Adoption of agricultural innovations by smallholder farmers in the context of HIV/AIDS

International agricultural research is often motivated by the potential benefits it could bring to smallholder farmers in developing countries. A recent experimental literature has emerged on why innovations resulting from such research, which often focuses on yield enhancement, fail to be adopted due to either external or internal constraints. This article reviews this literature, focusing on the traits of the different technologies and their complexity and distinguishing between yield-enhancing, variance-reducing, and water- or labor-reducing technologies. It also discusses how farmers’ reallocation of inputs and investments when external constraints are lifted suggests that they often do not seek to increase yield or input intensity. The article further reviews evidence indicating that a technology's potential as observed in agronomical trials is not necessarily a good predictor for smallholder farmers’ demands for the technology in real-life conditions. The last section derives conclusions for the research and policy agenda.

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Impact of Gliricidia Fertilizer Tree Technology on Smallholder Farmers Economic Livelihood in Malawi: Case of Kasungu District

Journal of Sustainable Development ◽

10.5539/jsd.v11n6p162 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 162

Author(s):

Wisdom Richard Mgomezulu ◽

Abdi-Khalil Edriss ◽

Kennedy Machila

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Agricultural Development ◽

Unobserved Heterogeneity ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Average Treatment Effect ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Agricultural Technologies ◽

Conduct Sensitivity Analysis ◽

Agricultural Innovations ◽

The Impact

Agriculture plays a huge role in farmer’s livelihoods in Africa. With the adverse effect of climate change on agricultural productivity, developing agricultural technologies that are adaptive to climate change is one of the perquisites for agricultural development. Gliricidia intercropping is one of the climate smart agricultural innovations; that is being promoted by most researchers. Gliricidia intercropping has many benefits. Despite evidence of such benefits, there exists some missing literature on the impact of Gliricidia intercropping on farmer’s economic livelihoods. The study used cross sectional data collected by ICRAF in Kasungu district which sampled 406 households and employed a Propensity Score Matching method to analyze the effect of Gliricidia intercropping on smallholder farmer’s incomes. Results showed that among the observable factors used to match participants and non-participants, hired labour, age, education level, soil type, perception of soil fertility and access to extension services significantly affected participation in Gliricidia intercropping. The Average Treatment Effect on the Treated showed that Gliricidia intercropping improves the economic livelihoods of farmers by increasing household monthly income by MWK 38,565.83 ($54) at 1 percent significant level. The study went further to conduct sensitivity analysis using the Rosenbaum bounds, and found that unobserved heterogeneity has to increase the odds ratio of participating in Gliricidia intercropping by 10-60 percent before it can negate the estimated ATT. The study then recommends promoting the adoption of Gliricidia intercropping by capitalizing on the factors that influence participation or adoption of Gliricidia intercropping in order to improve smallholder farmers’ incomes and hence their livelihoods.

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Policy Integration and Coherence for Conservation Agriculture Initiatives in Malawi

Sustainable Agriculture Research ◽

10.5539/sar.v7n4p51 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 51 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Edna Chinseu ◽

Lindsay Stringer ◽

Andrew Dougill

Keyword(s):

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Innovation System ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Policy Integration ◽

Agricultural Policies ◽

Development Agenda ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Agricultural Innovations

In sub-Saharan Africa, development and dissemination of perceived new agricultural innovations dominate the development agenda yet hunger and poverty remain widespread. A conducive policy environment is essential to support these efforts. Despite that national policies are a critical component in the functioning of an agricultural innovation system, studies have often overlooked their relevance in farmers’ adoption of agricultural innovations. There is an urgent need to enhance understanding of how policies affect long-term adoption of agricultural innovations aimed at increasing productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers. This study utilises thematic content analysis to examine the extent of integration of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and coherence in Malawi’s national agricultural policies, and their implication for CA adoption among smallholder farmers.Results indicate that inadequate integration of CA in the National Agricultural Policy (NAP), coupled with a lack of coherence of agricultural department policies, undermines farmers’ CA adoption. While inadequate integration constrains resource allocation for supporting CA activities, lack of coherence of agricultural policies radiates conflicting and confusing agricultural extension messages to smallholder farmers. We argue that inadequate CA integration and incoherence of policies are institutional constraints which prevent farmers’ sustained adoption. To facilitate long-term adoption of CA among smallholders, there is need to: (1) strengthen CA integration in agricultural policies; (2) improve departmental coordination to enhance coherence of agricultural strategies and extension messages disseminated to farmers; and (3) strengthen government’s role in supporting multi-disciplinary research to generate and disseminate best practices capable of sustaining CA adoption.

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Adaptation Strategies and Farmer-led Agricultural Innovations to Climate Change in Mbire Districtof Zimbabwe

International Journal of Rural Management ◽

10.1177/0973005221999913 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 097300522199991

Author(s):

Peter Asare-Nuamah ◽

Mclarence Shungu Mandaza ◽

Athanasius Fonteh Amungwa

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Safety Net ◽

Farm Size ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Information Barriers ◽

Sequential Mixed Methods ◽

Agricultural Innovations

This study explores adaptation and farmer-led agricultural innovation strategies of smallholder farmers in Mbire District of Zimbabwe. Guided by explanatory sequential mixed methods design, 201 smallholder farmers were selected through multistage probability sampling technique and 18 participants were purposively selected. The instruments for the study included questionnaire and interview, which were analysed through basic descriptive and thematic analysis, respectively. The results show that smallholder farmers have adapted to climate change through multiple strategies including planting improved and drought resistant crops, cultivating fewer plots, mixed cropping, keeping more livestock, applying agrochemicals and local ecological knowledge as well as livelihood diversification, which are influenced by gender, education and farm size of respondents. The respondents have diversified their livelihood by engaging in brick moulding, sales of livestock, petty trade and dependence on remittance and social safety net as well as reduction in size and number of diets. The study identified financial, technological, social, institutional and information barriers to farmers’ adaptation. Farmer-led innovations identified by this study included planting Kanongo open pollinated variety of maize, pen fattening, over mulching, cassava cultivation and staggered planting. The implications of the results are teased out and policy recommendations are suggested.

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Innovation and the Quest to Feed the World

The Innovation Revolution in Agriculture ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-50991-0_7 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 179-205

Author(s):

David Donnan

Keyword(s):

Support Groups ◽

Large Scale ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Local Level ◽

Sustainable Growth ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

Continuous Innovation ◽

The World ◽

Agricultural Innovations ◽

Corporate Social

Abstract While global levels of hunger and malnutrition have dropped significantly in the last few decades, there are concerns that agricultural advancements and R&D spending are not enough to unlock the true agricultural innovation needed to feed the burgeoning 10 billion people. Government spending on agricultural R&D has decreased in the last decade and many of the large-scale NGO activities are now focusing on environmental and sustainability issues. With the evolution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, coupled with the growth of agricultural startups and venture funds, the role of agriculture and hunger relief has dramatically changed in the last several decades. A new focus on sustainable growth, capabilities development, and innovative approaches for smallholder farmers has created an environment of continuous innovation that has replaced many of the donation-based hunger relief initiatives of the past. Large corporations are working with local NGOs and support groups to tackle global hunger on a local basis. In the next decade, we should see more socially minded entrepreneurs that will work with NGOs and private businesses to solve the issues of smallholder farming and provide the opportunity to introduce both digital and agricultural innovations at the local level to further the quest to feed the world.

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Understanding rice innovation needed for smallholder farmers in semi-arid area of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202130603009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 306 ◽

pp. 03009

Author(s):

Yohanis Ngongo ◽

Alfonso Sitorus ◽

Cristine W. Huwae ◽

Rizky Prayogo Ramadhan ◽

Nuning Argo Subekti

Keyword(s):

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Arid Areas ◽

Target Groups ◽

Rice Productivity ◽

Rice Farmers ◽

Timor Leste ◽

State Boundary ◽

Agricultural Innovations ◽

Almost All ◽

Semi Arid

Rice is grown in various environments across semi-arid areas of ENT province. This paper elaborates agricultural innovations delivered to the smallholder rice farmers and highlights their responses/adaptability. The research conducted in the state boundary of Indonesia-Timor Leste as part of AIAT-ENT program. The study showed that farmers having more access to rice innovation sources tend to adopt better and willing to purchase for external inputs. By adopting introduced rice innovations, co-operatives farmers in state boundaries were able to improve rice productivity from 1 – 2 ton/ha to 5 – 7.2 ton/ha. After 3 years of AIS implementation, almost all farmers have been continuously HYVs of rice. However, the sustainability of the innovation’s adoption has commonly disrupted by the availability of external inputs. Numerous rice-related innovations have been introduced; however, smallholder farmers were keen to adopt only limited ones that suitable with their specific environment and household circumstances. The study concluded that rice innovations delivered to improve rice productivity in semi-arid areas should be focus on specific target groups that suitable their environments and household’ circumstances. Rice-related innovations should be delivered in the broader context not merely to increase rice productivity, rather to improve smallholder semi-arid farmers’ resilience for food security.

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Transforming Degraded Smallholder Farmland into Multi-Functional Land Use Systems: A Case Study From Tanzania

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/proceedings2019030016 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 16

Author(s):

Reetsch ◽

Kapp ◽

Feger ◽

Schwärzel ◽

Dornack

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Food Security ◽

Gender Roles ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Farm Households ◽

Land Use Systems ◽

Local Farmer ◽

Hiv Aids ◽

Farm Waste

In our research, we have studied smallholder farmers in degraded farming systems in Northwest Tanzania and have compared them with farm households who were trained in sustainable land management by a local Farmer Field School. Both groups of farmers were affected by severe environmental degradation and poor soil fertility, but trained farmers have transformed degraded farmland into fertile, multi-functional land use systems. In this presentation, we discuss the successes and failures of both groups of farmers and draw conclusions towards restoring degraded land use systems. Farmers without training cannot restore degraded farmland with traditional agricultural management alone and fail to produce enough food, fodder, biofuel, and timber to support the whole family. The reasons for their failure are manifold and include environmental and socio-economic dimensions, e.g., poor management of soils and farm waste, lacking adaptation to climate change, traditional gender roles, and the loss of knowledge and labour in HIV/AIDS-affected households. In comparison, trained farmers change nutrient management by using advanced composting techniques. They also cultivate a greater variety of crops and trees, introduce organic pesticide management, ease manure collection, construct vegetable gardens that are watered by drip irrigation in the dry season, change gender roles and communication structures. The main differences between both groups of farmers occur in food security, health status, education level, marketing, income generation, prosperity, and gender-related responsibilities. However, the full potential of organic farm waste being used as soil fertiliser is not exhausted, as human excreta is not integrated into nutrient management. Farm households who are most vulnerable to food security, e.g., female-headed and HIV/AIDS-affected households, need to get support in strengthening their socio-economic base before transforming the farm management. In conclusion, local Farmer Field Schools significantly contribute to restoring land degradation. To transform smallholder agriculture in Tanzania, a joint partnership with local governmental organisations could help farmers to escape poverty and become food secure (SDG 1 and SDG 2). Similar approaches could support smallholder farmers in East Africa, where they contribute to three-fourth of the agricultural production.

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An Empirically Derived Conceptual Framework to Assess Dis-Adoption of Conservation Agriculture: Multiple Drivers and Institutional Deficiencies

Journal of Sustainable Development ◽

10.5539/jsd.v12n5p48 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 48

Author(s):

Edna L. Chinseu ◽

Lindsay C. Stringer ◽

Andrew J. Dougill

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Institutional Arrangements ◽

Cultural Dimensions ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

National Policies ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Agricultural Innovations

Efforts of national governments and international agencies aimed at alleviating hunger and poverty are often undermined by lack of long-term adoption of agricultural innovations. Studies commonly explain farmers’ adoption decisions using household general determinants, yet decision-making, particularly for under-resourced smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, is a complex process. Using the case of conservation agriculture [CA], this article analyses dis-adoption of agricultural technologies by examining multiple domains of Malawi’s CA innovation system and how these influence farmer decision-making. It analyses institutional arrangements of CA promoters, national policies and farmers’ experiences. From this, we empirically derive a multifaceted dis-adoption drivers’ framework to explain CA dis-adoption in smallholder farming systems. Our findings reveal that adverse features in national policies, institutional arrangements, technological attributes and social cultural dimensions all lead to unfavourable experiences of CA for smallholder farmers, which can culminate in dis-adoption. The CA dis-adoption drivers’ framework we develop in this study provides a useful troubleshooting tool. It can be used to guide improvements in the design and implementation of project-based interventions seeking long-term adoption of agricultural innovations across sub-Saharan Africa.

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Smallholder farmers’ perceptions of agricultural extension in adoption of new technologies in Kakamega County, Kenya

International Journal of Agricultural Extension ◽

10.33687/009.01.3510 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Newton M. Nyairo ◽

Linda J. Pfeiffer ◽

Mark Russell

Keyword(s):

Regression Model ◽

New Technologies ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Critical Role ◽

Agricultural Extension ◽

Farm Size ◽

Adoption Process ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

Agricultural Innovations

This exploratory study assesses factors that harness agricultural technology adoption among smallholder farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya by evaluating the key variables that influence sustainable adoption of agricultural innovations in the area. A survey was randomly administered in June and July 2018 among smallholder farming households in seven sub-counties (N=78) of Kakamega County. A logistic regression model, capturing factors presumed to influence the adoption of agricultural innovations, was estimated. Results suggest that even in smallholder farms, the farm size is important in adoption of innovations. Results also indicate limited or no farmer interaction (55%) with extension services. Farmers reported application of fertilizer and use of push-pull technology as less important in maintaining soil health. The regression model findings suggest that variables typically presumed to influence adoption in the literature are insignificant in this case study. The statistical significance of the farm size variable implies that agricultural extension messages can be tailored to a variety of farmer audiences for suitable adoption based on farm size. The diffusion of innovation theory remains a valid and relevant framework in studying adoption. This study reiterates the critical role that farmers or their environment play in the adoption process.

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