. Lettuce and cantaloupe were managed using conventional, integrated, and organic practices. The effect of each cropping system and management practice on crop yield, cost of production and net return was determined. In 1999 and 2000, yield and net return were greatest for cantaloupe and lettuce when the cowpea cover crop was incorporated into the soil before planting. The effect of crop management practice varied with type of cover crop. When lettuce was planted into cowpea-incorporated treatment in 1999, conventional management had the highest cash return followed by integrated crop management. In 2000, organically-grown lettuce after cowpea incorporated had the highest net return followed by integrated crop management grown under cowpea incorporated treatments. In 1999 and 2000, integrated cantaloupe following cowpea-incorporated treatment had the highest yield and cash-return. A 20% price premium for organic produce increased the net returns for the organic-grown lettuce and cantaloupe. Organic lettuce following cowpea-incorporated treatments produced a high net of $2,516/ha in 1999 and $5,971/ha in 2000. The net returns due to 20% organic premium price varied between 1999 and 2000 in cantaloupe production. They were highest for organic cantaloupe after bareground with a net return of $4,395 in 1999 and $3,148 in 2000 for organic cantaloupe after sudangrass.

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